Q: How do I complete the application?

A: Click here to view a step-by-step guide on how to complete your application. 

Q: When will I receive an admissions decision?

A: In most cases, admission decisions are made within 15 business days of receiving a complete application. Applications must include all supporting materials to be reviewed. 

Q: What does the Admissions team look for in an applicant?

A: We are seeking academically high-achieving students who provide a well-written application essay that highlights their intellectual curiosity, social maturity and self-motivation. We review applications holistically. When determining admissibility, we look at a number of factors including academic performance, motivation, interests and English language proficiency. 

Q: Is there an application deadline?

A: The general application deadline is May 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Q: What grade reports are required?

A: 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. Official transcripts are not required. 

Q: Am I applying to a specific program or course?

A: Your application is to Brown University’s Pre-College Program. If admitted, you will be prompted to submit a non-refundable $300 deposit and can then enroll in any open course, inclusive of all Brown Pre-College academic programs, provided that you are eligible for based on your age and grade-level. We recommend you consult our Course Catalog prior to submitting your non-refundable deposit to review course availability as well as age and grade level requirements.

Q: I attended last year. Do I need to create a new application each year?

A: Yes, 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. Please contact precollege@brown.edu with any questions about passwords or access.

Q: What level of English Language proficiency is required?

A: Students who participate in Brown University’s Pre-College Programs must have a strong command of the English language in order to succeed in academic study and safely and effectively navigate the campus and the Canvas learning management system. International students who don’t speak English as their primary language will be asked to submit either a Duolingo or InitialView language assessment as part of their application submission.

Q: Do you offer courses for credit?

A: Brown University’s Pre-College Program courses are not for credit. Our seven-week, online Pre-Baccalaureate Program for rising and recently graduated high school seniors offers college credit.

Q: Will participating in Brown Pre-College help me when applying to Brown Undergraduate admission?

A: Pre-College is not a prospecting program for University undergraduate admissions. Successfully completing a Brown Pre-College course will demonstrate interest in an area of study for any undergraduate admissions office/process. For questions regarding Brown Undergraduate Admission, please contact their office directly by phone at 401-863-2378 or via email at admission@brown.edu.

Q: Are your online courses synchronous or asynchronous?

A: Brown’s online courses include Asynchronous, Mostly Asynchronous and Blended formats: 

• Asynchronous ccourses do not require students to log in at a set time of day. Students have the flexibility to learn on their own daily schedule
• Our Mostly Asynchronous courses include optional opportunities for live sessions throughout the course to supplement course material.
• Blended courses will include asynchronous content and one to three prescheduled, required live sessions each week.

All online students should plan to spend approximately two to three hours each day (about 15 hours per week) on a variety of course activities, to ensure they keep current with the associated work.

Q: What level of English Language proficiency is required?

A: Students who participate in Brown University’s Pre-College Programs must have a strong command of the English language in order to succeed in academic study. International students who don’t speak English as their primary language will be asked to submit either a Duolingo or InitialView language assessment as part of their application submission.

Q: Is there an Attendance Policy?

A: Students are required to attend class. Absence or inactivity within your course may result in a dismissal from the program. Students dismissed for reasons of absence or inactivity will not be refunded.

Q: What is a Course Performance Report (CPR)?

A: Students who complete in-person courses that are two weeks or longer and online courses that are three weeks or longer will receive a Course Performance Report (CPR) by early fall. The CPR is an assessment by the instructor of a student's work within the course. It normally includes some comments focused on foundational aspects of the student's quality of engagement, as well as a brief narrative. In the fall after you complete a Pre-College on-campus course, you will receive a designation of: ‘C’ (Certificate) or ‘NC’ (No Certificate) in your Student Portal. If you receive a 'C', you will receive a Certificate of Completion and if you have received an ‘NC’, you will not receive a Certificate of Completion. In addition, if you’ve completed an in-person course which is 12 days or longer, or an online course which is 3 weeks or longer, you will also receive a Course Performance Report (CPR).

Q: Will I be able to enroll in a specific course? 

A: We recommend admitted students confirm that their desired course is available prior to submitting their $300 non-refundable deposit. Admission does not guarantee enrollment in a specific course or academic program.

Q: Is there a deadline to accept my offer of admission and submit my deposit?

A: There is no deadline to submit your non-refundable deposit, however, your deposit must be submitted to enroll in a course. We recommend students deposit and enroll as soon as they’ve confirmed a course of interest is available. 

Q: Can I take more than one course?

A: We do not recommend that students enroll in more than one pre-college course at a time, given the rigor and time commitment per day of each class. Please refer to our Enrollment Policies for information about course enrollments per program. 

Q: My course of interest has reached capacity. Am I still able to enroll in the course?

A: Admission does not guarantee registration in a specific course or program. When submitting your application, you are applying to Brown University’s Pre-College Program, not to a specific course or academic program. We recommend adding yourself to the waitlist for your course of interest and enrolling in an open course. 

Q: How does the waitlist work?  

A: Waitlisted students will be notified via email should a space become available for them in a course. Space will open on a rolling basis only if a currently enrolled student drops the course. Should students be offered a space in a waitlisted course, they have 48 hours to respond to the offer, prior to the space being offered to the next student on the waitlist. 

Q: I’ve enrolled in a course. What happens next?  

A: Once you have enrolled, you may view and manage the enrollment in your student portal course cart. Families can expect communication from our billing team regarding submitting payment for courses fees and links to required forms starting in late March.

Q: Will I have a roommate on campus? When will I learn who they are?

A: Brown University’s Pre-College Program students who are enrolled in on-campus programs are housed in Brown’s residence halls which offer a variety of settings and room sizes, with an assortment of features unique to individual buildings. Given the variety of the residence halls, Brown Pre-College students will be housed in a single, double or sometimes, triple room assignment. You will receive your housing assignment when you arrive to campus at check-in. If you are assigned to a space with roommates, you will meet your roommate in your residence hall. In most cases, students are assigned housing based on the duration of time on campus, and if you are assigned a roommate(s) we aim to ensure they are within one year of your age.

Students living on Brown's campus with roommates are housed in a room with a roommate who has a gender identity that matches their own. Depending on the layout of their building, students may be in a hall with other students who do not share their gender identity; this mirrors Brown’s undergraduate housing model. 

For any student who has questions around housing, or may be requesting special considerations they would like to consider in their housing placement, we encourage them to reach out to us at precollege@brown.edu. Students who indicate to us that they identify outside of the gender binary will receive proactive outreach to discuss what housing option might be the best fit for them.

Q: Are the residence halls air conditioned? If not, may I bring an air conditioner with me?

A: While Brown University residence halls are not air conditioned, we are pleased to offer cooling units within each residence hall room so that students can stay cool during their time on campus. Students are also welcome to bring a personal fan for their room.

Q: How can I request an accommodation?

A: Students may request accommodations as part of our onboarding forms process based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability, including medical conditions, temporary injuries and significant food allergies. Please be aware that all accommodation requests will be considered, however, there may be limits as to what can be provided without sufficient notice. All requests should be submitted at least two weeks before your program begins. Please email accessibility@brown.edu with questions.

Q: Can I stay in the residence halls if I am taking more than one course this summer?

A: If the courses you are taking run consecutively, students are able to remain on campus the weekend between sessions, but they may be required to move to a new housing location for their next course. If there is a week or more between your courses you would not be eligible to remain on campus and should make plans to depart campus at the conclusion of your course and return when your next course begins.

Q: What kind of extracurricular activities will be available?

A: On-campus students will have the opportunity to participate in social and educational activities across campus. We will also host virtual extracurricular learning opportunities that are open to students studying online or on-campus. Days and nights on Brown’s summer campus are filled with workshops, affinity groups, activities and events that engage students. Learn more about student life programming here.

Q: Which vaccinations are required to attend an in-person program?

A: The following immunizations are required by Brown University Health Services and/or the Rhode Island Department of Health in order to attend a Brown Pre-College in-person program:

Covid-19 immunizations are not required to attend the program. 

Chicken Pox (Varicella) 

• Two doses or prior date of infection if applicable 

CV4, MenACWY, MPSV4 (Meningococcal Conjugate)

• One dose

Tdap  (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) 

• One dose within the last 10 years of your program start date 
  (Note, the DTaP immunization does not satisfy this requirement)

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 

• Two MMR doses required: One at least 12 months after birth or later, and one at least one month after the first dose. Measles vaccinations must be complete at least 2 weeks prior to attending a pre-college program
• OR if Measles, Mumps or Rubella are given separately, two doses of each are required

Hepatitis B

• At least one dose 

To comply, we must receive record of a physical exam you have undergone between June 23, 2023 and the beginning of your in-person program (e.g. a physical/yearly appointment or camp/sports physical). This record must be in English (a translation of the original document is fine).

Required vaccinations can change in the event of a public health concern.

Q: Do you offer International Scholarships and Application fee waivers?

A: Unfortunately, our application fee waivers and scholarship opportunities are only open to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and students who hold undocumented or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status and are enrolled in a U.S. school. If you are an international student seeking scholarship funds, you should speak to a school administrator in your country about possible sources of financial aid for highly motivated students for this type of study.  

Q: I received an application fee waiver, does that mean I will get a scholarship?

A: Not necessarily. Consideration for a Sibley or PPSD Scholarship is a separate process which requires completion of a scholarship application and submission of any required forms by the specified deadline. Please see the Scholarship Opportunities webpage for eligibility, deadlines, and processes for applying. 

Q: There is a supplemental fee listed for my course. What is that for?

A: A small number of our courses have a supplemental fee. This fee is most commonly for the cost of lab materials, bussing and access to course-related medical sites or other supplies needed for the particular course. 

Q: I enrolled in my course, when/how can I pay for it?

A: Please do not attempt to pay for your course until you are notified to do so. You will receive billing information in late March (late May for Pre-Bacc) about how to make your payment. To get an idea of what to expect, please review our Financial Policies & Payment Information webpage. 

Q:  I am a parent/guardian and cannot sign into E-Bill to pay for my child’s program. What’s wrong?

A: Only students are initially able to access the E-Bill system. Parents/guardians will not be able to access the system until the student sets them up as an authorized user. Please follow the Pre-College E-Bill Guide for assistance. 

Q. I just enrolled in a course. Why do my fees look wrong when I go into E-Bill to pay?

A. Information moves from our registration system (student portal) to our billing system once per day. Please allow our system to update overnight before attempting to pay. If your fees look incorrect after 24 hours, please reach out to precollegebilling@brown.edu for assistance. 

Q. I just paid my account balance, why does my checklist still show that my payment is incomplete?

A. Information moves from our payment system to the student portal checklist once per day. You can confirm a paid balance in E-Bill immediately, but it could take up to 24 hours for your student portal checklist to show that the payment is complete. If you have paid by Flywire, it will take at least several days for your payment to get through the system and for your checklist to update. This delay is expected and will not put your enrollment in jeopardy.

Q. Can I call you or send my payment information by email instead of signing into E-Bill to pay?

A.  No. For security's sake, we are unable to accept credit card or bank information by email or phone and cannot enter payment information on your behalf. Payments must be made by students or their designated authorized users.  

Q. I am no longer able to attend the Brown Pre-College Program, can I get a deposit refund?

A. No. The $300 deposit is non-refundable.