You will be required to submit a 250–500 word essay responding to the following prompt:

• How have you been challenged to grow, as both a student and individual, in the last year? How has this influenced your drive to further your studies? How will you leverage this growth within the Brown Pre-College community?

You may submit a supplementary essay if you want to address something not covered in other parts of the application. (For example, an explanation for inconsistent grades or specific circumstances you’d like the Admissions Team to consider.)

This must be paid by credit card within the secure application form.

• Application fee when submitted by 2/28/2021: $50
• Application fee when submitted between 3/1/2021 and 4/25/2021: $75
• Application fee when submitted on or after 4/26/2021: $100

If you would like to apply for an application fee waiver, please visit the application fee waiver page to learn more.

Your academic records must be submitted with your application.

Please note: official transcripts are not required, and they do not need to be submitted by a school guidance counselor. 

You must submit grades from the current academic year in addition to grades from the past academic year. Grade submissions must be in English and contain your full name and the academic term represented. 

Acceptable submissions may include, but are not limited to:

• Unofficial transcript
• Report card
• Progress report
• Marksheets
• Screenshot of grades from a school portal (it must contain your full name)
• Narrative assessment

Please include an explanation of the grading scale used by the school(s) if different from the U.S. grading system.

We strongly suggest you submit a recommendation from a teacher if you:

• Are under the age of 15 as of June 1, 2021
• Have inconsistent grades — any grades of C or below

Within the application, you may provide the name and email address of a teacher, counselor, community leader or employer who can attest to your social maturity and academic performance.

Upon entering this information, an email containing a recommendation form will be sent to the recommender. Please note: We will only accept our recommendation form and your application will not be considered complete until we receive the teacher recommendation.

For applicants for whom English is not their primary language, you should seriously consider your level of English language proficiency. Brown’s programs provide both academic challenges typical of college-level study and opportunities to experience the academic and social aspects of college life in the United States, so a high degree of proficiency in English — equivalent to what would be expected of a first-year undergraduate — is crucial to having a successful experience. 

Students who participate in Brown’s programs must have a strong command of the English language in order to succeed in academic study, involving the ability to:

• Speak clearly and coherently on a variety of topics
• Write clearly on a range of topics
• Listen and understand complex topics
• Read and understand detailed and lengthy texts on academic subjects
• Independently navigate a college campus in an urban environment
• Communicate effectively with peers in social settings

International students who don’t speak English as their primary language will be asked to submit one of the following:

• Duolingo Test: Duolingo is an English proficiency test that can be taken online, on demand, in under an hour using a computer with a front-facing camera. The test includes a proficiency score, video interview and writing sample, which can be shared with the Division of Pre-College and Undergraduate Programs at Brown University. Certified results are available within 48 hours. 
• InitialView: InitialView is an unscripted, conversational format that helps us get to know you better. InitialView interviewers conduct a live interview and proctor an open-ended writing sample that gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your interests and communication skills. InitialView records the conversation and shares the entire video and writing sample with the Division of Pre-College and Undergraduate Programs. InitialView does not score or rate applicants. Applicants complete the interview/writing sample using either a smartphone or a computer with a front-facing camera. InitialView materials are available in as little as 48 hours.

Important: Be sure to share your results with Brown University’s Division of Pre-College and Undergraduate Programs, not Brown University Undergraduate Admission. It may take up to three business days after you have shared your results with us for it to be reflected in your application checklist. 

TOEFL and IELTS scores will not satisfy the evidence of language proficiency requirement.