How to Write the Brown University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2023/2024

 
 

Brown University is perhaps most famous for its Open Curriculum and the freedom and opportunity that it provides students for charting their own academic journeys.

Unlike colleges with a more structured academic curriculum (For example, Columbia University, St. John’s College, and University of Chicago), Brown provides optimal academic flexibility to the right type of student.

Let’s take a look at the required prompts, and how to make the most of these questions.

Before you begin writing, you may want to get deeper insights into the kind of student Brown is looking for, and how it views itself. You’ll find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. For a better sense of how Brown envisions its role in academia and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan here.

 
 

What are Brown University's supplemental essay prompts?

Prompt #1

Brown's Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

Prompt #2

Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)

Prompt #3

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Prompt #4

What three words best describe you? (3 words)

Prompt #5

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Prompt #6

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

Prompt #7

In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

Brown PLME Prompt #1

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) Applicants

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. What values and experiences have led you to believe that becoming a doctor in medicine is the right fit for you? (250 word limit)

Brown PLME Prompt #2

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) Applicants

Health care is constantly changing, as it is affected by racial and social disparities, economics, politics, and technology, among others. How will you, as a future physician, make a positive impact? (250 word limit)

Brown PLME Prompt #3

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) Applicants

How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) helping you to meet your academic personal and professional goals as a person and as a physician of the future? (250 word limit)

Brown RISD Program Prompt #1

Required for applicants to the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program:

The Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program draws on the complementary strengths of Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry, culminating in a capstone project that interrelates the content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences.

Based on your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD and the possibilities created by the BRDD program's broadened learning community, specifically describe how and why the BRDD program would constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. As part of your answer, be sure to articulate how you might contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work. (650 words)

How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Brown University

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #1

Brown's Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

This prompt is your classic “Why us?” essay, with a Brown-specific twist that asks you to focus on one aspect of Brown: its renowned Open Curriculum program. Before you start brainstorming, we recommend checking out this complete guide on how to write the “Why us?” essay. Pay close attention to the “Why Cornell” and “Why Penn” examples, which are our favorites.

Here’s the short version of how to write the typical “Why us?” essay:

  • Spend 1 hr+ researching 10+ reasons why Brown’s Open Curriculum might be a great fit for you (ideally 3-5 of the reasons will be unique to the school and connect back to you).

  • Make a copy of this chart to map out your college research.

  • Create an outline for your essays based on either Approach 1, 2 (recommended), or 3 in the full guide above.

  • Write a first draft!

Here’s a great example. Note how it starts with a very specific interest the student would like to pursue at Brown. 

Example:

After growing up on diplomacy and a love of politics, I am eager for a college experience that would allow me to decipher the complexities of foreign relations negotiations, while also being able to specialize in Middle Eastern politics. 

Brown’s Open Curriculum would feed my inquisitive mind, allowing me the flexibility to pursue the International and Public Affairs concentration while also exploring a wide range of interests. For example, in Making Decisions, I’d learn the factors that impact choices, helping me to analyze negotiation tactics. In Spain on Screen: 80 Years of Spanish Cinema, I’d continue to pursue my love of Spanish by learning about its cultural landscape in a fun, unique way.

With the Development track and focus on the Middle East region, I’d have access to an exciting combination of classes. With economic diplomacy becoming a powerful tool in international relations, I could better understand the power of economic influence through Diplomacy, Economics and Influence, while The Making of the Modern Middle East would strengthen my understanding of the region’s historical evolution and the associated political and economic implications.

I’d also capitalize on the Watson Institute’s resources, especially the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance, attending workshops and researching Middle Eastern developmental challenges.   

After being able to explore a wide range of interests at Brown, rather than having to choose one narrowly focused concentration, I’d build important skills like assertiveness and empathy that could assist me as a compassionate diplomat. (250 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Embrace “and.” A big selling point at Brown is its open curriculum, which allows you to take classes across several disciplines and explore outside your major. Brown shows how important this flexible approach to learning is by devoting a whole supplemental essay prompt to asking what you’d do with the opportunities the open curriculum offers. A key part of acing this prompt is to think expansively rather than in the confines of a single academic interest. If you’re primarily interested in biology, also consider other classes you might want to explore out of sheer curiosity. Don’t feel like you need to lay out a hyper-specific career path. Brown is all about embracing the “and” of learning, and it’ll serve you well to take a similar approach in your essay. Notice that, in this example, the student notes a primary interest in Middle Eastern international relations but also demonstrates excitement for Behavioral Science, Spanish language, and film. This makes his response more multi-faceted and shows that he really understands Brown’s approach to education.

  2. Get specific. The great thing about this essay is that it’s clear the student has done his research. Take a close look at Brown’s course catalogue and list of majors to see what you’d actually want to take if you ended up going there. Citing specific classes, professors, and areas of study is a great way to show your dedication to the university and how you’d make the most of what Brown has to offer. This student highlights a specific concentration/track (International and Public Affairs/Development with a focus on the Middle East), some classes (Making Decisions and Spain on Screen: 80 Years of Spanish Cinema), and some campus resources he’d want to make use of (Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Rhodes Center, etc). If you need help brainstorming these kinds of details, check out our BEABIES Exercise to get started (Tool #2 on this post).

  3. Highlight connections. Although Brown wants you to have fun exploring outside the confines of a specific major, it also wants to see that you’re not choosing topics randomly. In the meat of your essay, demonstrate how your interests connect. This student does a great job of sharing his understanding of how Behavioral Science would help him with negotiation tactics,while a Spanish language class would give him a greater grasp on different cultural landscapes. The key is that when he mentions an interest, he always explains the why behind it.

Because this prompt takes such a unique approach to the “Why us?” we figured we’d gift you with a bonus example.

Example 2:

After seeing The Vagina Monologues, I began exploring gender independently. From watching Mrs. America to reading The Second Sex, I sought solidarity and inspiration in art, media, and literature that shed light on marginalized voices. Studying an online course on international women’s health, I became more informed on topics such as female circumcision, son preferences, and domestic violence – and more enamored of the process of self-directed, interdisciplinary learning. 

Brown’s Open Curriculum would allow me to double concentrate in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Economics while exploring other areas such as Modern Culture and Media. The S/NC option will encourage me to take courses such as The Late 60's: Film Countercultures, an area I am deeply interested in but new to. 

Brown will allow me to build an interdisciplinary understanding of gender and economics with a classroom of self-driven students. Through Inequality of Income, Wealth, and Health, I will explore the causes of inequality, and how poverty can be addressed by economic policies and public education. Through A Gender Perspective on Women and Enterprise, I can examine gender inequality in economic areas including property ownership, capital, and markets. In addition, I am fascinated by the differences journal’s approach to gender studies --- analyzing it with race, culture, and art. 

I am excited to become the architect of my own education at Brown, realizing my academic vision with a group of passionate and motivated students. (234 words)

— — —

 
 

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #2

Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community.
(200-250 words)

At first glance, this prompt may seem slightly similar to prompt 1, and you’d be right in the sense that both are asking for you to take parts of your past and connect them with your Brown future. But one important difference with this prompt is its focus on your contribution to the larger Brown community, not just the academic one.

Another detail to note is Brown’s encouragement to show where you come from—the people, places, and things that have shaped who you are today. This is your chance to connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what has helped make you unstoppable. So take it.

While there are many things outside of “community” that might fit this prompt, if you’re looking for a way to brainstorm ideas, that’s a good place to start. (But keep in mind that you’ll want to include some “how will you contribute” details in your essay—this isn’t just a “tell us about a community” prompt.)

For a full guide to “community” essays, head there, but here’s the short version:

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT

Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by...

  • Place: groups of people who live/work/play near one another

  • Action: groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (Examples: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)

  • Interest: groups of people coming together based on shared interest, experience, or expertise

  • Circumstance: groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations

STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT

You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.

STEP 3: DO SOME “HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE” RESEARCH

You’ll want to offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to Brown. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the Brown community. 

STEP 4: PICK A STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE OR MONTAGE)

STEP 5: WRITE A FIRST DRAFT!

This is a brand-new prompt for Brown this year, but here’s an essay, written for Columbia, that could have worked well for this prompt:

Example 3:

At family dinners over gnocchi and arancini, my grandpa would always ask my two older brothers how their education and sports were going. I’d wait for my turn, but the question was never directed my way. In contrast, my grandma always tells me how thankful she is that I’m able to get an education of my own. She frequently mentions how she regrets never getting an education. I pursue my education with a fire within me to do what she wasn’t allowed to. During the summer of 2021, I realized that I could impact other girls in a similar way by writing a children’s book about influential women in STEM in order to inspire the next generation of female scientists. 

At Columbia University, I hope to contribute to the empowerment of women by creating a Society of Women in Science, hosting Alumni Panels, Graduate Student Q&A’s, and creating a safe space for women in similar majors to discuss their successes and setbacks. In addition, joining the Student Wellness Project will provide another community that prioritizes mental health. This empowering environment is the ideal place to help me develop as both a feminist and a scientist.

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. View the prompt broadly. While this prompt offers you the perfect opportunity to explore the impact race, socioeconomic status, and other societal factors have had on you, don’t feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the prompt. As in the example above, where the student recounts her experiences with a cultural and generational divide, there are many experiences we’ve had that have shaped who we are. Some are deep, like being the only person of color at your high school, while others are more light-hearted, like having to learn to make your own grilled cheese at age 8 as a latchkey kid. Both are admirable in their own ways. Both may be really important to you. And both can make really effective responses.

  2. Make campus connections. The second part of the prompt is as important as the first. While Brown wants to hear about your past experiences, they’re just as curious about how they’ll shape your time on campus, leaving the school better than as you found it. But remember, they probably want at least some (if not all) focus on outside-the-classroom experiences here, so dive into their list of student organizations and find a few that truly resonate with you and that you feel you could make a meaningful contribution to. The student above does just that with their reference to the Student Wellness project and how they expect to contribute.

  3. Be a changemaker. Can’t find an organization at Brown you'd like to join? Create your own! The student in the example above plans to start their own organization and even outlines some of the specific events she plans to hold. It's clear she's done her research to see where the college might be lacking in female-centered organizations—and she's going to take the charge to correct that.

  4. Tie the two together. Make sure your past connects with your future. That means tying the lessons from your childhood, preteen, and adolescent years with the contributions you're going to make on campus. The response above does a great job in doing that. As a young female who has, from a young age, been committed to empowering young women, it’s clear how this student is going to make a specific impact on Brown's campus community.

And here’s a bonus example for an older Brown prompt that works very nicely for the first half of the new prompt (Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you) but would need some changes/additions in the second half to address the second part of the prompt (what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community):

Bonus Example:

“Why on earth do you have to volunteer at places like that?” My dad spoke abruptly during our drive home.

 I had just finished working at an LGBT-friendly bar, raising funds for an LGBT workplace diversity campaign. As I walked out smelling like tobacco and beer, his face stiffened. But I knew what angered him more was that I’d turned down a volunteering opportunity at the UN and chosen the Beijing LGBT Center, an NGO he deemed illegitimate. 

“Because...” I began.

“I don’t want you to work there anymore.”

Dreadful silence prolonged in the car. I was devastated that he didn’t approve of the work I’d prided myself in. 

But I didn’t tell him these things. I hadn’t (and haven’t) come out to him yet. 

I love my father. He’s the superman who let me ride on his shoulders, who spent his savings on providing me the best education possible, and who cried when I told him I was lonely in boarding school.

But he didn’t want me volunteering at the bar. And I didn’t want to let him down.

So I compromised.

I never worked again at the bar. I could continue volunteering at the LGBT center, but not more than twice a week. And I should never discuss my work publicly. 

As I gave in to my family’s wishes, my mind flashed back to my other queer activists who had not. A transgender woman, Qing, has a father who hasn’t spoken to her in ten years because she refuses to cut her long hair. Nana’s mother nearly disowned her because she married her girlfriend. 

I’ve come to realize that activism isn’t just about marching in rainbow parades and running ambitious campaigns. It may involve conflicts with our loved ones who hold opposite beliefs. Upholding personal beliefs could lead to a broken family, and vice versa. There is not a right answer but only a matter of choice. 

And that’s a painful lesson. (324 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Bring it back to you. Although the prompt asks you to talk about a perspective you encountered that was different from your own, remember that the person reading your application ultimately wants to know more about you. This writer centers her essay around her father’s disapproval of her LGBTQ+ advocacy/volunteer work. But she makes sure to bring their difficult conversations back to how it informed her own perspective and the compromises she had to make as a result of her father’s beliefs. Think about how you can weave yourself into the story as you write. Why? This will make you an active participant (rather than a passive observer) in your own story.

  2. Consider the nuance. As you’re writing, you may be tempted to tie your response up into a neat little bow. It might seem nice to end on a happy or resolved note. But beliefs and values are complicated. We don’t normally encounter perspectives different from our own and immediately accept them. More often than not, difficult conversations end in some mix of compromise and disagreement. Don’t be afraid to talk about that tension in your essay. It can be fundamental to demonstrating your depth of character and maturity. Notice, for example, how this student openly admits to struggling with accepting her dad’s judgements—and how that vulnerability makes it easier to empathize with her. The ending is painful, and the student doesn’t shy away from sharing the messiness of her growth. When you’re writing, reflect on the kinds of conversations you have and what you learned from them. Even if you didn’t change someone else’s worldview, you can still have a topic worth writing about.

  3. Incorporate dialogue (or don’t). This student does an excellent job of using the tough conversation she had with her father about her bar job as a way to illustrate their conflicting viewpoints, quickly hooking us into her narrative. When used effectively, dialogue can bring readers into the action in an interesting, evocative, and visceral way. Especially in answering a prompt like this about ideas, engagement, and communication, dialogue can be a useful literary tool (Brown even mentions dialogue in the prompt itself!). However, too much dialogue or mundane snippets of conversation can be boring, eating away at your already-limited word count. Use your best judgment and consider whether dialogue would be a smart storytelling device for you.

  4. Show how this shapes your contributions. Because it was written for an older version of Brown’s prompt, the essay above lacks any “how will you contribute” details. But the student could easily do some research on organizations at Brown that connect to these past experiences and incorporate them into the end of the essay (probably by building a new paragraph after “And that’s a painful lesson”).

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #3

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

This is another new one for Brown, but we find it to be very similar to Stanford’s old “what’s meaningful and why” and “what makes you generally excited about learning” prompts. Check out that crash course here for discussions and examples of those. When approaching this Brown prompt, think about these key phrases as you brainstorm a possible topic and go to write: “care deeply about their work and the world around them,” “contentment, satisfaction, meaning,” “daily interactions and major discoveries.” Seize on any one of those that speak to you. Maybe it’s a pet project you started to improve your community (care deeply), or a hobby you do for the fun of it (satisfaction, meaning), or even your mastery of derivatives and integrals (hey, that’s some students’ love language). Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that truly brings you joy and that can generate 200-250 words of content.

Here’s an essay written for another school that would work well here.

Example:

Last summer, I became an addict.

A pickleball addict. A pickler. I had once dismissed the game as an old dude’s sport, or merely just too hard. However, the game grew on me as I went from barely keeping the ball in bounds, to serving aces and hitting consistent put-away shots for hours on end. The game’s simplicity blew my mind, and I quickly became hooked.

As the school year began, I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I would only be able to play twice per week, instead of my usual five. So, I founded the Ralston Valley Pickleball Club, and it quickly transformed into one of the most populated clubs at school. Students from many different cliques and backgrounds come together weekly, whether through casual games or competitive, organized tournaments. 

The staggering rate at which my peers formed new connections daily happily surprised me, as the game’s effects were not simply left on the Pickleball Courts: the hallways at my school reverberated with new conversations. By utilizing an unusual, inclusive sport, I was able to introduce my immediate community to the diversity all around them. (189 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Consider starting with a powerful one-liner. The first sentence of this essay is cryptic, smart, and a little funny, and it makes you want to keep reading. The second and third sentence fragments are even better. The writer has barely written 10 words, and already we feel like we know so much about him. It’s a lovely beginning. Stumped on how to start this (or any) essay? This blog has some ideas that may help.

  2. Use structure to highlight your narrative arc. Although this essay is short, the author has a clear story to tell. The story has distinct parts. He became interested in pickleball, founded a pickleball club because he enjoyed it so much, and spread his love of the sport to other members of his school community. Those are the points he’s trying to convey, and you can see them reflected in each of his paragraphs. Simple paragraph breaks like these can help you clarify your main points to your reader.

  3. Emphasize uncommon values. This author picked a pretty cool topic, but he could have easily written a boring essay if he hadn’t connected it to interesting insights and values. When we think of sports, some words that come to mind might be physical health, athleticism, sportsmanship, or competition. However, reading this essay, we see the author has emphasized values that aren’t as commonly written about in sports essays, like simplicity, community, connection, and happiness. The essay takes us in an unexpected direction, which a) makes us want to keep reading and b) helps this essay (and applicant) stand out.

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #4

What three words best describe you? (3 words)

Every written response in your application is a chance to be memorable and differentiate yourself from other applicants—especially other applicants with similar academic profiles. So with only three words at your disposal for your response, you want to make them count. In other words, in a pasture full of horses, be a little bit more zebra. While we’ve got a how-to guide for answering these short-answer questions for highly selective colleges that goes into more detail on these (and other) questions, keep reading for our take on how to get the most bang for your three-word buck. 

And check out the examples below to learn how much you can learn about a student in just three words.

Examples: 

Simple, Calculator, Wizard

— — —

Korean-food-loving, Taekwondo-Blue-Belt, Innovator

— — —

Fish, intuitive, hungry

— — —

Sondheim-loving, Tofu-eating, Noctivagant

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Avoid repetition and super-common descriptors. We know how tempting it is to put “creative, passionate, leader”—especially if those words fit you really well. Don’t give in to the temptation. Chances are, if you really are those things, they’re coming through loud and clear in other parts of your application. Don’t repeat them here. For the answers given above, don’t you find yourself wanting to know more about the students who wrote them? Exactly. Those words have done their job.

  2. Hyphenated-words-are-OK-here. Don’t overdo it, though. But you can absolutely connect related descriptors, like the student’s “Korean-food-loving” submission above. It works because it’s all related to a singular idea. Still, use them sparingly and to enhance your answer, not to sidestep the prompt’s instructions.

  3. Think beyond adjectives. Of course, your default reaction is probably to use adjectives. But as you’re thinking beyond those blah adjectives (see tip 1 above), why not think past adjectives entirely? Wizard. Noctivagant. Mulan. Thinking outside that adjective box can yield some pretty amazing (and highly visual) results. 

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #5

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Great news for you on this prompt: This is your all-purpose extracurricular activity essay (although you probably knew that already)—and you’ll likely be able to repurpose this essay for other prompts from other schools (or vice versa). 

If you’ve already written this essay for another application, then BOOM, you’re probably done (with maybe a little editing to fit word count). Starting from scratch? Then you can check out our deep dive on how to write a great extracurricular activity essay, or keep reading for our top tips for writing a strong essay in just 100 words.

Because this prompt is new, we don’t have any Brown-specific samples to show you. But the sample below was written in response to a similar prompt for Stanford (although with a longer word count), and they do a great job laying the foundation you can use for your own, shorter, essay.

Example: 

Whether it’s painting for a teenager getting out of rehab, dissecting the anti-war meanings behind Banksy’s street art, or dancing a Bharatnatyam piece that communicates how we’re all one and the same, I’ve seen first-hand art’s power to persuade, influence, and urge people to act. 

My next project is a multimedia piece that speaks to an issue of utter importance to me: suicide prevention. My brother, a peer, and I are working on a campaign, with support from the national mental health organization SAVE and our school, with a call to action— share one reason worth living for each day. 

To support the campaign, my piece will be centered around a dance choreographed to two poems focusing on the little beauties of life: “People Should Fall in Love More” by Courney Peppernell and “And In Wonder And Amazement I Sing” by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore—sung in Bengali. Since those with suicidal tendencies often have racing thoughts, I want our piece to calm them with the steady beat of the tabla playing in the background. With each line, I plan to use hand gestures like Alapadma and Hamsasya, to wordlessly communicate the poems’ important messages of life, love and purpose. 

I hope this audiovisual experience will inspire my audience with hope, so that they see the beauty in even small things. Using my art for action gives it meaning through impact.

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Value function (information) over form (flowery writing). This may seem like a no-brainer, but there’s a difference between writing a 100-word essay and writing an effective 100-word essay. With no extra words to spare, you need to be crystal-clear in conveying what you’ve done, and what you’ve learned as a result. The writer of this essay gets right to the point in the first line and uses every word to support their involvement. 

  2. Be clear about your takeaways. Admission officers want to see clear growth from the activities you’re involved in, so don’t hesitate to show what your involvement in this activity meant to you. The author of this essay reveals what their art means to them—“Using my art for action gives it meaning through impact”—leaving no doubt about its importance.

  3. Ignore the word count… at first. The problem with writing a 100-word essay is you think you have to start by writing a 100-word essay. Our top tip for writing? Overwrite. Make it long. Brain dump. Word vomit. Brainstorm. Whatever you like to call freewriting. Just dive in. The best 100-word essays almost always start at 250-300 words and then are ruthlessly but methodically cut down. When you (at first) ignore the word count, you’re more likely to include the deep stuff and the important stuff, and then you can trim out all the superfluous content. But when you write to word count from the get-go, you’ll probably miss the opportunity to add the real impact to your story.

As an extra-special bonus, here’s another Stanford essay written for a similar prompt. Again, while it’s too long for Brown, it does a great job of showing how meaningful this activity was to the student.

Bonus example:

The issue of educational injustice is deeply important to me. School closures during the pandemic exacerbated this inequality, with many public institutions staying closed the 2020-21 school year as opposed to their private school counterparts—their students’ educational experience being less optimal as a result. Seeing this disparity, I decided to start TutorDigital, a non-profit free tutoring and technology donation service for Bay Area students.

My interest in tutoring began in middle school through volunteering as a peer tutor. In high school, I created a tutoring club, giving my peers the opportunity to help younger elementary students on financial aid with their homework. With the club being sidetracked by COVID-19, I tutored for 826 Valencia. This experience prompted me to transition my old club to a remote format, while also rebranding it with a friend: naming it TutorDigital, registering it as a non-profit, designing a website, and recruiting additional tutors. These efforts expanded our reach to include local public schools. Since then, we’ve provided tutoring services to 34 students and identified other opportunities to support public schools like donating upwards of 60 iPads.

While the issue unfortunately will not be solved overnight, educational injustice must be aggressively addressed, now more than ever given the impacts of the pandemic. But for now, I gain great satisfaction from each thank you note from a parent or good grade achieved by a student, knowing my efforts have potentially improved the academic trajectory of these children and helped to address educational injustice in my community.

— — —

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #6

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

This prompt gives you the perfect opportunity to talk about what really lights you up and brings you joy. After all, if you’re going to be teaching a class for a whole semester, it’ll hopefully be on something you’re passionate about, right? So harness that passion and convert it into 100 impactful words. Regardless of the topic you choose, this is your chance to show what kind of thinker and planner you are and what new, unique, and exciting perspectives you’re going to bring to Brown. If you want to go into an even deeper dive on this essay topic, check out our longer guide at this link.

While these responses were written for other schools with different word counts, they’re great examples of how to approach your own response to Brown.

Example: 

The Exalted Power of Music: How Our Ears Inspire Our Eyes

Course Description: Music dominates our society–pop songs and singers are hugely influential in today’s time. But where else in our lives does the enchanting power of music hold influence? As we investigate and unravel the techniques of modern artists through a diverse slate of plays, cartoons, and films, we will discover the vital role of music in enhancing benchmark works of visual fiction. Simultaneously, through philosophical readings of Walton and Nietzsche, we will analyze the emotional and physiological effects of music, examining the dynamic interplay of visual and auditory elements. Finally, students will synthesize their research to create a short film or multimedia piece that displays their knowledge of visual aspects, music's attributes, and their combined impact on a universal audience.

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Remember the “or otherwise” part of the prompt. It’s tempting to go super-academic in response to this prompt, and that can definitely work well, but just remember they’re holding space here for you to show your creative, fun side, too. In the sample above, personal interests shine brightly through the “Exalted Power of Music” topic as the student dives deeply into fascinating (to our minds) aspects of what they’d explore.

  2. Demonstrate your expertise. Regardless of what direction you take your response in, highlight your knowledge. Mentioning required readings (like the author does in the first example) positions you as a curious expert. Bonus: Finding pieces that are slightly off-topic from your course can be a great way to make uncommon connections and help your response stand out. 

  3. Ask questions. Even simply asking smart questions can demonstrate your out-of-the-box thinking. Not only do they illustrate the deeper topics that get your brain humming, but they also show the critical thinking that Brown expects (and hopes to cultivate) on campus. The example above doesn’t have to do this, but keep in mind that a complex, intriguing question can often be more interesting than an answer.

And here’s a different example, again written for a different school’s prompt (that focuses on a single seminar, rather than a course), that illustrates a different possible approach.

Bonus example:

Whenever I received birthday money from family or friends as a small child, my father, being a frugal man, would deposit it into my bank account. This became a running joke in the family, with my mom’s step-dad affectionately calling him “jingles.” Despite my complaints, I always assumed my father was ultimately right, doing something that would benefit me financially in the long run.

Then I read John Maynard Keynes’ “Paradox of Thrift.” According to Keynes, we might have been wrong. Keynes asserts individual saving is bad for the overall health of the economy, negatively affecting the individual. For instance, say my grandmother gives me $20. If I save it, aggregate consumption decreases by $20, reducing firms’ planned investment, expecting $20 less to be spent on their goods. As a result, they need less labor, either causing layoffs or wage cuts which could adversely affect my grandmother, preventing her from giving me money on my next birthday and causing me to save less. Keynes’ theory demonstrates that saving can actually reduce saving, hence the “paradox.”

My Flash Seminar would address Keynes’ theory, specifically how we forget to consider the aggregate impacts of our actions. From spending birthday money to taking shorter showers to bringing a reusable water bottle to school, Keynes’ theory illustrates how seemingly insignificant choices have large cumulative effects, something I’d want to pass along to my audience with the hope of persuading them to think less about themselves and more about the whole.

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How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essay #7

In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

While it’s not easy to distill into 50 words why you want to spend your next four years at Brown, it’s not impossible, either. 

Since you’re writing an academic “Why Us” for the first Brown prompt, you should already being doing research that can set you up here. (Side note: If you haven’t checked out our step-by-step guide to writing the “Why Us” essay, check it out at this link.)

This Brown prompt, at just 50 words and one sentence, is a mini-version of this “Why Us” essay, honing in on just one (maybe two) unique aspects of Brown that you’re drawn to. While you can include academic and extracurricular activities in your response, avoid covering common topics, like the open curriculum (you’ve already written about it) and passing through the Van Wickle gate. Instead, the best answer is going to incorporate why You + Brown = The Perfect Match.

Here’s a nice example written for Stanford that packs a lot of answers to “Why” in this pint-sized word count.

Example: 

Loving my favorite lines of Latin poetry for their ingenious manipulation of language, I anticipate studying comedy—humankind’s most clever use of language—through the Making Fun of History: Insults, Mockery and Abuse Language in Antiquity IntroSem. 

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Dig deep to find your “Why.” Really go through Brown’s website. Find (and read) a course syllabus. Check out student reviews. Check out expert reviews. What are they saying about what sets Brown apart from all others? You might be surprised at some of the answers. Then take what you’ve learned to connect it back to you. After all, Brown knows why they’re great. But they don’t know why they’re great for you. The author of our sample essay above clearly demonstrates they understand how a past classroom favorite will connect to coursework and the college—and why it’s a perfect fit for them.

  2. Have some fun in your answer. We know this feels like a big risk in a high-stakes situation, but you can absolutely (and effectively) show your personality in these answers. In our sample essay above, beyond seeing the connection between their interest (language) and the college’s offerings, we come away knowing a little more about the author—like, we’re pretty sure they have some wicked-good comeback lines. 

  3. Get right to the point. With such a limited word count, this is no time to wax poetic or include intros or conclusions. Cut things like “I want to attend Brown because.” Use contractions. It’s OK, we promise. 

And here are a couple more examples, without analysis, just to give you other directions to head in.

Interdisciplinary research at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Science (SIMES), a space where I can collaborate with students in many different majors and work on an issue very important to me, climate change, through research projects such as analyzing “gold-cage” perovskites with tunable light absorption.

— — — 

I am thrilled to audition for the Stanford Swing Dancers, since I am trained in ballet, ballet folklórico, hip-hop, contemporary, tap, jazz, salsa, tango, ballroom, and some African styles, and I am almost always moving and would be delighted to broaden my repertoire.

— — —

How to Write the Brown PLME Supplemental Essays

If you’re applying to other BS/MD programs, we have an in-depth BS/MD guide here, built from advice from BS/MD admissions readers. For examples and analysis from Brown’s PLME program, keep reading.

How to Write the Brown PLME Prompt #1

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education)

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. Explain your personal motivation to pursue a career in medicine. (250 word limit)

This prompt is specifically for prospective students who want to apply to Brown’s combined BA and MD eight-year program (more details here). This program encourages students to take classes in a variety of different disciplines as they prepare for a career as physicians or medical scholars. Here, the school asks you to consider why you’re drawn to medicine and reflect on the values/experiences that shaped that interest. Brown is a big proponent of academic exploration and interdisciplinary curiosity. While those principles are still important in the PLME program, committing to a specific career path right out of high school is a big deal, and Brown wants to make sure you’ve thought deeply about it before jumping right in.

Here’s a great example essay:

Example:

The two things I love most are science and talking. Unfortunately, they don’t always align. But I’ve gotten a taste for their intersection in both research and teaching. 

As a volunteer lab assistant at the University of Illinois, I helped researchers with projects—everything from collecting ice for materials storage to compiling data on pancreatic cysts. As a student for Dr. Rubin’s Mini Medical School, a local program that fosters high school students’ interests in the world of medicine I learned basic factoids (the anatomy of various organs, how to insert an IV, how to suture, how to cast, and how to read an X-Ray, among other things). 

But the following year, after becoming a TA for the program, my eyes were opened to the significance of developing good communication skills, especially humorous dialogue, in the medical field. When I was teaching students, I frequently needed to identify ways to encourage conversations as part of the curriculum. 

When teaching about baby delivery, I started by asking who was familiar with the Kardashians. After a group discussion on the pseudo-royal family, I would slip in references to the lesson (the nutrients contained within a placenta) by asking if they were all aware of the fact that Kourtney had ingested hers.

My goal as a physician is to connect people and medicine in creative and beneficial ways. While studying the sciences I want to keep learning, teaching, and encouraging conversations, and therefore, connections. (240 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Make uncommon connections. A lot of people want to be doctors, but if you can find a way to connect that career goal to uncommon values, it’ll be easier for you to stand out. This student talks about the importance of clear communication and humor in relation to wanting to be a physician—values we might not normally associate with the profession. He ties those values to tangible anecdotes about Kardashian baby delivery analogies and teaching other students as a TA. Everyone who answers this prompt is essentially going to be writing about the same topic (wanting to be a doctor), but if you can find unique personal values to embed in your essay, you’ll have a better chance of standing out.

  2. Emphasize past experience. Notice that this author is coming in with some prior experience in the world of medicine. This helps us get confidence that he’s basing his career choice on real-world insights. Only 50 people get accepted into the PLME program each year, so Brown really wants to make sure you know what you’re getting into and have solid reasons for why you deserve a spot at its institution for eight years. It’s crucial that you emphasize what you’ve done to develop your current interest in medicine as well as the skills you’ve learned along the way. For this student, his past experience helped him learn basic “factoids,” like how to suture, cast, and insert an IV. It also gave him an appreciation for effective scientific communication and how to practice that communication in a clinical setting.

  3. Consider the future. While it’s important to draw on past experience in this essay, it’s equally important to think about where a professional medical degree would take you in the future. This student’s goal is to use his degree to “connect people and medicine in creative and beneficial ways.” You don’t have a huge word count, so your discussion of the future can be broad like this example (although this student could have dug a little deeper on the “right fit for you” aspect of the prompt). Just give your reader a sense of what you’re working toward so that they know what motivates and inspires you in this particular field of study.

How to Write the Brown PLME Prompt #2

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education)

Health care is constantly changing, as it is affected by racial and social disparities, economics, politics, and technology, among others. Imagine that you are a physician and describe one way in which you would seek to make a positive impact in today’s healthcare environment. (250 words)

At first glance, this prompt may seem intimidating, since the topic is politically, socially, economically, and culturally charged. But solid brainstorming techniques will help you break this essay down into smaller chunks. Before you start writing, identify a current problem in the healthcare system that means something to you (Ex. lack of transparency about medications, accessibility challenges for low-income students, etc). Try this technique:

Step 1: Write that problem down on the center of a piece of paper.

Step 2: Draw lines off it to the right and left. 

Step 3: At the ends of the lines on the left, brainstorm reasons why that problem bothers you (Ex. I’m a student, and I have trouble getting my medications, so this is a personal problem). 

Step 4: At the ends of the lines on the right, brainstorm ways you could address that central problem (Ex. federal regulation, fewer financial incentives for doctors to prioritize wealthier patients, etc). 

Step 5: As you build out your mind map, start to identify the bones of your eventual essay:

  • Problem

  • Reasons why it affects, concerns, bothers, or motivates me

  • Potential solutions to make a positive impact

Your essay doesn’t necessarily have to be that linear, but having these basic building blocks will help you to make this broad prompt more digestible.

Here’s an essay we love that was written for another school but could work well for this prompt. While it would have to be 200 words shorter for this year’s Brown prompt, the content, structure, and specificity are the key takeaways.

Example:

People should not have to pay extraordinary prices for necessary emergency treatment in the United States. If doctors turn patients away because they can’t pay, what’s the point of the profession? I want to become a doctor and create structural changes within the United States healthcare system to transform the medical field.

My interest wasn’t initially as firm as it is now, rather I was just curious at the beginning. I dedicated hours to explore the medical field. After I became eligible in the middle of my junior year, I applied, interviewed, and was accepted as a volunteer at AMITA Health Hospitals. In March, I got my vaccinations and fulfilled the requirements to volunteer; however, COVID-19 struck—the program was shut down. Despite this obstacle, I persisted. I virtually shadowed doctors and continued learning about the medical field through Virtual Pre-medicine Shadowing and the BRAINterms Summer Seminar Series. 

The experience of Trauma Surgeon Dr. Brian Williams and his surgeries for gunshot wounds impacted me. It was the first time I was exposed to images of gunshot wounds. I had never imagined myself before being able to save people who had experienced such horrible injuries. He dealt with such difficult cases on a daily basis, but rather than it frightening me, I wanted to take up a similar challenge. The joy Dr. Williams expressed when telling stories of the patients who lived made me realize what an honor it is to have the expertise over life and death. 

The cascade of information from the lives of actual doctors made me realize that I wanted to be one myself. So, how could I help people or get involved if I couldn’t treat patients directly?

As a junior, I took Advanced Biological Systems in order to expand my foundational knowledge of biology, but I had a desire to learn beyond the classroom. I wanted to deeply dive into biology and the medical aspect of the field, so I cold emailed professors in hopes of pursuing an internship through IMSA’s Student Inquiry and Research Program. I was accepted by Dr. Daniel C. Lee at Northwestern University and am currently interning there. Learning about the functions of the heart as well as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was fascinating and solidified my interest in biology.  

A degree in Healthcare Management & Policy would allow me to further understand my interests in policy and medicine. I’d be able to learn about the intersection of those two interests with the Georgetown curriculum through the health policy analysis track with a pre med concentration. The major would prepare me for my future aspirations as a doctor and a policy maker working to change health care legislation, and it would allow me to pursue research and internship opportunities with more understanding of my favored fields of study. (465 words)

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Tips + Analysis

  1. Start with the problem. In this essay, it’s really easy to find the healthcare problem that the student is addressing because it’s in his first paragraph. Right from the start, we know he’ll be talking about making prices more equitable in the healthcare system. It helps orient the reader and contextualize the rest of his essay. You don’t want your reader to be confused or have to search for your thesis in the body of your response.

  2. Talk about yourself. This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget to do this when answering this kind of prompt. Many students get so sucked into identifying and describing problems that they forget to discuss what unique solutions they’d bring to the table. This student first makes it clear what frustrates him about the healthcare system, then he delves into his personal experience volunteering at AMITA Health Hospitals and shadowing a trauma surgeon. He also mentions specific high school classes and research opportunities that prepared him for studying medicine. He smoothly transitions from the problem to his academic background. Remember, this is your application, so don’t shy away from discussing your accomplishments. That being said, don’t lose track of answering the prompt as you talk about yourself. In the end, this student circles back to the original problem and discusses how a degree in Healthcare Management & Policy would help him take action in the medical field through policy implementation. Had he been writing to this prompt, he could have expanded more specifically on what policy measures he’d take to effect positive change. The more you can do to show you’ve done your research and are prepared to take real action, the better.

  3. Emphasize persistence. One aspect of this essay that really stands out is the student’s grit and determination in making the most out of the opportunities available to him. Even though his volunteering job was interrupted by COVID, he made the most of his opportunities by signing up for external seminars and virtually shadowing doctors. Even though he was disturbed by the gunshot wounds he observed Dr. Brian Williams treating, he turned it into a source of ambition and motivation. He advocated for himself by cold-emailing professors, and landed a great college-level internship. Whenever you can, show how you overcame obstacles or worked with what you had in a meaningful way. It’s not about what’s handed to you, it’s about making the effort to reach for what may be just outside your grasp.

How to Write the Brown PLME Prompt #3

Required for applicants to the PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education)

How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) helping you to meet your academic personal and professional goals as a person and as a physician of the future? (250 word limit)

Think of this one as another “Why us?” prompt, but this one’s all about the PLME program. Here are some steps you can take as you prepare to write this prompt:

Step 1: Do your research. If you haven’t already, do a deep dive into the program, looking for courses and opportunities that appeal to you. How do you see yourself taking advantage of those offerings? What “why me” elements can you add in connecting what you’ve already done with what you hope to do in Brown’s PLME program? 

Step 2: Take a moment to think through what “your academic personal and professional goals as a person and a physician of the future” are. The prompt is essentially asking to learn more about two aspects of your aspirations: How do you want to grow (academically) as a person in the PLME? And what are your professional goals as a future doctor? 

Step 3: Make a copy of this chart to map out your research.

Step 4: As you write, think about dividing the essay into two parts: the first outlining your personal and professional goals, and the second using specifics (courses, professors, research opportunities, etc.) to show how you expect the PLME program to help you attain those goals.

Here’s a nice example of a student who did just that. While the example below was written for when the word count was 500, it nicely illustrates your goal with specific details and “so whats”, and would just need cuts.

Example:

Throughout preschool, I was only fluent in Tamil, so I carried a bright green piece of paper covered with crayon scribbles and coffee stains. Wrinkled beyond perception, it was my key to communicating with those around me. Over the course of two years, my mother had written translations that would enable my teachers to understand what I was saying at any given point in time. 

After that green paper had come and gone, I started to notice new ones appear every once in a while. First, it was just a simple guide on verbs in Spanish, then it was a trigonometry review in Precalculus, until finally it was my formula sheet for Chemistry. At this point in time, the green sheet of paper represented a bridge between two worlds: one that was unknown and one that was familiar. Since I valued it so much, I made it my goal to become such a bridge. As a hospital volunteer, I spoke in Spanish, Telugu, and Tamil in order to help visitors find what they were looking for. This is where my interest in the medical field stems from—forming connections. My goal, as a physician, is to better my patients’ social and emotional health in addition to their physical well-being.

PLME will give me the opportunity to explore my interests in a shorter, more structured timeframe, while also encouraging growth in various fields during my two years as an undergraduate student participating in medical school coursework. I hope to take part in Brown’s study abroad programs (if Covid allows it!), participating in extensive learning in places like Argentina and Japan. I’m very eager to study biology and medicine through the lens of new cultures. Additionally, within Providence, I’d be privileged to lend my skills to the Community Health Advocacy Program.

At Brown, I want to continue my love of research. When I was a research assistant at the University of Illinois, I collected data on pancreatic cysts; but I would like the chance to participate in research on my particular interest in neural pathways and how they relate to cognitive function. I am especially intrigued by Dr. Sasaki’s work on how both the REM and NREM sleep cycles affect the learning process. I might also finally get the chance to conduct the study on total recall (not the movie) that I designed in my psychology class.

From the limitless opportunities for exploration to a simultaneous science-oriented and clinic-oriented approach throughout my PLME experience, I’m confident that Brown will be a place in which I can thrive and become the bridge I have always sought to be— that green sheet of paper, connecting the known and unknown. (444 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Connect to Brown’s resources. This essay isn’t just about you. It also isn’t just about Brown or the PLME program. “Why us?” = why you + why Brown/PLME. So try to craft a response that both demonstrates your unique interests and connects those to what the college/program has to offer. This student highlights her interest in traveling, translation, and connection in relation to medicine by talking about her experience volunteering at a hospital. She then connects those personal experiences to specific opportunities at Brown, like studying abroad in Argentina or Japan, participating in the Community Health Advocacy Program in Providence, and doing research on sleep cycles. We get a distinct sense of her excitement to engage with what the school has to offer. It’s specific to the PLME program and her love of medicine, but it also expands to the broader university. Getting as specific as possible about the clubs, labs, classes, majors, or professors you want to engage with will show that you’ve done your research—and that you’ve found lots at Brown to be excited about.

  2. Explain your impact. The author here doesn’t just reference opportunities at Brown in passing; she does so with intention. Every time she mentions a campus organization, professor, or aspect of the PLME program, she explains why she’s interested in it and what she’d do with it as a resource. Writing about the contributions you see yourself making helps admission officers envision your impact on their campus environment. It also shows that you’re thinking through your involvement in the community on a deeper level, demonstrating a commitment to Brown’s core values.

  3. Make your structure clear and logical. This essay is easy to follow because separate thoughts and experiences are grouped in separate paragraphs. The first few are more about how the student developed an interest in medicine as a kid/young adult. The next few are about Brown and the PLME program resources she’d want to take advantage of. And the last paragraph is more broadly about her goals and why she wants to become a physician. These clear paragraph/content delineations make the essay easy to read and understand in the context of the prompt.

How to Write the Brown RISD Program Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Brown RISD Prompt #1

Required for applicants to the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program:

The Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program draws on the complementary strengths of Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry, culminating in a capstone project that interrelates the content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences.

Based on your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD and the possibilities created by the BRDD program's broadened learning community, specifically describe how and why the BRDD program would constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. As part of your answer, be sure to articulate how you might contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work. (650 words)

Brown and RISD’s Dual Degree program is no joke. Only about 15-22 students are accepted each year out of a large pool of applicants. To get on your reader’s radar, this needs to be a stand-out essay. Think of it sort of like a personal statement + ”Why us?” hybrid. And just like for your personal statement, great brainstorming is key. Here are some of our favorite brainstorming exercises to get you started:

Remember, you want your Dual Degree essay to be distinct from your personal statement and your other Brown supplemental essays. It’s okay if certain themes or values overlap or intersect, but try to talk about something you haven’t already covered in other parts of your application. Here are some general tips as you start writing:

  1. Do your research! After brainstorming about yourself, explore the university’s website. What courses would you want to take? What concentrations interest you? What clubs or sports teams could you be a part of? Really think through the way you’d structure your experience at the two universities. Your reader won’t be able to envision you in the program if you can’t envision yourself there.

  2. Make interdisciplinary connections. That’s what this program is all about: finding unique ways to marry an undergraduate education in something like Public Policy, Economics, History, or Arabic to an interest in a specific artform or style like Silkscreen, Film, or Industrial Design. Your reader needs to know how you’d benefit from an education at both RISD and Brown. What could you do with skills from both institutions that you couldn’t do by attending just one of these schools? That’s a question you should be looking to answer in your response.

  3. Details! Be specific. The more visceral details you can share about yourself and what you’re discussing, the better you can distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Use memorable language and evoke unique images that are likely to stick with admission officers.

Remember, sometimes, the key to writing is getting started. Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. When in doubt, write it long, then cut it later after you’ve gotten all your thoughts on paper. The goal here is to emphasize your personal values and experiences, then tie those to the specific resources of the Dual Degree program and how you’d make use of them. Of course, this is easier said than done, but great planning, research, and brainstorming will set you up for success.

With all these tips and examples in mind, you’re ready to start writing the Brown supplemental essays!

Special thanks to Julia for writing this blog post.

Julia published her first “book” on the elusive Pika in elementary school and has been writing fervently ever since. She’s thrilled to unite her quirky love of grammar and master’s in psychology to help students tell their most meaningful stories. Her favorite punctuation mark is the apostrophe because, in the words of Imagine Dragons, it’s “a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see.”

Top values: Collaboration | Family | Productivity