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One distictive thing about the Brown application (at least when I was
applying, and I think it's still this way) is that it had to be entirely
handwritten--even the essay. No typing. This is kind of tough if you
grew up composing on computers. (I think I ended up writing the essay
on the computer and then copying it by hand onto the application form.)
Brown does not accept the Common Application. I'm told that the essay
counts a lot for Brown--more than it does at most other schools of
similar selectivity. (Not sure whether this is true, but that's the
rumour.) Admission rates now are about 16%, which means that about 1 in
6 applicants gets in, so it's quite selective.
I did a campus interview (which turned out to be a good move for me
because the alumni representative in my town never got my name, so he
didn't know to get in touch with me), but most people don't, I think.
Everyone is supposed to be offered an alumni interview; they aren't
mandatory, but I recommend doing one. They're kind of fun. The
interview alone can't get you in (or keep you out, unless you do
something just heinous--make a glaringly racist remark or something),
but a really stellar interview write-up might make the difference for a
borderline applicant.
I'm told that admissions officers tend to be more impressed by serious
involvement in 2 or 3 extra-curriculars--offices held, membership for
all four years of high school, etc.--than by dabbling in lots of clubs
and activities. So "resume-packing" doesn't really work if the
admissions folks get the feeling that you aren't really serious about
the activities that you list.
Test scores allegedly get less weight in the Brown admissions process
than they do at similar schools. However, good SAT/ACT scores are
always going to help. Same with grades. Strength of program is
important--admissions folks will be more impressed by a B+ in AP
Calculus than by an A in Driver's Ed. So take hard classes and try to
do well in them.
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