Application Checklist

Use this handy checklist to make sure you’ve fulfilled all requirements necessary for the Admissions Team to review your file. Applications will not be reviewed until all requirements are fulfilled.

A Complete Application Includes:

All applicants must complete and submit an application form, through which many application components are also submitted.

You will be required to submit a 250 to 500 word essay responding to one of the following prompts:

  • At Brown Pre-College, students often experience a new environment, study a new subject and meet new friends from around the world. Describe a time when you learned, tried something new or stepped out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from this that will help you thrive at Brown Pre-College?
  • Please describe something you've learned from someone you've met, been inspired by or learned about. How will you apply what you have learned from them to your Pre-College experience?

You may choose to submit a supplementary essay to address something not covered in other parts of the application. (For example, to provide information about your extracurricular activities, an explanation for inconsistent grades or other circumstances you’d like the Admissions Team to consider.)

This nonrefundable fee must be paid by credit card within the secure application form:

  • Application fee when submitted by April 7, 2024: $65
  • Application fee when submitted on or after April 8, 2024: $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 academic records do not need to be submitted by a school guidance counselor. 

You must submit your complete grades from the current academic year in addition to all grades from the previous academic year. Grade submissions must be in English and contain your full name as well as 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. Failure to submit all requested documents will leave an application incomplete, and the application will not be reviewed.

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. We strongly suggest you submit a recommendation if any of the criteria below pertain to you:

  • Interest in Summer@Brown, or a specific course offering within Summer@Brown, and will be under the age of 15 as of June 16, 2024
  • Interest in STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders program, or a specific course offering, and will be under the age of 14 as of June 16, 2024
  • Interest in the Brown Environmental Leadership Lab (BELL) offerings
  • Interest in the Brown Experiential Education (BEE) offerings
  • Inconsistent grades—any grades of C or below

Please note that a recommendation is required to accompany all Pre-Baccalaureate Program applications.

Upon entering this information into the application form, an email containing a recommendation form will be sent to the recommender. 

Please note: If you indicate you will be submitting a recommendation, we will only accept our recommendation form. Applications will not be considered complete until we receive the recommendation.

Applicants for whom English is not their primary language, should give serious consideration to their level of English language proficiency. Brown University's Pre-College Program provides both academic challenges typical of college-level study and opportunities to experience the social aspects of college life in the United States. 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 University's Pre-College Program 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 do not speak English as their primary language will be asked to submit one of the following:

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 on your application checklist in your portal. Students may take the Duolingo English Test or participate in an InitialView Interview prior to beginning an application or after submitting an application. 

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

Please Note:

  • In some cases, supplemental application materials — transcripts, essays, English proficiency materials or recommendations — may be requested. You will be notified by email if any additional information is required.
  • Applicants are expected to abide by the Pre-College Code of Conduct, which includes an expectation of academic integrity. All application materials submitted must be the original work of the applicant. Plagiarism in any part of an application (completed by anyone other than the student) is grounds for denial.
  • Applicants and their families are expected to abide by the first two policies within the Brown University Pre-College Program Code of Conduct:
    • A.1. Act as good citizens by showing respect and courtesy to all members of the University community, including fellow participants, students, staff, instructors, campus neighbors and affiliates.
    • A.2. Contribute to a healthy and safe community environment. Use methods of expression that are appropriate for a healthy living-learning environment. Obscene, derogatory and/or abusive language is prohibited.
  • Admission to Brown University’s Pre-College Program does not guarantee enrollment in a specific course or academic program. Enrollment in a course or program is a separate action that must be completed once an applicant is admitted to Brown University’s Pre-College Program.
  • Courses may be canceled at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. If this situation occurs, Program staff will work with students to find a suitable course substitution.
  • Students must submit a new application each year. Returning students can log in to precollege.brown.edu with the email and password they originally used to create their account.