Is Brown University on your dream school list? I don’t really blame you. Providence, Rhode Island looks like a beautiful place to spend four years and going to an Ivy League school brings some awesome bragging rights. If you want to learn more about how to get in and what the Brown acceptance rate is, then please keep reading.

What is the Brown Acceptance Rate?

The most recent Brown acceptance rate is 9.3%, which makes it one of the most competitive schools in the country. And the perfect way to see how competitive the student body is by taking a closer look at the incoming Brown students. When we look at the most recent batch, we will find that:

•    19% of accepted students were valedictorian of their high school graduating class
•    14% were salutatorian of their high school graduating class
•    roughly 1/4 of accepted students earned a perfect score in at least one of the SAT subsections
•    28% submitted a perfect ACT score
•    Close to 33,000 students applied for admission to Brown
•    Not even 3,000 became part of the Brown acceptance rate

Remember how I said Brown was one of the most competitive schools in the country? I wasn't kidding. Compared to their Ivy League counterparts, Brown is only moderately competitive, but that’s still competitive enough where you’ll want to make sure all of your ducks are in a row during high school. Doing this will help boost your odds of getting into Brown.

So, You Want to Go to Brown

Regardless of whether you just started working with your college consultant or have been digging into which schools sound perfect for you on your own, picking Brown is an incredible place to spend your undergraduate career. But as college admissions becomes increasingly competitive, it’s critical that each piece of your application to be as perfect as possible.

Because the Brown acceptance rate has been under 10% for the last two years, I’m going to level with you. Even if you follow every single tip out there, there’s no way to guarantee your acceptance. I don’t say this to discourage you from applying. I’m telling you this, because it’s important you approach your college applications with both eyes open.

Here’s what you can do to increase your chances of getting into Brown.

Get Good Grades

It’s an Ivy League school and they’re infamous for their competitive rigor. I recommend reviewing your academic profile with your college consultant and connecting with a tutor to help you get your GPA to the most competitive place you can. The average GPA for someone accepted into Brown is a 4.22. This needs to be your minimum goal. For you to get your grades above a 4.0, you’ll need to have some AP and IB classes on your high school transcript. Most high schools offer a boost to your GPA, which will help you get over that 4.0 mark.

There’s some debate about whether or not taking all advanced classes is a good idea. Because so many schools advocate for a well-rounded student, schools like Brown are buried under applications of this mold of student. It’s not a bad thing, but it makes it a challenge to stand out. If your school offers an IB diploma program, I recommend pursuing that, because it will prepare you intellectually for college and stands out from the sea of AP classes. If not, I recommend picking an academic focus, a subject where you excel, and pouring everything you’ve got into it. Aim for good enough for the Olympics standards and do whatever you can to show off your niche.

Rock Your Standardized Tests

This area is almost non-negotiable, you have to get scores in the 98th percentile and above for Brown. And to get there, I cannot emphasize enough how important working with a top-scoring tutor will be for your standardized test prep. But don’t just practice for your test during tutoring sessions, because this won’t be enough. You’ll also need to develop good study habits and a schedule that you stick to while you prepare.

Show What Gets You Excited

Remember how I mentioned earlier about picking a niche? It’s important. Developing your angle for your college applications will help you stand out when they’re being reviewed. When you decide on your theme, how you want to be known, pick extra-curriculars that support this. So, if you want to be known as a writer with a love of politics, hone your skills by starting a blog and submitting essays to be published. If you want to be known for your skills in science, earn top grades in advanced classes, pursue courses on the college level, enter and win science fairs, and participate in local research.

Whatever path you choose, make sure it points to the narrative you’re crafting for your applications.

Other Schools to Consider

I mentioned earlier how competitive Brown is and because of this, you should seriously consider looking at other schools so you aren’t caught without a place to go in the fall IF you aren’t accepted. Below are some similar schools I think you might be interested in. They don’t have the exact same acceptance rate as Brown; some are more accepting and others more competitive, but be sure to read up on them.

Even though the Brown acceptance rate doesn’t even hit 10%, it’s an incredible school worth applying to. I encourage all of my students to have backup plans, because I like to make sure they’re taken care of. Remember to craft an original narrative for your application, get good grades, and study hard for your standardized test scores.

What universities are you applying to? What makes Brown stand out for you? Let us know in the comment section below!