Stressed junior looking for advice on how to get into brown

Seirien
Sat, 10 Sep 2016 03:02:44 +0000

I’m currently a senior and will most likely apply to Brown ED. Though my tips would be:

1. Stop worrying! I definitely have that always worrying and stessing personality, but it's just not worth it.

2. Do things that you like to do. If you do stuff just for college admissions, I would really rethink it. Don't add "fluff" activities and crowd out the good stuff.

3. Don't even think about the essay until after junior year. The essay is such an essential part to the app and you really need to dig deep on what you want to write on that isn't emphasized on your app.

4. Ask, could I ask why is Brown your top school? I'm also interested in being pre-med at Brown but remember, fit is probably more important. If you just listen to what people say online and don't really get a sense of what the school over all is like, probably a bad idea.

5. Get to know 2-3 teachers really well in at least 2 different subjects. Recommendation letters play a large role as it tells the admissions people who you are. Also, don't forget your guidance counselor will also need to write you one!

6. Brown is expensive so definitely look into expensive and such.

7. Enjoy your time! Colleges don't want robots who just study and engage in a lot of things with no free time for anything else. Spend time with family and friends and just live!

8. Take stuff on college confidential with a grain of salt. There's just so much that happens in admissions decisions you can't rely on people who post here , esp the decision threads where people post their threads. No joke , destroys your confidence. I know it destroyed mine...

9. Personally , I think you don't really have to worry about your app until maybe later into your second semester of junior year where standardized tests and college tours start climbing all over you . Always keep a good relationship with your guidance counselor to help you through the process.

10. Here's a warning about being pre-med that I've gotten as well: just remember you will compete with classmates for grades as med school has just become so competitive these days that it's crazy. A 3.3 at Columbia for example would be worse than a 3.8 at a state school ANYDAY. Though if you were to switch out of pre med like the majority of applicants, top schools would be better as it probably offers amazing connections and opportunities most schools won't have (and prestige does play some role, but not as much as you may think.) Also, tons of people get weeded out. GPA and MCAT scores are the most important in that process and school prestige does play a role in admissions for them (ESP top research med schools) but def something i say you shouldn't worry about at all right now.

I would definitely say you qualify for any school if you continue this, but admissions are holistic and colleges want to build a well rounded class. They may say they want more kids who like ____ and are from this location and stuff so you never know. Or maybe they read your app at 3am and just wants to go home. “Maximizing” your chances is kind of uh hard in that sense; generally, I say you can only “qualify” and just good luck is on your side.

Remember, it’s not where you get accepted that really matters, but what you do with the opportunities that come your way at the college you attend, especially for pre-med.

Good luck in your junior year! Senior year and college apps will approach so fast you will be surprised!