How to get into Brown University

How to get into Brown: the Open Curriculum changes what readers look for

5.4%

Acceptance rate

$71,412

In-state cost

What makes Brown University admissions different

Brown has no general education requirements. Every class is taken because the student chose it. Admissions reads applications looking for self-directed learners who'd actually thrive without a checklist — not for AP-stacking valedictorians. Show them you're the kind of student who would invent your own curriculum.

What an actually competitive application looks like

  1. 1.

    In supplements, name specific Brown courses, concentrations, and faculty — and explain why a school without distribution requirements is right for you, specifically.

  2. 2.

    Build evidence of self-directed learning outside the classroom: independent reading projects, self-taught skills, a course you designed yourself.

  3. 3.

    Maintain a top GPA in a curriculum that already shows breadth and depth chosen by you, not forced by the school.

  4. 4.

    1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT remains the soft floor; Brown publishes admit-band data showing scores below 1450 are rare without a hook.

  5. 5.

    Apply Early Decision if Brown is your clear top choice — meaningful acceptance bump (around 14% vs 5% RD).

Common mistakes that hurt applicants here

  • ✕

    Generic 'Brown is amazing' supplements. The Open Curriculum essay is graded on whether you actually understand and want it.

  • ✕

    Treating the PLME (8-year BS/MD) as a backup to medical school. It's the most selective program at Brown — under 3% acceptance.

  • ✕

    Underestimating Brown's quirk. Readers like off-beat applicants and reward voice over polish.

If you're on the bubble

Brown rewards students who would genuinely use the Open Curriculum. If your essays show authentic curiosity across disciplines (not just one) and you can articulate why that matters, you punch above your stats. Treat the supplement as the single most important piece of your application.

Next steps

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Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.