Writing the Brown Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
Brown University might be on top of your school list due to its self-directed academics or plethora of clubs and intramural sports. Or you could be convinced that the Modern Culture and Media department is everything your heart desires. Whatever your reason for applying, it’s time to put your impressive knowledge of the institute on paper by capitalizing on the Brown supplemental essays 2020-2021.
The admissions officers at Brown look for students who have a deep love for community involvement, are keen to make an impact, and aren’t afraid to explore new topics and interests. These qualities must shine through in your application, and the supplemental essays are the perfect place to show that you’ve got what it takes to be admitted. To guide you through the writing process, I’ve outlined the prompts, the do’s and don’ts of answering each of them, and additional tips for writing the Brown supplemental essays 2020-2021 to the best of your abilities.
Prompts for the Brown Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
The Brown Supplemental Essays 2020-2021 offer three required prompts for all students. Applicants for the Program in Liberal Medical Education and the Brown/RISD dual degree are required to write additional essays on their interest in the respective programs. Since these questions are all required, you’ve got to bring your A-game to each of your essays.
Let’s take a look at the prompts below, along with ways you could approach them.
Prompt 1
Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it. (250 words)
The most important piece of this prompt is conveying your knowledge of Brown’s signature Open Curriculum. Unlike other schools, you don’t need to meet certain distribution or course requirements at Brown. You can select courses that you believe will play an important role in your goals. This is a key reason why many students apply to Brown in the first place. But admissions officers want to know how it can help you.
Since a 250 word limit isn’t too spacious, focus on one or two of your favorite subjects, followed by a couple of ways you are excited by the restriction-free nature of Brown’s course “requirement.” Is it the thought of taking four classes from four very different departments – Public Health, Physics, Literary Arts, and Archaeology – all in the same semester that draws you in? Does the added flexibility in course selection particularly suit your style of learning? Is it perfect for your goal to combine multiple of your interests?
The key to writing this essay lies in making it as unique to you as possible. Admissions officers should read the essay and say, “I could definitely see this student thriving at Brown!” or “This student is interested in Archaeology and Computer Science – that’s so cool!” Don’t write a generic answer that will make you easily forgettable. Each sentence should convince the reader that you’ve done the research, have a strong understanding of how the Open Curriculum works, and are confident in your ability to take advantage of it.
Nikki Champlin, a writing expert from Yale and the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, gives her advice for writing supplemental essays here:
Prompt 2
At Brown, you will learn as much from your peers outside the classroom as in academic spaces. How will you contribute to the Brown community? (250 words)
Brown appreciates students who are excited to make a difference in their communities, regardless of the scale. So in your answer to this prompt among the Brown supplemental essays 2020-2021, it would be wise to mention a couple of activities at the school that make you excited to collaborate with your peers and take on an active role while at Brown.
Draw on experiences from high school as evidence for how you’ll contribute to the Brown campus. For example, if you plan to get involved in Brown’s Student & Community Radio, you can mention the ways you might have improved the environment and member outreach at your school’s radio station, or how you became interested in broadcast journalism while writing for your school newspaper.
Brown students are also deeply involved in their local communities. If you’re interested in outreach programs offered by the school, such as Brown’s partnerships with English for Action or Providence Public Library, why not go into detail about ways you’ve participated in community service? Write about the valuable lessons you’ve picked up from your initiatives to then make the segue into talking about how you hope you will contribute to Brown’s campus.
Don’t get too carried away discussing only your high school experiences. The main point of your essay should lie in demonstrating that you’ve done your research about Brown-specific programs and organizations.
Prompt 3
Tell us about a place or community you call home. How has it shaped your perspective? (250 words)
For your answer to this question, you can define “home” however you want, as long as you’ve found community there. It can definitely be a physical space – your school community, your neighborhood committee, your literal home. It can also be an organization, a sports team that feels like family, or an online community based on a shared interest. Feel free to get creative with the way you define “home”!
It’s important that you do more than simply describe the community and the people involved. Since the question asks about how it has shaped your perspective, the majority of your essay should be dedicated to answering that question. Have you felt safe and loved at this home in a way you haven’t elsewhere? What are the ways you’d be different if you hadn’t discovered this community? What characteristics make it home?
If you have space, you can also look to answer other questions about your community. What is a typical day like in the community? What makes it feel like home – is it the conversations, is it the deep trust with the members, or is it simply the combination of the people?
It’s easy to get distracted and talk more about the community in general terms or forget to discuss your role within it, but remember it’s your college supplemental essay, so write about why it’s home to you and why you think it’s special.
