Regarding comments from #3, I would like to quote from the article “Many Colleges Bend RulesTo Admit Rich Applicants” (http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Polk_Rich_Applicants.htm) with respect to admissions for big donors –
… although their grades are slightly lower. These applicants are held to the same lesser standard as some top athletes; not whether they can excel, but whether they can graduate. “There’s never been a case where I think the student can’t be successful at Duke, and the student is admitted,” …
I think applicants should not doubt themselves if they can succeed in Brown when they are applying to Brown. I would trust admissions office have enough experience to know that the admitted students can be successful if they do make an effort. I personally think high school grades/test scores don’t have much bearing on whether the students can be successful in college, unless the students are in STEM fields.