Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2024-2025
With college application season underway, now is the time for your child to start their supplemental essays. These essays are often overlooked until the last minute, but they’re an important piece of the application. Crafting essays early gives your child room to express their motivations and aspirations clearly, and with time for thoughtful reflection, proofreading, and editing. A well-organized, authentic essay can make a real difference in the admissions process.
Crafting compelling supplemental essays is essential, especially for an elite institution like Brown University. Known for its open curriculum, dynamic campus, and commitment to individuality and intellectual curiosity, Brown encourages applicants to express what excites them, what they value most, and how they envision contributing to a community that celebrates diverse paths. This is an opportunity for your child to share their authentic self, helping their application stand out in a competitive pool.
For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, Brown University updated their essay requirements for both first-year and transfer applicants.
Essay Questions for First-Year Applicants
Academic Interests
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)Personal Reflection
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)Joy and Satisfaction
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)
Very Short Answer Questions for First-Year Applicants
First-year applicants are also required to reflect briefly on each of the following very short answer questions, with answers expected to range from a few words to a few sentences:
What three words best describe you? (3 words)
What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)
If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)
In one sentence, why Brown? (50 words)
Essay Questions for Transfer Applicants
Transfer students must complete the following very short answer question in addition to the other prompts:
What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)
Tips for Crafting Compelling Essays for Brown
Each of Brown’s prompts has to be written with intention and authenticity. Here are tailored strategies to guide your child through this process:
Academic Interests Prompt
Embrace their true passion: Encourage your child to delve deep into what truly excites them academically. This is their chance to illuminate their genuine interests. Suggest that they think about how Brown’s Open Curriculum can facilitate exploration in their chosen fields.
Identify specific opportunities: Guide them to research specific resources at Brown that align with their interests, such as the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society. They could mention specific courses like "Environmental Justice" that they want to take and explain how these offerings will help them deepen their understanding and skills in their chosen field.
Personal Reflection Prompt
Share meaningful stories: This prompt invites your child to reflect on their upbringing and its influence on their identity. For instance, if they grew up in a multicultural household, they might share a story about a family celebration that introduced them to diverse cultural perspectives, highlighting how it has influenced their worldview.
Highlight unique contributions: Help them articulate how these experiences have prepared them to contribute to the Brown community. If they have navigated the complexities of being bilingual, they could explain how this ability allows them to connect with diverse peers and contribute to discussions about language and identity on campus.
Joy and Satisfaction Prompt
Identify what brings them joy: Ask your child to think about the activities that genuinely spark joy in their lives. This could be anything from academic pursuits to personal hobbies or community service.
Connect joy to their values: Encourage them to discuss how these joyful experiences align with their personal values. They could express how helping others reinforces their belief in community and shared responsibility, which they hope to bring to Brown through volunteer work or student organizations.
Very Short Answer Questions
Craft concise yet impactful responses: For questions like “What three words best describe you?” they should select words that truly encapsulate their essence, such as "curious," "empathetic," and "determined."
Incorporate specific examples: In the question about their most meaningful extracurricular commitment, they might share a brief but powerful story about leading a school club, or emphasizing a specific project that taught them leadership and collaboration.
Revise and Refine
Value the writing process: Remind your child that writing is an iterative process. Starting early allows time for reflection and revisions. They might draft their essays, take a break, and return with fresh eyes to enhance clarity and impact.
Stay authentic: As they revise, they should maintain their unique voice. Encourage them to read their essays aloud to see if the language feels natural and true to who they are.
Tailor Responses to Each Prompt
Personalize each response: Each prompt deserves a customized approach. For the Academic Interests prompt, if they are passionate about psychology, they should specifically mention how they plan to engage with Brown’s psychology department and any professors whose work they admire.
Be intentional: Encourage your child to reflect on how their unique experiences and interests align with Brown’s values of curiosity and community. If they have faced adversity, they should illustrate how those experiences have fostered resilience and empathy—qualities that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to Brown’s campus culture.
At Ivy Link, we understand that every student has a unique story, and we’re here to help them express it authentically in their applications. Our approach combines reflective exercises and structured feedback to ensure each student’s true voice and growth come through in their essays. We know the admissions process can feel overwhelming, so we work to create a supportive space where students feel confident sharing their journey. Drawing on our experience with Ivy League admissions, we offer insights that help students craft narratives aligned with each school’s values.
For more on writing impactful essays, check out Ivy Link’s Ivy Link's Beat Ivy League Odds With an Engaging & Effective College Essay or click the link below to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Ivy Link advisors.
