brown video essays

Undergraduate Admission

Video introduction.

While the video introduction is not a required component of the admission process, we do encourage students to submit one when possible. We have found that video introductions are a personal and engaging way to convey more about yourself beyond the written application, and allow admission officers to get to know you in your own voice. If you do not submit a video, we will thoroughly consider your application with all of the other information available.

The video introduction is intended to provide an opportunity to tell us more about yourself, in your voice, beyond the information you provided in your application. You are welcome to discuss anything that might help us get to know you better. Some possible topics, along with Video Introduction Tips , can provide a general idea of what you might consider.

As with application essay word counts, we have set length limits to better enable equity among applicants and provide a clear sense of what we are hoping the video introduction will convey. Two minutes should be all that is needed to effectively share your brief introduction through your video.

Should you experience difficulties uploading your file, please ensure that you're using a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) on the fastest Internet connection available. Wired connections may be more reliable than wireless, as an intermittent or slow Internet connection can cause uploads to timeout.

We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. We support the following video file formats: .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv.

These instructions are also available in your Brown Applicant Portal .

Once uploaded, video introductions cannot be reviewed, so please make sure to preview your video before uploading to the Brown Applicant Portal. Due to the high volume of videos that we receive each year, we cannot review submissions to confirm a successful upload on an individual basis. We will be in touch by email if there are any technical issues that require your attention and resubmission.

As with the submission of the Common Application and Brown Supplement, once you have uploaded your video introduction through your Brown Applicant Portal, your submission is considered final. Uploaded videos are not able to be accessed or edited, and unless there has been a technical issue that prevents us from being able to view your video, we are unable to remove videos to allow for resubmission.

Your Brown Applicant Portal will display a confirmation message if your video introduction has been successfully received. If you do not see a confirmation message and your portal still shows an option to upload a video, please submit your video again. Once we have received your video, we will be in touch by email if there are any technical issues that require your attention and resubmission.

How to Submit a Compelling Brown Video Introduction–Expert Tips for Admission

Learn expert tips for creating a compelling brown video introduction that will set you apart in the admission process.

Posted January 31, 2024

Featuring Margaret J.

Ask Me Anything: SAT / How I Got into Harvard / Goldman Sachs!

Thursday, may 16.

11:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

Table of Contents

In today's competitive college admissions process, it's essential to find unique ways to stand out from the crowd. One increasingly popular method is submitting a video introduction. Brown University recognizes the value of a video introduction and includes it in its admission process. In this article, we will explore the importance of a video introduction, how to prepare for it, and the crucial technical and presentation aspects to consider.

The Importance of a Video Introduction

A video introduction offers an opportunity to showcase your personality, passion, and communication skills in a dynamic format. It allows the admission committee to connect with you on a deeper level beyond your written application. Understanding the role a video introduction plays in Brown's admission process is key to maximizing its impact.

When crafting your video introduction, it's important to consider the power of visual storytelling. By presenting yourself in a video format, you can engage the admission committee in a way that written words simply cannot. Try using visual cues, facial expressions, and body language to convey your enthusiasm and authenticity.

A video introduction allows you to demonstrate your creativity and presentation skills. You have the opportunity to think outside the box and create a unique and memorable video that showcases your individuality. Whether it's through the use of props, music, or a carefully crafted script, your video introduction can leave a lasting impression on the admission committee.

The Role of the Video Introduction in Brown's Admission Process

Brown University values a diverse student body, not just in terms of academic achievements, but also in terms of backgrounds, talents and perspectives. The video introduction provides a window into your character and interests, helping the admission committee evaluate your fit within the community.

Through your video introduction, you have the opportunity to highlight aspects of your life that cannot be fully expressed in writing. You can share personal experiences, hobbies or community involvement that have shaped your identity and contributed to your growth as an individual. This allows the admission committee to gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you can bring to the Brown community.

Additionally, the video introduction serves as a platform for you to express your genuine interest in Brown University. You can discuss specific programs, courses, or research opportunities that align with your academic and career goals. By showcasing your knowledge of the university and your enthusiasm for its offerings, you demonstrate your commitment to becoming a valuable member of the Brown community.

Why Your Video Introduction Needs to Stand Out

With a high volume of applications, it's crucial to make a lasting impression. A compelling video introduction can grab the admission committee’s attention, making them want to know more about you. It can be the differentiating factor between acceptance and rejection.

When creating your video introduction, think about how you can make it unique and memorable. Consider incorporating elements that reflect your personality and passions. Whether through a creative theme, a thought-provoking question or a captivating story, find a way to make your video introduction stand out from other applicants.

Make sure to also pay attention to the technical aspects of your video and ensure that the lighting, sound quality and editing are all of high standard. A well-produced video introduction demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism, leaving a positive impression on the admission committee.

Remember, your video introduction is an opportunity to showcase your strengths and make a personal connection with the admission committee. By putting thought and effort into creating a compelling and unique video increases your chances of standing out among the pool of applicants, ultimately securing your spot at Brown University.

How to Prepare for Your Brown Video Introduction

To create an impactful video introduction, thorough preparation is key. Consider these essential steps before diving into the creative process.

When it comes to making a video introduction for Brown, you want to make sure you leave a lasting impression. This means taking the time to carefully plan and prepare before hitting the record button. By following these steps, you can ensure that your video stands out from the rest and showcases your unique qualities.

1. Identify Your Unique Selling Points

Reflect on your experiences and accomplishments to identify the aspects that make you unique. This could be your academic achievements, extracurricular involvements, or personal qualities. Take a moment to think about what sets you apart from other applicants and what makes you a perfect fit for Brown University. Is it your passion for community service? Your ability to think critically and solve complex problems? Or perhaps it's your dedication to pursuing knowledge and making a positive impact in the world. Whatever it may be, emphasize these strengths in your video introduction, showcasing what sets you apart.

For example, if you have been actively involved in volunteering at your local homeless shelter, talk about how this experience has shaped your perspective on social issues and ignited your desire to create meaningful change. Highlight how this involvement has not only impacted your own personal growth but also how it aligns with Brown's commitment to community engagement and social justice.

2. Structure Your Ideas and Thoughts

Here is how you can approach structuring your ideas and thoughts.

• Create an outline of the main points you want to cover
• Highlight your unique selling points and how they align with Brown's values
• Start with an attention-grabbing hook
• Speak clearly and confidently to convey enthusiasm
• Incorporate visual elements to enhance, but don't overwhelm
• Structure thoughts to ensure smooth flow and powerful impact
• Rehearse and refine delivery to come across as authentic and engaging

3. Write a Compelling Script

When writing your script, it is crucial to focus on capturing the essence of who you are. Be authentic, sincere, and passionate about your interests. Think about what makes you stand out and how you can convey that effectively through your words. Showcase your motivation to attend Brown University and how you can contribute to the university's vibrant community.

One tip for writing a compelling script is to start by brainstorming your key points and ideas. What are the experiences, skills, or qualities that you want to highlight? Once you have a clear understanding of what you want to convey, you can start crafting your script.

Another important aspect to consider is the structure of your script. Begin with a strong opening that grabs the viewer's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the video. From there, you can delve into your journey, highlighting significant moments or experiences that have shaped you. Remember to be concise and avoid rambling, as a well-structured script will keep the viewer engaged.

Additionally, incorporating your own voice and personality into the script is essential. Avoid using generic language or clichés and instead, use language that reflects your unique perspective. This will help the viewer connect with you personally and make your video introduction more memorable.

The Art of Storytelling in Your Video Introduction

Storytelling has the power to make your video introduction engaging and memorable. By using anecdotes or personal experiences, you can effectively demonstrate your values, your journey and the lessons you've learned along the way. This approach helps create an emotional connection with the viewer, making your video introduction more impactful.

When incorporating storytelling into your video introduction, consider the following tips:

• Choose a compelling story that aligns with your overall message and showcases your unique qualities.
• Focus on the details that make the story vivid and relatable.
• Highlight the challenges or obstacles you faced and how you overcame them.
• Showcase the lessons you learned and how they have shaped your character and perspective.

Remember, the goal of storytelling in your video introduction is to create an emotional connection with the viewer. By sharing personal experiences and demonstrating your growth, you can leave a lasting impression and make your video introduction stand out.

In conclusion, crafting a compelling video introduction requires careful thought and planning. By writing a compelling script and incorporating the art of storytelling, you can create a video that showcases your unique qualities and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. So, take your time, be authentic and let your passion shine through in your video introduction.

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Technical Aspects of Creating Your Video

While content is crucial, the technical aspects of your video can significantly impact its quality and effectiveness.

Choosing the Right Equipment and Setting

Investing in a good-quality camera and microphone is worth considering. Additionally, choose a well-lit and aesthetically pleasing setting. The environment should be clean, clutter-free and free from distractions.

Lighting and Sound Considerations

Proper lighting and sound quality can greatly enhance the professionalism of your video. Make sure your face is well-lit, avoiding harsh or distracting shadows. Pay attention to the sound quality, ensuring that your voice is clear and easy to understand. Consider using an external microphone if necessary.

Present Yourself Professionally

Aside from the technical aspects, it's important to consider how you present yourself in your video introduction.

• Professional Attire: Choose attire that reflects your personality and aligns with your desired impression. Dress neatly and professionally while letting your style shine through. Remember, first impressions matter.
• Body Language and Speech: Pay attention to your body language, maintaining good posture and making eye contact with the camera. Speak clearly, articulating your words and using appropriate gestures to express yourself. Remember to smile and be yourself, as authenticity is key.

By following these expert tips for submitting a compelling Brown video introduction, you can seize the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the admission committee. Remember to be authentic, showcase your strengths and captivate the viewer through engaging storytelling. With careful preparation and attention to detail, your video introduction can be the key that opens the gates to your dream university.

Key Takeaways

• Consider using visual storytelling elements like props, music, and creative scripts to engage the admissions committee.
• Highlight your unique experiences and accomplishments and fit with Brown's values and community.
• Create an outline and practice your video to ensure a smooth flow and confident delivery.
• Identify your unique strengths and how they align with Brown's mission and values.
• Use compelling storytelling and anecdotes to create an emotional connection.
• Pay attention to technical aspects like proper lighting, audio quality, setting and attire. Maintain good eye contact, posture, articulation and enthusiasm in your video presence.
• Be authentic, personable and passionate in your video introduction to leave a memorable impression.

Read these next:

• Video Introduction Prompt
• Seven Tips To Make Your Brown University Admissions Video Memorable

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Making Video Essays

What is a video essay.

A video essay is a piece of video content that, much like a written essay, advances an argument. Video essays take advantage of the structure and language of film to advance their arguments - Wikipedia

Using this Site

This site will take you through the basics of how to make your own video essay. Below you will find some introductory content that will prime you how to think about making your essay. The other pages on this site, reflected in the menu, will be divided into specific technical tasks involved with producing your video essay.

An Introduction to Video Essays

In this short 6 min video, youtuber Indietrix Film Review describes some strategies for coming up with ideas for your essay, explains some of the common themes that are explored, and lastly gives some insights on how they use their experience with writing written essays as a lens to create scripts for their video essays.

" Think of one of your favorite films, pick something distinctive that you like about it, or a particular scene or sequence, and try to work out what makes it so good. That's a great way to approach a rough structure for your video." -Indietrix Film Review

Example Video Essays: Professional

In the essay below, G-man Da Black Film Nerd breaks down beautifully what makes a scene in Black Panther a perfect shot. This is a great example of how using some additional overlays like arrows can help illustrate your argument.

I n the short video essay below, the author examines how the film is composed visually creates tension in storytelling. This is a great example of how you can reuse the same clips to emphasize an argument. The example made at 1:29, in particular, is very compelling.

In another example by Every Frame a Painting, the video essay below examines how choices made by the main character are represented by either facing or moving left or right on screen and parallel the characters moral development and progression

Example Video Essays: Student

Video Essay on White Narrative by Alexa de la Fuente, analyzes how films around social justice issues, specifically in Latin American countries, are framed around the white narrative.

The video essay below by Malery Nguyen explores how the construction of family dynamics in fiction films reflects the experience of many youth in Latin American countries.

Creating a Successful Brown Video Introduction: A Full Guide

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/26/24

If you’re curious about the Brown video introduction and how to prepare for it, we’ve got you covered! This article will go over some information, tips, and sample prompts to help you know what to expect. 

If you’re considering Brown University, you know that getting in is challenging. You’ll find yourself in competition with students who want that acceptance letter as much as you do. So, what can you do to stand out?

As you take the time to put together your application package for Brown University, you’ll be invited to submit an optional two-minute video introduction as a part of your application. 

You might think that this is another extra step that you don’t really have to take–after all, your acceptance will ultimately be based on your academic success–transcripts, grades, and SAT scores, right?

This might be true, but submitting the Brown video introduction could be just the thing to push your already stellar application to the next level. This article will discuss how you can create a successful video introduction that leaves a lasting impression!

How Important is Video Introduction in Brown’s Admission Process?

The video introduction is an important part of Brown's admission process. Though it is optional, submitting a strong video introduction will help you stand out from the crowd. 

Brown receives a staggering number of applicants each year. In the 2022-23 academic year alone, Brown received over 50,000 applications. However, with the university accepting only around 2,500 students, competition is fierce, to say the least.

In such a highly selective environment, any chance to leave an impression on the admission committee is worth taking. A thoughtful video introduction allows applicants to showcase their personality, motivations, and suitability for Brown University in a way that may not come through on paper.

The Brown Video Introduction

Brown used to have an alumni interview program that it has since gotten rid of. Instead, you’ll be given the opportunity to share a bit about yourself through a brief video introduction for Brown University. 

The purpose of the Brown admissions video is to give the admissions committee a better picture of who you are; this includes hobbies, interests, and accomplishments that might not have made it into your application. 

You can use your Brown University video introduction to talk about moments and experiences that have shaped you as a person.

How to Prepare a Script for a Video Introduction

Preparing a script for your video introduction can help you convey your message clearly and effectively. Here's a straightforward guide on how to prepare:

• Introduction : Start by introducing yourself confidently in front of the camera. Begin with a simple greeting like, "Hi, my name is [insert name] from [high school]." This sets the tone and immediately lets the viewer know who you are and where you're from.
• Content : Decide what key points you want to convey during your video. Consider talking about your academic interests, extracurricular activities, passions, and why you're interested in attending Brown University. Highlight unique experiences or qualities that make you stand out as a candidate.
• Structure : Organize your thoughts in a logical order to ensure coherence and flow in your presentation. You can structure your script by starting with a brief overview of yourself, followed by discussing your academic interests, extracurricular involvement, and concluding with your motivations for wanting to attend Brown.
• Language : Use clear and concise language that reflects your authentic voice. Avoid overly formal or scripted language; instead, aim for a conversational tone that feels natural and genuine. Don't hesitate to inject a bit of personality and enthusiasm into your delivery.
• Length : Keep your script within the two-minute limit specified by Brown University. This requires you to be concise and prioritize the most important information you want to convey. Practice speaking at a comfortable pace to ensure you stay within the time limit.
• Practice : Rehearse your script several times before recording your video. Practice speaking naturally and confidently, paying attention to your tone, pacing, and body language. Familiarize yourself with the content so you can deliver it smoothly without relying too heavily on reading from the script.
• Visuals : While the focus is on your spoken content, consider the visual aspect of your video. Dress casually as you would for a typical school day or event. Ensure good lighting and clear visibility by positioning yourself in front of your camera or device. Record your video in landscape orientation for optimal viewing.
• Review and Edit : After recording your video, review the footage to ensure you're satisfied with the final product. Check for any technical issues, such as audio clarity and visual quality. Make any necessary edits to refine your presentation before submitting your video introduction.

By following these steps and preparing a well-thought-out script, you can create a compelling video introduction that effectively showcases your personality, interests, and enthusiasm for attending Brown University.

Brown University Video Introduction Prompts

While there is no particular format or topic the admissions committee is hoping to see, here are some Brown video introduction examples of prompts you’re suggested to choose from:

• What do you love about your neighborhood or hometown? (This prompt is especially useful for international students !)
• Share a time that you were moved by music or art.
• How would your friends describe you?
• Describe how you were influenced by a book that changed your perspective.
• Talk to us about a meaningful family activity or tradition.
• In what ways are you similar to or different from your siblings or friend group?
• Tell us about your favorite time of day. 
• Highlight any topic of your choice that will allow us to get to know you better.

The purpose of this component is to simply add depth to your Brown portfolio. Video introductions can’t necessarily be wrong, but what you choose to share will impact how you’re perceived. Be authentic in your video introduction, keep your answers concise, and highlight what you think will impress the admissions committee the most! 

Brown Video Introduction Deadline

If you choose to complete a video introduction, you must submit it within one week of receiving your application acknowledgment email from Brown that contains your login credentials. 

While you won’t be able to upload the video until you receive these credentials, you’re highly encouraged to record the video anyway to upload it as soon as you receive them. 

Tips on How to Nail the Brown Video Introduction

The video introduction is fairly freeform and serves as a strong asset that can get you one step closer to getting into Brown University . With that said, here are a few pointers to help you create a stellar Brown video submission:

• Clothing : Brown suggests you wear something you would usually wear to class. Keep it casual and true to yourself.
• Length : Make sure your video is no longer than two minutes.
• Orientation : Make sure your video is in landscape. 

It is also important to note that although your video won’t be assessed based on its production value, there are still some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you film your video introduction. Make sure you consider the following: 

• Location : You can choose to record indoors or outdoors–just make sure your background is clean and free of any distractions. For instance, you might want to avoid recording in a room with a lot going on in the background. This might be distracting to your viewer and ultimately take away from what you have to say.
• Framing : As previously mentioned, make sure you film in landscape and that your face is in the center of the frame. If you’re using your phone to record, make sure you prop it up on your table or tripod. Do not hold it up in selfie mode as this can be distracting and come off as unprofessional. 
• Lighting : Make sure your video’s lighting allows the viewer to see your face clearly. Especially when outdoors, avoid recording at night or in places where the light source is behind you. It is always best to have your light source in front of you. 
• Sound : Finally, make sure you’re recording in a place that can capture your voice clearly. Though some background noise is sometimes inevitable, avoid recording in areas that are naturally loud, like busy cafes and main streets. 

On top of these tips, you’re encouraged to think about your answers before starting your video to make the best use of your limited time, to be genuine, and to show your excitement!

Technical Considerations for Brown Interview

Prepare your video for Brown University by using a stable device and ensuring clear sound and lighting. Though your Brown video won’t be judged on its production quality, it’s still important to keep these technical considerations in mind. Let’s take a closer look at each of them. 

• Device Choice : Use a computer, laptop, phone, or camera that can record in landscape orientation. This format works best for the submission platform.
• Stable Setup : Prop up your device instead of holding it to prevent shaky footage. Find a stable surface or use a tripod to keep your device steady.
• Sound Quality : Record in a quiet space to ensure clear audio. If possible, use an external microphone for better sound.
• Lighting : Make sure you're well-lit to avoid shadows on your face. Natural light or additional lighting sources can help illuminate you evenly.
• Submission Process : Upload your video through the Brown Applicant Portal once you receive access. Follow the submission instructions provided.
• Preview and Verification : Before finalizing, use the preview feature to check your video for any issues. Make sure it meets the specified requirements.

By addressing these technical aspects, you'll be well-prepared to create and submit your video introduction for Brown University without any hiccups.

Brown University Video Interview FAQs 

Now that we’ve gone over the essentials, we will now address some frequently asked questions about the Brown video introduction. To learn more about how to get into Brown, take a look at our end-to-end college guide .

1. Do I Need an Interview For Brown?

The Brown video interview is not a mandatory part of the application process. However, it can help the admissions committee put a face to your name and learn more about you!

2. Does Brown Do Interviews in 2024?

Brown has transitioned from conducting alumni interviews to a new approach where students can submit video interviews. This shift applies to all upcoming admissions cycles.

3. Do All Brown Applicants Get Interviews?

All Brown applicants can submit video interviews.

Final Thoughts 

Seize this opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee. While they’ll know who you are on paper, you can use your video introduction to demonstrate your excellence beyond your application!

With this guide in mind, you’ll be able to approach this optional component of your application with more confidence and a better understanding of what the admissions team is looking for. Best of Luck!

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How to Write the Brown University and PLME Essays 2023-2024

Brown has one of the more extensive supplemental essay packages out there, with three 250-word supplements and four shorter responses required for all applicants. In addition to these seven prompts, applicants to the dual degree program with Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will need to explain their interest in the program through a 650-word personal statement, and applicants to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) will need to do the same through three 250-word essays.

Even if you aren’t applying to either of these specialized programs, you still have seven prompts to respond to, so make sure you leave yourself enough time to give your Brown application the attention it deserves. In this post, we’ll break down how you want to approach each prompt, so you can be confident that your essays will help set you apart even within one of the most competitive applicant pools in the country.

Read these Brown essay examples written by real students to inspire your writing!

Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

Prompt 2: Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)

Prompt 3: Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Prompt 4: What three words best describe you? (3 words)

Prompt 5: What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Prompt 6: If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

Prompt 7: In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

RISD Dual Degree Applicants

Prompt 1: The Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program draws on the complementary strengths of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry, culminating in a capstone project that interrelates the content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences.

Based on your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD and the possibilities created by the BRDD program’s broadened learning community, specifically describe how and why the BRDD program would constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. As part of your answer, be sure to articulate how you might contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work. (100-650 words)

PLME Applicants

Prompt 1: Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. Explain your personal motivation to pursue a career in medicine. (250 words) 

Prompt 2: Healthcare is constantly changing as it is affected by racial and social inequities, economics, politics, technology, and more. Imagine that you are a physician and describe one way in which you would seek to make a positive impact in today’s healthcare environment. (250 words) 

Prompt 3: How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education helping to meet your academic, personal and professional goals as a person and future physician? (250 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Brown’s open curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the open curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words) . .

This is essentially a “ Why This Major ” essay, designed to understand your academic interests and how you might take advantage of the Open Curriculum.

The first step is to take the time to ponder what it is about your selected subject that you really gravitate towards, and try to establish exactly why you want to study that subject (or subjects). The prompt urges you to think about why you are excited by your academic interests, so push yourself to think beyond “I’m really good at it” or “I have an excellent teacher.” 

The short essay is only 250 words, so aim to focus your interests on a maximum of two areas. Once you have established your key interests and taken the time to ponder why you’re drawn to them, examine your reasoning and try to find an underlying connection between the two fields. Alternatively, consider presenting an interdisciplinary field that connects the two subjects, and emphasize the opportunities presented at Brown through its particular courses/programs/majors that would allow you to pursue your interdisciplinary interests. If there isn’t a connection between the two subjects, that’s totally okay, too!

While this prompt might appear to only ask about your academic interests, it is also asking what you would like to study while at Brown (it is a Brown supplemental essay, after all). Admissions officers also want to know how you’ll use Brown’s resources (and the Open Curriculum) to achieve your academic goals.

But what about those who are undecided? There’s no need to worry if you’re not sure what you’ll study. You can simply mention your top 1-2 interests and why Brown is a good fit for you to develop those interests. It might be helpful to know that Brown is one of the few universities that allows you to construct your own major; if applicable, you can mention your desire to turn your multiple interests into a unique interdisciplinary major.

Below are several examples to illustrate meshing two seemingly contrasting interests into a potential future academic pursuit at Brown:

Example 1: Perhaps you’re interested in biology and geology. You could weave your interests together by emphasizing your insatiable curiosity for understanding both living and physical systems, and reference an example of something your desire to understand systems-thinking has led you to do in the past, or reflect on how this experience challenged your assumptions, etc. Your narrative could incorporate experiences that illustrate your interest in each subject – you can talk about a science fair project you worked on, a class you struggled in but overcame, a lab experiment you participated in, or a younger student you tutored, etc. Focus on the common reasons you are attracted to both subjects. You can mention the opportunity to pursue the joint Geo-Bio degree offered through the Department of Earth, Environment, and Planetary Sciences at Brown, without abandoning your interests in poetry and anthropology through the opportunities presented by the Open Curriculum. 

Example 2: Let’s imagine that you are interested in politics, activism, or community work, but you also are passionate about music and have been playing piano for many years. You could discuss your experiences on a political internship or your role in your school’s model UN, and discuss the opportunities available at Brown, through the Brown in Washington program or the Swearer Center for Public Service. However, you could also discuss the piano concert you organized and performed in to fundraise for your community’s homeless shelter. Whenever possible, selecting an example that bridges your seemingly contrasting interests can create a very compelling essay. You could conclude by explaining that you are aiming to use the Open Curriculum to explore the impact of music on the influence of political campaigns and a candidate’s perception, or on exploring the connection between music, Alzheimer’s, and memory, etc. 

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Students entering brown often find that making their home on college hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the brown community. (200-250 words).

Brainstorming Your Topic

While the phrasing is a little different, this is essentially a Diversity Essay . You want to share something about who you are that sets you apart from other applicants to Brown, and explain how it would make you a valuable addition to Brown’s campus community.

Before you start brainstorming which part of your identity you want to write about, do remember that the way colleges evaluate race specifically will be different this year, and moving forward, after the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in June. Schools are not allowed to factor race into their broader admissions strategies, but they can consider it on an individual level through the essay. So, if your racial identity is an important part of who you are, this is a good opportunity to share it with admissions officers.

Of course, you are also welcome to write about a different part of your identity. The things that make us diverse aren’t just race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and the other features that normally first come to people’s minds when they hear the word “diversity.” Even the prompt itself casts a wide net, with the phrase “an aspect of your growing up.” In addition to the features just listed, that could also refer to hobbies, interests, your family culture, and pretty much any lived experience. Less traditional topics in this vein could include:

• Teaching yourself Elvish, the fictional language from Lord of the Rings
• Biking to school every day while your friends drove or took the bus
• Baking all the birthday cakes in your family from the time you were seven
• Raising chickens in the backyard of your suburban house

The only real rule here is that you choose a part of your identity that will help Brown admissions officers better understand who you are, and what you’ll look like as a college student. So long as that’s the case, anything is fair game.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Once you’ve selected a topic, the thing you want to make clear in your actual essay is how this “aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you .” Like “aspect of your growing up,” “inspired or challenged” gives you a lot of flexibility, but what Brown admissions officers are saying is that they want to understand not just what sets you apart from other applicants, but why that thing is crucial to understanding who you are as a whole.

In other words, you don’t just want to say “I live with my grandparents, who spent most of their lives in Germany, and don’t speak very good English.” You want to go deeper, explaining how this dynamic made you feel, and how it shaped your personality and overall perspective on the world.

There’s no one right way to do that—only you know how this piece of your identity has impacted you. The most important thing is to just be honest, rather than trying to structure your response around what you think Brown wants to see. If you try to force a connection to a particular value, that disconnect will show. To illustrate our point here, compare the following two excerpts from hypothetical essays:

Excerpt 1: “I sometimes felt awkward when I had friends over, as my grandparents could do little more than wave and stumble over a heavily accented ‘How are you?’ But I always got over my embarrassment quickly, because cultural heritage is something to celebrate, since the only way we can learn is from engaging with those who are different from us.”

Excerpt 2: “When I was little, I didn’t see any issue with my grandparents not speaking English: they were my family, and that was all that mattered. But when I got older and started having friends over, their perplexed reactions to my grandpa’s heavily accented ‘How are you?’ caused me to feel a twang of shame—and then, a pinch of anger with myself, for being ashamed of my own family.”

While celebration of cultural differences is of course a wonderful thing, in the first excerpt the writer seems to be skipping ahead to their appreciation of this value, and glossing over a more complicated emotional journey in the process. 

In the second example, on the other hand, they are unafraid to be vulnerable, and share their true feelings about this experience. As a result, we have a much clearer sense of both who they are and how they became that person, which are exactly the questions admissions officers want you to answer in your essays. Plus, if they talk later on about the appreciation for cultural difference they eventually took away from this experience, we will have seen exactly how they developed this appreciation, which will make their connection to this value feel much more genuine.

One last tip here: try to rely on specific anecdotes as much as possible to illustrate your points. Both excerpts above draw on a tangible example of a moment (having friends over and their grandparents being unable to greet them) that made them wrestle with their identity. That specificity gives us a much clearer sense of how this student grew through this experience, whereas a general line like “Sometimes, I was proud of my heritage, but other times I was embarrassed” would leave us with a lot of questions about what caused the student to feel this back-and-forth.

Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest potential pitfall in a diversity essay is only sharing part of your identity, and not taking the next step outlined above of explaining how it’s relevant to understanding what kind of  college student you’ll be. If you don’t get to this deeper level of reflection, admissions officers may find themselves saying “Okay, we know [x] about you, but how does that help us figure out whether or not you’re a good match for Brown?”

All Applicants, Prompt 3

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words) .

This essay prompt is very similar to the extracurricular essay archetype. However, there is a subtle difference in that this prompt allows you to discuss out-of-school activities and academic subjects. This would be a good place to demonstrate your love for a specific topic or activity that you included in other parts of your application. Or, if there is a very important part of your personality that hasn’t been captured by the rest of your application, you can write about that here. 

Pick a topic that genuinely interests you. Don’t write an essay about how you love titrating acids and bases to sound “impressive” or “intellectual” if you groan every time you walk into the chemistry lab. Admissions officers have read enough essays to tell when a student’s tone and details depict a genuine interest in a topic. You are given so much freedom, so you really should write about whatever brings you joy. Maybe you love trying styling hair and nothing brings you as much joy as when you are backstage at your school show and you are styling, braiding, and pinning all of the actors’ hair. A topic like this is unique to the student, and since they are genuinely passionate about hairstyling, it will shine through in their writing.

A strong extracurricular essay will either show your emotions and state of mind when you participate in your activity, or how that activity has helped you develop new skills and personality traits. A great essay will do both. Like the other prompts, there is a limited word count to convey not only why you enjoy this activity so much, but how you have improved as a result of this activity. Here’s an example that accomplishes both of these:

“It was a hot day in New Orleans and the crowd stuffed together certainly didn’t make things better. Necks were craning to see the spectacle in the middle of the circle. I tugged on my dad’s shirt, and he placed me on top of his shoulders for the best seat in the house. My heart raced every time the daring performer threw a sword up – I really thought he’d eventually slice his hand open. But it was perfect every time. By the end of our trip, I had tried my hand at juggling everything from toothbrushes to balls of socks. My mom was not as enthusiastic when I collected everybody’s knives at dinner to mimic the juggler’s final trick. When I finally got a juggling kit for my next birthday, I devoted every second of my free time to practicing moves I saw on YouTube. With more and more practice, I could tell how long it would take for an object to reach its zenith just by the weight in my hand. At times, the level of control and focus I put into juggling is exhausting, but if I lose focus for one second, I run the risk of serious injury. Some tricks have taken years to perfect, but the gratification when I’ve mastered a new skill makes all my patience worth it. Nothing will be as thrilling as the day my audience’s hearts race with me as I catch a sword in my hand.”

While this example is a little over the word count, the student’s passion for juggling is clearly evident. The reader sees what sparked this student’s interest, how it has developed, and how juggling has affected the student. By tying the conclusion back to the anecdote at the beginning, the essay has a satisfying conclusion that makes the reader feel this student is highly motivated by their passion and dreams, which is exactly what Brown is looking for.

All Applicants, Prompt 4

What three words best describe you (3 words).

This prompt is as clear, straightforward, and short as you could ask for, but with supplemental essays, that unfortunately doesn’t automatically mean writing your response will be easy. Obviously, you have no space to elaborate on why you chose the three words you did, so you need to give yourself time to think deeply about your words.

The best advice we can give is to, as you brainstorm, remember two of the main purposes of the college essay. First, to set yourself apart from other applicants with strong academic and extracurricular resumes. Second, to give admissions officers information that can’t be found elsewhere in your application.

Keeping these two ideas in mind will hopefully help you use your three words as effectively as possible. For example, you don’t want to use flattering but vague adjectives like “smart,” “talented,” “funny,” or “creative” because those are words that most other applicants to Brown would also use to describe themselves. You also want to avoid highlighting a feature of yourself that already comes across in another part of your application—if your activities list says that you’ve earned 10 varsity letters, admissions officers already know you’re athletic, so don’t waste one of your precious three words on repeating that here.

Instead, try to pick descriptive, precise words that pick out some feature of your personality that, for whatever reason, doesn’t yet come across in your application. Only you know how to apply that advice to yourself, but here is a list of words that communicate a clear, tangible personality trait, and thus would teach admissions officers something substantive about who you are:

• Sentimental
• Adventurous

Hopefully, this list gives you a clearer sense of what kind of words you should be considering. You only have three, so use them wisely!

All Applicants, Prompt 5

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it (100 words).

This is a textbook example of the “Extracurricular” essay , which is one you may well have already written for another school. If you do already have a version of this essay on hand, you are welcome to write about the same topic. However, you will still need to dedicate time to this prompt, as this essay’s word count is likely much lower than that of your other essay (usually, this kind of prompt has a word count in the 200-250 range), and you don’t want your essay to feel like an abridged version of another one. We’ll get into how to avoid that in the next section.

If you haven’t yet written this kind of essay, or if you have but want to write about something new, note that “most meaningful” can be read in a variety of ways. Perhaps you are inspired to write about classic extracurricular activities, like a sport, a club, volunteer work, or a part-time job. Those are all fantastic options, but you can also write about more unconventional activities if none of those things feel quite right, as “extracurricular activity” can refer to just about anything you do outside of the classroom.

For example, you could write about how you make trinkets out of the feathers that get left at your bird feeder. You could also write about your neighborhood’s caroling group, and how going door to door each year is your favorite part of the holiday season. Or you could describe teaching baseball to your much younger neighbor after watching you practice made him want to learn the sport.

While you probably don’t do any of these things, hopefully these examples of more unusual activities help you brainstorm things you do in your own life that could work for this prompt. Remember, like any college essay, the point of this prompt is to help admissions officers better understand who you are, so as long as your activity will help you do that, it’s fair game here.

If you’re writing about the same topic as another essay, you can certainly use that other one for inspiration, and potentially even use some of the same lines. There are only so many hours in the day, and recycling previous work can be a good time-saver.

However, you want to make sure this essay feels like a cohesive, independent unit, not like a Frankenstein’s monster pieced together from parts of another essay. So, don’t just pluck enough sentences to get you to 100 words and call it good. Rather, think about the ideas you express in that essay, and try to capture those same sentiments in a smaller package. 

As noted above, that may involve using a sentence or two from the other essay, but you will almost certainly need to generate new sentences, or rephrase existing ones, and of course pay attention to the structure to make sure the flow, progression from one idea to the next, and so on all make sense.

If you’re starting from scratch, the most important thing to do is make sure you answer the second half of this prompt: what do you want admissions officers to know about this activity? In other words, don’t just tell them “I do [x] in my free time.” Rather, explain how this activity has helped you grow, so that Brown admissions officers can see why your involvement in it is relevant to the kind of college student you’ll be.

Obviously, you don’t have a ton of room to do this, but you still want to rely on the old adage for college essays, “show, don’t tell,” as much as possible. Usually, that means describing specific anecdotes or life experiences in enough detail that you don’t have to tell your reader directly how the activity shaped you, because they can see it for themselves. Here, you don’t have the space to provide a ton of detail, but you still want to at least reference tangible examples to illustrate your points, as otherwise your essay may end up feeling cheesy or impersonal.

To see the difference between the two approaches, compare these two example responses:

Example 1: “ When I started volunteering at the Everett animal shelter, I wasn’t that excited about a lot of the tasks I had to do. I mainly just wanted something to do on the weekends. But as time went on, I started to find joy and fulfillment in duties that had previously just bored me. Now, I have a much more positive outlook when I try new things, because this experience taught me that learning and growth can happen in a lot of different ways–often ways you never even expected up front.”

Example 2: “My first day volunteering at the Everett animal shelter, I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose and try to hold in my vomit as I scrubbed the cages of kittens and puppies that weren’t yet potty-trained. But gradually, I stopped noticing the smell as much, and instead started paying attention to how joyful the animals were afterward to be able to play freely, without avoiding soiled areas. Today, I try to approach everything in my life with the mindset that even tedious or gross tasks can be fulfilling if you consciously focus on the greater purpose of what you’re doing.”

The ideas conveyed in these two examples are the same. But the second one includes a specific example of a task they found unpleasant (cleaning cages), and describes what exactly made them start to change their mindset (seeing the animals happy in their clean cages). As a result, we get a more engaging story, which teaches us not just what the student learned from this experience, but also how they learned it.

The main thing you want to be on the lookout for here is using your space inefficiently, since you already have so little of it. Specifically, remember that this essay is not the only thing in your application, so you want to give your reader new information about yourself, rather than repeating details that can already be found elsewhere.

For example, if you already wrote your Common App essay about your experiences volunteering at the animal shelter, you’ll want to pick a different topic for this essay. Even if you feel you can shine a different light on the experience, you’ve already spent 650 words on it. Use these 100 to introduce Brown admissions officers to something entirely new about yourself.

Additionally, remember that, if you’re writing about something that appears in your activities list, admissions officers already know how long you’ve been involved in it, and how often you do it. So, an introductory line like “During my sophomore year, I started volunteering at the animal shelter every week,” is a waste of 13% of your space, as admissions officers already know that. 

Even if you choose an extracurricular that doesn’t appear in your activities list, you don’t really need to provide these kinds of factual details unless they’re essential to understanding the point you’re trying to make. For example, maybe you were feeling overwhelmed your freshman year of high school, and teaching your neighbor baseball helped remind you that you do have things you’re good at. Otherwise, those words could be used more efficiently.

All Applicants, Prompt 6

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be (100 words).

You’re not even a high school graduate yet, and here Brown is dropping you into a professor’s shoes—what an amazing opportunity! As you think about which course you’re going to offer, note that Brown is casting an incredibly wide net with this prompt: you can teach about any subject, even a non-academic one. Admissions officers want to see your creativity, because once you get to college, you will be able to take a much, much wider variety of classes, and admissions officers want to see that you’re ready to take advantage of that freedom.

Plus, like with any college essay, your goal here is to share a side of yourself that isn’t reflected in any other part of your application, and the looser nature of this prompt makes this a great opportunity to share something that wouldn’t appear in a transcript or activities list. So, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and have some fun! Do you have any interests that are a huge part of your life, but unrelated to your academic or extracurricular passions? Tell us about them here! Is there something you’ve always been inexplicably fascinated by, to the point that it’s shaped how you’ve grown up? This is the place to describe it!

To give you a sense of just how creative you can get, here is a list of example topics you could write about:

• Using statistics to account for potential injuries when drafting your fantasy football team
• Theories and conspiracies about how the pyramids were built
• The incredible variation in Italian food from one region to another
• The chemistry behind making the perfect, sticky-but-not-too-sticky, sushi rice
• Extreme climates, like a desert in Chile that hasn’t gotten rain in hundreds of years

While the prompt only explicitly asks what you would teach about, the thing to bring out in your response is the implied “and why” at the end. You don’t want your response to be just about the history of making sushi rice. While that might be informative, it won’t help Brown admissions officers visualize you as part of their campus community.

Instead, use your topic as a lens to shine light on some feature of your personality. In other words, ask yourself what your interest in this subject says about you overall. For example, maybe dealing with the randomness of injuries to highly drafted players in your fantasy league has helped you accept that some things are ultimately outside of your control, no matter how hard you try to account for them. Alternatively, perhaps learning about the most extreme climates on earth makes you feel awe for the variety present in nature, which in turn inspires you to think about the variety of things you could do with your life.

The most important thing is that your interest in this topic is clearly connected to your growth and development. If that connection is vague or doesn’t seem particularly logical, your response may feel disjointed or impersonal. But so long as your explanation is honest and thoughtful, admissions officers should come away from your essay with a more comprehensive, nuanced understanding of what makes you tick, both intellectually and personally.

Really, the only thing you want to avoid in your response is not taking advantage of this opportunity to be creative. Even if you want to write about a conventional academic subject, like math or English, approach it from an unusual angle, like the example listed in the “Brainstorming” section about using statistics to help you in your fantasy football draft. That will prove to admissions officers that you aren’t just smart, but also curious and imaginative, and also show them a new side of you—the side that plays fantasy football—that probably doesn’t show up anywhere else in your application.

All Applicants, Prompt 7

In one sentence, why brown (50 words).

While writing the supplements for the other schools on your list, you have likely come across this “Why This College?” prompt. However, because Brown is giving you only 50 words, the usual approach to this kind of essay—citing several school-specific resources and explaining how they’ll help you achieve your goals—doesn’t work, as you just don’t have room to do that.

That being said, you still want to be precise in your response. The classic rule for this kind of essay, that you shouldn’t be able to swap in another school’s name and still have your response make sense, still applies. And 50 words is more than you think. While you don’t have space to incorporate academic, extracurricular, and social opportunities at Brown the way you normally would, you can still highlight one particular resource at Brown that interests you and give admissions officers a sense of why you’re drawn to it. 

Here’s an example of a response that accomplishes everything laid out in the previous paragraph:

“Brown’s spirit is making interdisciplinary connections, which I would do through the Brown in Bologna program by further exploring the Italian culture my grandparents preserved even after immigrating to Boston, and simultaneously informing myself about another country’s educational system so that I am better prepared to solve global educational inequalities.”

This response is exactly 50 words, and uses them efficiently to show admissions officers this student is a good fit for their school by explaining how they would take advantage of the opportunities available at Brown. To do the same in your own response, just make sure that you choose a resource that directly and concretely connects to your goals for college, rather than something you’re only sort of interested in. If you don’t already have a clear sense of what you want to say, 50 words isn’t enough to explain why you might be interested in something—you need to already know you are, and why.

One last note: “the Open Curriculum” doesn’t work as the kind of school-specific resource we’re talking about. While this is one of the school’s most famous distinguishing features, remember that the point of any college essay is to help set yourself apart from other applicants, and anyone who applies to Brown is at least somewhat drawn to the Open Curriculum. 

To give admissions officers a clear sense of how you personally would fit into Brown’s campus community, you’ll need to get more specific, by instead referencing a research opportunity, particular academic offering, or study abroad program (as in the example above). Then, explain how that resource reflects the broader culture of Brown, and how it connects to your own priorities and hopes for your time in college. Fitting all of this in isn’t easy, but again, it can be done. We believe in you!

RISD Applicants, Prompt 1

The brown|risd dual degree program draws on the complementary strengths of brown university and rhode island school of design (risd) to provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry, culminating in a capstone project that interrelates the content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences., based on your understanding of the academic programs at brown and risd and the possibilities created by the brdd program’s broadened learning community, specifically describe how and why the brdd program would constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. as part of your answer, be sure to articulate how you might contribute to the dual degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work. (100-650 words) .

The Brown-RISD Dual Degree program is an intense, highly selective (2-3% acceptance) program in which students must get accepted to both Brown and RISD based on their respective criterion, and then be approved by a joint committee. Students in the program exhibit an intense degree of intellectual rigor, as well as a broad ranging curiosity for both an arts and liberal arts education. The key here is to convince the readers that you are a good fit in this specific program, rather than as a Brown student who takes a few RISD classes or a RISD student who takes a few Brown classes.

In this essay, you must be specific about why you would be a better fit spending five years getting degrees from both Brown and RISD rather than getting one degree from either of the schools. You must show that it is necessary for you to get both degrees, and how you would like to use the knowledge you gain from both schools in your future. It’s incredibly important to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of your goals, as this is specifically called out in the prompt.  

With 650 available words, this essay should feature the same depth as your Common App essay, and should complement it. Although the two should not overlap in content, you can definitely expand on topics you briefly touched on in one essay in the other. Here are a few possible avenues you could explore in this essay:

(1) Students in the program stretch the gamut of possible Brown + RISD major combinations: furniture and applied mathematics, computer science and industrial design, and comparative literature and painting. The program prides itself on this diversity, so explain how your passions and interests are disparate, but also connected to your overall identity. Talk about how being surrounded with other Brown-RISD students will foster your wide-ranging intellectual and artistic curiosities even further.

(2) If you ultimately want to become an artist, you could talk about how important the liberal arts have been and will be for you. Maybe you find literature critical for escaping into the worlds you want to create visually, and you want to dive deeper during your undergraduate years.

(3) Maybe you want to study both biology and industrial design, because you want to base your design work on biomimicry. You could talk about how you would draw equally from both fields, and how you want to design better transportation devices that take from the best methods of nature.

(4) Say you’ve always been interested in your Korean heritage and finding ways to express that through art. As a result, you want to study East Asian history at Brown, where you will understand the context that your parents immigrated out of, and textiles at RISD, where you can craft bojagi (Korean wrapping cloth) with a sensitivity to its historical context.

(5) Maybe you’ve always been passionate about both art and liberal arts, but have no concrete connection between the two, and that’s also perfectly fine. You could talk about how you want to further explore and hone in these passions, so that by your second year of undergrad, you’ll have a stronger idea of what specifically you want to study.

Your art portfolio, Common App essay, and other supplemental essays will also speak volumes about who you are, so make sure to use this essay to highlight parts of yourself previously unmentioned. You’ve also probably spent the previous essays explaining “why Brown,” so use this essay to delve deep into why you would thrive in an arts and design centered environment in conjunction with Brown’s liberal arts curriculum.

PLME Applicants Only

Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is a prestigious 8 year BS/MD program in which accepted students are automatically accepted into Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School. For more about PLME, check out our comprehensive guide .

PLME Applicants, Prompt 1

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. explain your personal motivation to pursue a career in medicine. (250 words).

The Program in Liberal Medical Education (as well as other accelerated medical programs) is a huge commitment for 17 and 18 year olds, who are essentially saying that they know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. As a result, Brown admissions officers want to accept candidates whom they believe have tangible reasons as to why they want to become doctors. These reasons may include clinical and laboratory experience, as well as a general passion to improve the well being of others.

In this prompt, reflecting on past experiences is critical. Whether that is shadowing a pediatrician at your local hospital for a summer, volunteering with an organization like the Red Cross, or doing lab research on pancreatic cancer, let the admissions team know that you have past experiences engaging in clinical or laboratory work, and that these experiences have increased your desire to enter the medical profession.

Moreover, bring in your past experiences with the healthcare field, such as seeing a loved relation hospitalized, if they instilled within you a desire to eventually enter and better the industry. As a warning, however, it is easy to fall into the cliche of witnessing an older relative, usually a grandparent, pass away due to illness, and afterwards deciding to pursue medicine as a career. In cases such as these, make sure to make the experience as unique to you as possible, and use this experience as a jumping off point to other activities you have done pertaining to the health field.  

Afterwards, brainstorm the key values you hold for your life. If you are not sure of your values, think back to how you have spent your time: if you’ve spent significant amounts of time volunteering out of goodwill, or caring for family members, or tutoring your peers, chances are, your values may center around caring for others in need, and looking beyond yourself, both of which are critical components of good doctors. A love for interacting with other people and learning about them is a key component in being a doctor, so make sure to illustrate this point through your experiences. Using concrete things you’ve done in the past to color your values is much more powerful than just stating “my values are helping those in need.”

You could even talk about other extracurriculars you’ve tried, but simply did not enjoy as much as health-related activities, to further cement how being a doctor is the only foreseeable career route you see yourself being fulfilled and satisfied in. Overall, just go off your past experiences in health related fields, your current ideas and beliefs, and your future dreams and goals.

PLME Applicants, Prompt 2

Healthcare is constantly changing as it is affected by racial and social inequities, economics, politics, technology, and more. imagine that you are a physician and describe one way in which you would seek to make a positive impact in today’s healthcare environment. (250 words).

Your essay should look to the future and answer how you will address a specific issue you see in health care today. Maybe you are concerned with high maternal mortality rates among mothers from lower socioeconomic statuses, and you want to work as an OBGYN in underprivileged areas to provide mothers with more attentive care. Possibly you are interested in developing a pill that will instantly stop bug bites from itching, because after years of your family’s annual camping trip you know how pesky bug bites can be.

Once you identify this specific aspect of health care which you are interested in and why you are interested, you should go into detail about how you hope to improve this issue. A student who already has experience with their issue might write about how in high school she tried to deter students from vaping by forming a Students Against Nicotine club at her school. However, once she has a medical background, she plans to specialize in respiratory illnesses so she can give talks at schools about the science behind what vaping does to a person’s lungs. Another student might not have prior experience with racial disparities in health care, but they know that they want to address the toxic stress minority communities face which contributes to major health complications. This student could discuss their plan to popularize a method for identifying and prescribing toxic stress as a medical condition.

It’s important that your response to this prompt includes what you are interested in doing as a physician, where you learned about this issue or what sparked your interest in this specific topic, and how you plan to make a difference one day. You can further strengthen your response by describing how specific resources and opportunities (classes, researching with professors, clubs and organizations, etc) at Brown will allow you to reach your goals and address the issue. Given the limited amount of space, it’s okay if you aren’t able to include resources at Brown, because a bigger focus should be on your aspirations and how you plan to solve a problem.

One common mistake that students will make when it comes to this prompt is creating a potential impact in medicine that is not strongly reflected in the rest of their application. You don’t necessarily need to have worked in a hospital or a lab to connect the issue you are interested in to your application, but you could have attended lectures and seminars on the topic, taken a class at a university about it, or read scientific journals and papers that discussed it. However, don’t claim you want to investigate the impact of biased artificial intelligence radiology tools in providing care for people of color without being able to explain where your interest and knowledge of this issue came from. 

PLME Applicants, Prompt 3

How do you envision the program in liberal medical education helping to meet your academic, personal and professional goals as a person and future physician (250 words).

The Program in Liberal Medical Education is designed to foster intellectual exploration among its cohort of undergraduates, so you definitely want to talk about how your academic interests don’t simply reside in the biological sciences. Talk about how although you want to become a doctor, there are numerous other facets of your identity that don’t fit in the narrow pre-med curricular path. Explain how these interests can be cultivated at Brown, and how they will ultimately allow you to become a better doctor.

Many of the students in the PLME program don’t major in traditional pre-med fields during their undergraduate years, as they are freed from doing so (outside from a few pre-med requirements). Students can thus craft an interdisciplinary education that allows them to pursue interests outside of the narrow pre-med curriculum. Overall, there are so many different academic fields that tie back to the core of being a doctor, and so make sure to express that fully. Here a few examples:

(1) If you have a strong passion for the humanities, mention that, and then talk about how topics like literature and anthropology allow you to grow in empathy and understanding for the world around you. For example, you could talk about your passion for Hispanic cultures, and how you want to continue learning Spanish to form better patient-doctor relations with underserved Hispanic communities in your hometown.

(2) If you’re interested in computer science, talk about your experiences coding, and how you want to be better equipped as the medicine field ultimately will become more technology oriented. You could talk about how you want to be at the forefront of the burgeoning connection between artificial intelligence and health outcomes, and how being in the program will allow you to do so.

(3) There are plenty of classes you can point to that merge the biological sciences with the humanities. Using Brown’s online course catalog, you can pull up titles such as “Medicine and Public Health in Africa,” “Pain and the Human Condition,” and “Health, Hunger, and the Household in Developing Countries” to find courses that interest you and illustrate how you need these intersectional courses to become the doctor you want to be.

(4) You could even mention interdisciplinary programs at Brown’s Warren Alpert medical school, such as its Scholarly Concentration program, which allows students to pursue areas such as Medical Humanities, Medical Technology and Innovation, and Advocacy and Activism. You could also mention the medical school’s Narrative Medicine classes, or its unique MD-ScM program, which combines primary care and population health.

Personal goals and professional goals are often one and the same, but make sure you have personal goals that extend beyond the confines of a career (as mentioned in the previous prompt). Yes, you’d like to become a doctor, but the PLME environment is exactly the one that you need to thrive as a curious human. Talk about your need for Brown’s Open Curriculum to thrive not just as a future doctor, but as an intellectual being who cares about the world. Talk about how being a part of the PLME would allow you to best prepare for the two halves of your career in medicine, science and human interaction, and why you would thrive in this profession that simultaneously juggles both.

Regarding professional goals, you could talk about how being a part of the PLME would mean the rare once in a lifetime chance of satisfying all your intellectual curiosities in undergrad while being able to go to medical school and become a doctor.

Where to Get Your Brown Essay Edited 

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How important is the Brown video portfolio? Answered

Hi! I just submitted my application to Brown (it's due tonight), but found out that I also have the opportunity to submit a 2-minute video. This is due in 3 days, but I'm not super worried about not having enough time. How important is this video to my application, and would you recommend that I still do it?

Earn karma by helping others:

If Brown will allow you extra days to complete your video, which I think it does, I would recommend that you do so.

1.) If you haven't had an interview, it would be good for the admissions committee to put a voice and face to the words you have written to help them understand you better. Also, it helps them understand who the teachers are advocating for.

2.) It also allows you to add some information, perhaps vital perhaps not, that helps the application reader(s) "connect the dots" about your character, personality, goals, and aspirations, and who you really are. If a picture can tell a thousand words, a two-minute video can explain 10,000 words about someone.

I do not agree with the previous respondent because nothing stated as optional for the Ivy League is really optional. When Harvard says the supplemental essay is optional, I'll guarantee you that unless you are a celebrity, a recruited athlete, or a development applicant, no one skips the supplemental essay.

I didn't apply to Brown however I prepared my 2-minute essay nevertheless.

Checking on the Brown website, the video portfolio is due on January 15th. So you have more time than you think! Please tell me if I'm wrong though because I have to do it too.

Since I was at first confused about the contradictory information between the original email and the website, just thought I'd clarify that they seem to have extended the deadline from the 8th to the 15th earlier today. Also, thank you for your comment @mayag224.

Yeah I just got an email from them saying that it is now due on the 15th. Thanks!

It adds an extra piece to your application so it is beneficial but it won't be extremely important like your personal statement. That being said, if you really wanna go to Brown, do it since it tells them that you want them so you are willing to do more work and also it shows them more about you.

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6 Brown Essays That Worked + Why Brown Examples

For students writing the Brown supplements for Fall 2022, here is your guide to successful Brown essays.

In this article, I've gathered 6 essays written by admitted students to Brown.

I'll share examples of how regular high-achieving students who got into Brown recently by having stand-out essays.

Are essays all that matter? No, but especially for competitive and test-optional schools, your essays are a very important factor.

Let's jump right in.

What is Brown University's Acceptance Rate?

This past year, a record 46,568 students applied to Brown and just 2,537 students got accepted. Which means Brown had an overall admit rate of just 5.4%.

Since its known as a top Ivy League school, most students applying to Brown already have strong test scores, grades, and extracurricular activities.

Brown University Acceptance Scattergram

That's why its even more important to write essays that help show why you should be accepted.

Especially for Ivy League and other top schools like Brown, your essays make a difference.

What are the Brown Supplemental Prompts for 2022-23?

To apply to Brown University this year, you are required to write three short essays of 50 to 250 words each.

You can find your Brown writing supplement along with your Common Application essays on your portal.

Here's the Brown supplemental prompts for 2022. The questions on this page are being asked by Brown University:

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

6 Brown University EssaysThatWorked

Here are 6 of my favorite Brown essay examples from admitted students.

These essays respond to past and current writing supplement prompts for Brown. I've also included some examples of personal statement essays that worked for Brown.

If you need help getting started writing, this is a perfect way to get inspired and see what's worked.

Table of Contents

• Brown Essay Example #1
• Brown Essay Example #2
• Brown Essay Example #3
• Brown Essay Example #4
• Brown Essay Example #5
• Brown Essay Example #6

Prompt: Open Curriculum

Brown university essay example #1.

Prompt: Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

My primary interest is in languages and linguistics, specifically Spanish, Portuguese and the descent of these languages from Latin which I explored in my IB Extended Essay. Thus, something that excites me about the complete freedom of the Brown curriculum is the opportunity to learn about Hispanic and Lusophone culture, literature and language in an intersectional way through a concentration in Latin American studies combined with classes and undergraduate research in Linguistics. I intend to supplement my language acquisition with practical application through study abroad opportunities at PUC-Rio, Brazil and in Santiago, Chile, perhaps through the Engaged Scholars Program which will allow me to forge deeper connections with the communities and cultures I am studying. I am also attracted by the possibility of a 5-year BA/MA course in Linguistics which will permit me to conduct meaningful and extensive research on a topic I am truly passionate about.

However, I also have an interest in Biochemistry and Molecular biology. The Open Curriculum will enable me to pursue this avenue of study and research without detracting from my principal focus on languages. Therefore, perhaps what I am most excited for is interdisciplinary study at Brown and the possibility of forging unforeseen connections between disparate academic areas and weaving them together into a program of study that will engage, thrill, and inspire me towards a lifelong path of academic inquiry. For example, I am interested to explore how languages and sociolinguistics can be used to promote medical research and provision in Latin America.

Why This Essay Works:

Naming things unique to the school shows you have genuine interest. Listing specific programs, courses, or majors shows you've done your research.

The author's reasons for "Why Brown?" fit into their background and identity. This makes their reasons seem genuine and compelling.

What They Might Improve:

The essay is divided into two parts with distinct answers. Showing how those reasons relate could make the essay more cohesive.

Ending with a sentence "For example..." leaves more to be desired and explained.

Prompt: Brown's Community

Brown university essay example #2.

Prompt: At Brown, you will learn as much from your peers outside the classroom as in academic spaces. How will you contribute to the Brown community? (200-250 words)

At my high school, I reinvigorated and reinvented the linguistics society with the help of a friend, transforming it from a dull discussion of past exam questions to a seminar-style session where I have presented and analysed various interesting aspects of language. In a similar vein, I intend to be a leader and an innovator at Brown, and to create opportunities for likeminded people to discuss shared interests such as linguistics. However, other than creating clubs, I hope to use my experience as a camp counselor and a diving coach to support others within the community, and to set a good example of dedication, energy, and compassion.

Additionally, I have volunteered as a Spanish teacher at a local primary school for three years. Volunteer service is something I would definitely like to continue to undertake at Brown, perhaps through the Community Corps that will allow me to help address social inequality within Providence, or as a teacher and classroom assistant in the Elementary Afterschool Mentoring program at D’Abate school. I can draw on my previous experience and knowledge to hopefully enrich the education of underprivileged children in the local community.

Finally, as an international student, I will bring an element of unique culture to Brown’s campus. Having grown up in the buzzing metropolis of London but visiting America frequently to see family, I have the privilege of a truly dual nationality, and the resultant worldview and cultural references that I hope will enrich the diverse Brown community.

• Variety of Reasons Given: Providing multiple reasons for how you'll contribute shows you aren't one-dimensional. People are complex and showing nuance in your character is important.
• Showcasing Past Experiences: With each point, the author gives examples from their activities and resume. Referencing specific extracurriculars helps build their case and is "proof" of how they'll contribute.

What They Might Change:

• Flow and Writing Style: Listing activities can come off as robotic and uninteresting. Rather, try to find a balance between showing off your achievements and writing in an interesting way.
• Structure: The last paragraph is most compelling because it deals with the author's personality and background, rather than just what they've done. Organizing the essay around your character is better than focusing solely on your achivements.

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Prompt: Why Brown?

Brown university essay example #3.

Prompt: Why Brown, and why the Brown Curriculum? (200 words max)

I believe any college should equip you with tools as you embark upon your journey. Brown provides the necessary. That is what the capstone experience does (not to mention the importance of internships given to Brown Students). You can never know everything about anything. But quench the questions is exactly what the Capstone Experience fosters.

The Open Curriculum was obviously the first thing that caught my eye. In school, you are sometimes forced to take the subjects you don’t like. College shouldn’t be the same. It is supposed to be a fresh start and that is exactly why you should be allowed to take the courses that appeal to you. Here is where the S/NC option was interesting. Only if you know perspectives from all subjects, can you determine a solution; S/NC promotes this. Group Independent Study Projects is also unique. Getting into the course is something hard. But creating your own course is amusing.

I would love to be a part of The Society of Women Engineers because I had to fight with my own family to study Computer Science in the United States. If it means providing the help for people I wish I'd got, never better.

• Ideas and Beliefs: Rather than just saying what aspects are appealing, the author explains why they are attracted to those things. By explaining your perspective, admissions officers are better able to understand your thinking and character.
• Specific to Brown: Listing aspects that are unique to Brown is important to show your interest is authentic. By naming things like the Capstone Experience and S/NC, the author shows their knowledge of Brown and makes their reasons more compelling.
• Writing Style: Some parts of the essay are clunky in wording and could be written more clearly. But the author is an international student, so it is understandable and not the end of the world.
• Structure and Conclusion: There isn't a clear conclusion sentence that ties the essay together. How can you relate the last sentence to your beginning?

Prompt: Area of Study

Brown university essay example #4.

Prompt: Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? (150 words max)

There was a time when I was low and afraid to be with myself. That’s when I dived into programming. I always sat with my laptop. But unlike others on Instagram or Snapchat, I was coding. I always kept myself occupied so I wouldn’t think about hardships. But as I was solving those little Instantiation and StackOverflow errors, I realized that any problem in my life had a solution. I could either modify the code and right the wrong, or just keep compiling them, producing no output. So, life is not all that different. That is why I want to pursue Computer Science. I know I can work to keep myself happy. Inevitably, what makes me happy is Computer Science, which is what I want to pursue.

• Intriguing Backstory: Telling a compelling story is about setting the scene. This essay creates vivid imagery by naming specific programming-related things.
• Connects to Bigger Picture: Rather than just saying their major or interest, the author connects it to a more universal idea. Showing the deeper "why" behind your interests makes it relatable and more interesting.
• Writing Style and Flow: Some words are unnecessary, and a few sentences could be made more smooth to read.
• Doesn't Use the Full Word Limit: With 23 words left, the author could have included a sentence or two more. Every word is valuable with short word limits, so use them carefully.

Prompt: Where You've Lived

Brown university essay example #5.

Prompt: Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100 words max)

I was born in California, USA. When I was about 7 months old, I moved to Bangalore, India. I've lived in Bangalore all my life, until two years ago. I started attending a boarding school, in the same state, but far away from my house. I chose to leave everything behind, even my phone, because I didn't want to be pampered. I wanted to fold my own blanket; to wipe my own tears; to carve my own name; to befriend people my way; to create my destiny. My parents weren't happy at first, but I convinced them.

• Poetic Writing: Interesting writing comes from interesting ideas. And the second to last sentence especially is compelling because it expresses their ideas elegantly.
• Answers Prompt Directly: For supplements especially, make sure to answer exactly what the prompt is asking.
• Be More Concise: Use as few words as possible to say the most you can. Especially for short prompts like this one, every word matters.
• Word Choice: Swapping out words like "house" for "home" can make the tone more natural.

Prompt: Communities and Groups

Brown university essay example #6.

Prompt: Communities or groups: pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100 words max)

My dad lost his parents when he was young. My mom also quit her job to take care of me. So, if you look at it, she should loathe me. But she doesn’t. She has dedicated her whole life to me. That is why I want to provide a purpose to their lives. Every competition I won, even a small word of praise would lighten their mood. When I am happy they are euphoric; when I am sad they are distraught. It's like they (for)give and forget. So why not follow their footsteps and give it all I got?

• Vulnerable and Authentic: Being vulnerable is an important part of great essays. Talking about sensitive, but real and human topics, makes you more relatable and humanized.
• Explains What Motivates Them: Admissions officers want to know why you're driven to do things. Showing your "why" helps give insight into your character more deeply.
• Doesn't Answer Prompt Directly: Make sure to answer exactly what the prompt asks. Although this essay explains their background and motivations, it doesn't answer the question exactly.

If you're trying to get into Brown in 2022, your essays need to make you stand out from the competition. These 6 Brown essays that worked showcase great examples of what it takes to get accepted into Brown.

There are many lessons and tips to be learned from these supplements:

• Being authentic and genuine is key
• Name aspects unique and specific to the school
• Showcase your motivations and the "why" behind things
• Don't be afraid to be vulnerable
• Use every word carefully and make each word count

If you enjoyed reading these Brown supplements, you'll also like the essays for similar Ivy League schools like Princeton and Columbia University .

What did you think of these Brown University essays?

Ryan Chiang , Founder of EssaysThatWorked

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I'm Ryan Chiang and I created EssaysThatWorked - a website dedicated to helping students write college essays they're proud of. We publish the best college admissions essays from successful applicants every year to inspire and teach future students.

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Princeton Admitted Essay

People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

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A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

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A writer explores the complexities of her interracial relationship

Nina Sharma contemplates the power of Black and Brown love in her essay collection “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

Shortly after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, The Washington Post ran a news story about interracial families attempting to explain his death to their children. “ A man was unjustly killed here ,” a White father recalls solemnly telling his biracial Black child.

But there was a key gap in coverage: “There are no interracial couples without a white partner” featured in The Post’s article, Nina Sharma observes in her new essay collection, “The Way You Make Me Feel: Love in Black and Brown.” Drawing variously on personal reflections, pop culture and history, Sharma makes it her project to decenter whiteness and highlight a love that has long been relegated to the shadows: that of Black and Brown couples.

Sharma, who is Indian American, is married to Quincy Scott Jones, a Black American educator and poet whom Sharma met at a Fourth of July barbecue, as she recollects in the anthology’s title essay. They had, she writes, grown up just one hour from each other: Jones in a majority-Black suburb of New Jersey, Sharma in Edison, N.J., a town that’s now home to one of the largest concentrations of Indian Americans in the country.

In 16 essays spanning 300 pages, Sharma chronicles her own relationship and places it in conversation with other Afro-Asian love stories. Among them are that of the Black-Indian couple at the center of Mira Nair’s 1991 film, “Mississippi Masala,” and the story of Vice President Harris’s parents. (Sharma refers to Harris as her “time-traveling daughter” while contemplating having children of her own.)

The sweeping but focused collection demonstrates Sharma’s commitment to exploring Afro-Asian intimacy in all its beauty and complexity. In one essay, she probes Donald Trump’s indictment of racial others and grapples with her own immigrant father’s complicated adulation of the former president. Using “Mad Men” as a launchpad, Sharma incisively considers the “nothingness of whiteness”: the luxury White people are accorded to make “something out of nothing,” while Black and Brown stories are always expected to make a statement.

In the book’s standout essay, “Sacrifice,” Sharma meditates on her parents’ suggestion that Quincy shave off his dreadlocks before their wedding. She compares the sanctity of a Hindu head-shaving practice, called mundan, with the violence of shaving the hair of enslaved people. “Head shaving was one of the first acts of enslavement,” Sharma writes, recounting the history of Europeans and slave traders shaving heads as a way of “cutting from enslaved Africans all ties to their place and people, all known markers of identity.”

But Sharma doesn’t simply dismiss the sacrosanct Hindu practice of tonsuring; instead, she treads carefully to highlight its nuances and considers the opposing valences that head-shaving carries in Indian and Black communities. She extends her exploration of hair to Black women’s wigs and weaves, which sometimes source hair from India and China, often selling it to consumers as “true Indian hair.” In the essay’s conclusion, Sharma refuses to comfort readers; instead, she recalls her own wedding, when her older sister complimented a Black guest’s hair. “I love your hair,” her sister said. “Well, you should,” the guest replied. “It’s yours.”

As such moments prove, Sharma’s debut is remarkable for its daring, how unafraid it is to eschew rosy visions of racial solidarity. She interrogates the ongoing anti-Blackness of her family, even after her marriage to Quincy, refusing to glaze the collection with the banal optimism that assumes all people of color have joined forces to avenge racism. As a case in point, Sharma reminds us of the complicity of the Palestinian American owner of the corner market outside which George Floyd was murdered, and that of the Hmong American police officer who stood watching.

Sharma brings the same candor to her own life and its unglamorous details: her multiple mental health hospitalizations, her persistent cheating on a college boyfriend, her struggle to quit smoking cigarettes. The prose is lush, if occasionally cliché, such as when she describes a peck on the lips as an “unbearable lightness” and concludes the book by ruminating on the undefined nature of dividing zero by zero while approaching Exit 0 on a New Jersey highway.

Although that metaphor feels strained, its nod to life’s precarity is apt: “The Way You Make Me Feel” affirms that Black and Brown existence in America comes with no guarantee of collective solidarity, no innate promise of racial equality. The path to justice is uncertain, Sharma reminds us, and we must each work hard — and be bold enough to sacrifice our own comfort — to actualize it.

Meena Venkataramanan writes stories on identity, culture and Asian American communities for The Post.

The Way You Make Me Feel

Love in Black and Brown

By Nina Sharma

Penguin. 323 pp. $27

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Brown, Top Special Warfare Official Underscore Power of Partnerships, Collaboration

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the principal civilian advisor to the secretary of defense for all matters related to Defense Department special warfare both underscored the importance of partnerships and collaboration during a pair of speeches today at the Special Operations Forces 2024 convention in Tampa, Florida.  

Delivering back-to-back remarks followed by brief Q&A sessions, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.; and Christopher Maier, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, emphasized the value of U.S. joint special operations forces working with partner-nation SOF communities, the defense industry and academia to tackle the challenges our nation faces. 

Describing collaboration as "common people united by a common vision, working together to accomplish uncommon results," Brown said such a quality is "a key component" of the SOF ethos.  

"Collectively, our single most significant strategic asset is our ability to work together," Brown told the crowd, adding that such work requires repeated engagements, increasingly complex exercises and numerous training evolutions. 

"Collaboration is part of a core identity — your unwavering commitment to collective strength." 

As one example of the U.S. and partner nations working together, both Brown and Maier noted that it has been 10 years since the 87-nation Global Coalition Against Daesh formed. 

"I think our 10-year anniversary of the defeat-ISIS coalition serves to highlight — as Chairman Brown did, as well — the true power of our partnerships that we have built over nearly two-and-a-half decades now of generational SOF relationships on counterterrorism," Maier said.  

Maier also explained that the U.S. and international SOF communities will have to work together more to meet the conflicts of the future. 

"We are going to need to work together even more closely, especially as our missions expand," he said.  

"No one has enough, and so we will need to find ways to share more — at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels." 

For his own part, Maier has spent the majority of SOF 2024 sharing and contributing to the SOF collaborative effort by holding a series of eight bilateral engagements with eight partner and ally nations, including meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Wednesday.      

In addition to addressing the U.S. military's strong bonds with partner nations, Brown and Maier also addressed DOD's relationship with the defense industry. 

"As the chairman of Joint Chiefs, I see it as my role to step back, look on and to think globally … to make some hard choices and make sure that we're pursuing the best tools," Brown said, adding that it's important to close "gaps and seams" in defense acquisition with the right balance of capability and capacity for both the U.S. and its partners. 

"And this is something that we all need to work on to make sure that we have the tools to respond when a crisis arises," Brown said. 

Maier thanked members of the defense industry for their efforts in keeping the SOF enterprise well equipped, adding that DOD will need even more of the industry's efforts in the future. 

"Walking the vendor floor in recent days, I am heartened to see so many companies — small, medium, and big — that are baking in the expectation of working across capabilities from other companies, and countries. We need you to do this even more," Maier said.    

"SOF Week is, I hope, one of those essential places in which we can bring together our trusted industry partners with our acquisition and operational leaders, to continue to catalyze our ability to work at the speed of war and discuss how we must adapt to continue to dominate the battlefield — even as the character of war is clearly changing," Maier added. 

Brown and Maier both closed out their remarks by circling back to people and partnerships. 

"Together, through collaboration and teamwork, common people can attain uncommon results," Brown said. "With such unity, I'm confident there are no limits to what we can achieve." 

"No one can go it alone and be successful," said Maier, "and to fully actualize this potential, we need all of you."

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Daniel Barenboim: What Beethoven’s Ninth Teaches Us

By Daniel Barenboim

Mr. Barenboim is a pianist and conductor.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was first performed exactly 200 years ago Tuesday and has since become probably the work most likely to be embraced for political purposes.

It was played at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin; it was performed in that city again on Christmas 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Leonard Bernstein replaced the word “Joy” in the choral finale with “Freedom”; the European Union adopted the symphony’s “Ode to Joy” theme as its anthem. (These days the Ninth is being played in concert halls worldwide in commemoration of the premiere. The classical music world loves anniversaries.)

Beethoven might have been surprised at the political allure of his masterpiece.

He was interested in politics, but only because he was deeply interested in humanity. The story goes that he originally wanted to dedicate his “Eroica” symphony to Napoleon — it was to be called “Bonaparte” — but he changed his mind after Napoleon abandoned the ideals of the French Revolution and was crowned emperor.

I don’t believe, however, that Beethoven was interested in everyday politics. He was not an activist.

Instead, he was a deeply political man in the broadest sense of the word. He was concerned with moral behavior and the larger questions of right and wrong affecting all of society. Especially significant for him was freedom of thought and of personal expression, which he associated with the rights and responsibilities of the individual. He would have had no sympathy with the now widely held view of freedom as essentially economic, necessary for the workings of the markets.

The closest he comes to a political statement in the Ninth is a sentence at the heart of the last movement, in which voices were heard for the first time in a symphony: “All men become brothers.” We understand that now more as an expression of hope than a confident statement, given the many exceptions to the sentiment, including the Jews under the Nazis and members of minorities in many parts of the world. The quantity and scope of the crises facing humankind severely test that hope. We have seen many crises before, but we do not appear to learn any lessons from them.

I also see the Ninth in another way. Music on its own does not stand for anything except itself. The greatness of music, and the Ninth Symphony, lies in the richness of its contrasts. Music never just laughs or cries; it always laughs and cries at the same time. Creating unity out of contradictions — that is Beethoven for me.

Music, if you study it properly, is a lesson for life. There is much we can learn from Beethoven, who was, of course, one of the strongest personalities in the history of music. He is the master of bringing emotion and intellect together. With Beethoven, you must be able to structure your feelings and feel the structure emotionally — a fantastic lesson for life! When we are in love, we lose all sense of discipline. Music doesn’t allow for that.

But music means different things to different people and sometimes even different things to the same person at different moments. It might be poetic, philosophical, sensual or mathematical, but it must have something to do with the soul.

Therefore, it is metaphysical — but the means of expression is purely and exclusively physical: sound. It is precisely this permanent coexistence of metaphysical message through physical means that is the strength of music. It is also the reason that when we try to describe music with words, all we can do is articulate our reactions to it, and not grasp music itself.

The Ninth Symphony is one of the most important artworks in Western culture. Some experts call it the greatest symphony ever written, and many commentators praise its visionary message. It is also one of the most revolutionary works by a composer mainly defined by the revolutionary nature of his works. Beethoven freed music from prevailing conventions of harmony and structure. Sometimes I feel in his late works a will to break all signs of continuity.

The Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci said a wonderful thing in 1929, when Benito Mussolini had Italy under his thumb. “My mind is pessimistic, but my will is optimistic,” he wrote to a friend from prison. I think he meant that as long as we are alive, we have hope. I try to take Gramsci’s words to heart still today, even if not always successfully.

By all accounts, Beethoven was courageous, and I find courage an essential quality for the understanding, let alone the performance, of the Ninth. One could paraphrase much of the work of Beethoven in the spirit of Gramsci by saying that suffering is inevitable, but the courage to overcome it renders life worth living.

Daniel Barenboim is a pianist and conductor, co-founder of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and founder of the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin.

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Nicole Brown Simpson's sister said nearly 30 years after her death, she's still 'heartbroken': 'Nicole endured incredible pain'

• Nicole Brown Simpson's family is collaborating with Lifetime to create a new docuseries.
• The series aims to provide Brown Simpson's own narrative in one of history's most notorious crimes.
• Her family has been dedicated to addressing domestic violence issues.

The family of the late Nicole Brown Simpson is determined to rewrite the narrative and finally tell her story — and they're getting help from Lifetime with a new docuseries detailing her life and murder.

Lifetime announced Thursday that "The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson" will premiere on the network on June 1 in a two-night event. The docuseries details the late mom's life and "provides an opportunity for Nicole's own narrative and voice to be heard in one of the most notorious crimes and trials in history," the press release reads.

In 1994, Simpson was killed alongside her friend, Ronald Goldman. Her ex-husband, former NFL player OJ Simpson, was accused and later acquitted of the crime in a highly publicized trial a year later.

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Before the honorees took the stage at Variety's Women of Power Event in New York City, Simpson's sisters spoke about her enduring legacy and how they're still "heartbroken" from her loss.

"It's kind of a mixed emotion. As heartbroken as I am because we lost Nicole almost 30 years ago this June, we're here to celebrate all of these incredible women that do so much incredible work in their areas of expertise," Denise Brown said onstage at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum flanked by her two sisters, Tanya and Dominique.

After Simpson's death, Brown said her family has been dedicated to the cause of domestic violence in many arenas.

"I'm really happy to see men in this audience because I truly believe…it affects everyone," she said of the issue. "It's not just women. It affects the entire family."

"Nicole endured incredible pain, and through that pain, she was able to protect her children. She was able to be there for her children. She walked away from her abuser," Denise Brown added. "She was a daughter. She was a sister. She was a mother. She was a friend. She was a woman whose life was tragically cut short. "

At their annual Women of Power event, Variety honored Shonda Rhimes, Mariska Hargitay, Amy Schumer, and Anitta. The event, hosted by comedian Amber Ruffin, also attracted celebrities, including Melissa Joan Hart, Glenn Close, and Nicky Hilton.

Watch: VIDEO: Matthew McConaughey makes an emotional plea for more gun control

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Derrick white and jaylen brown led the boston celtics to victory vs. the cleveland cavaliers, share this article.

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