<p>Another thing you might consider is to see if you might go to one of the summer programs at Brown. I have known students that were really helped in knowing that Brown was a good fit for them, and in having that help Brown know that they could do the work, esp if they did very well in a summer class and got a rec from the prof at Brown. This is particularly helpful if you come from a school that Brown might not have knowledge of (small “new” schools, home schooled etc. where all they really have to go on then is your Board scores, and essay, as the grade will have little comparison rating. )
(this is also true for a number of other top schools that have these programs. My daughter went to summer at Penn and practically was guaranteed admission. (but went there more for the class, and decided the school was not for her.)</p>