Why I Chose Brown University

In the summer before my senior year, I found myself in a dizzying headspace about the college admissions process. My friends had begun narrowing down their top choices for Early Decision and Restrictive Early Action, while I was caught in a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and mixed signals. But as I reflected more deeply on what I wanted out of a college experience, one school emerged clearly in my mind: Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

I had always planned to apply to Brown, whether in the early or regular round, but I didn’t realize it was my top choice until I spent hours writing essays. My Common App essay centered on my lifelong passion for weather and my connection to the Blue Hill Observatory. But through writing supplemental essays, I found myself asking more reflective questions: What kind of college environment will help me grow? What kind of curriculum best fits my goals?

For the first question, the answer was clear: a liberal arts college, somewhere I could explore a range of disciplines before declaring a major. Brown’s Open Curriculum stood out as a liberal arts model taken to the next level. I’ve always had wide-ranging interests: weather, math, economics, and Spanish. Brown is one of the only schools where I could fully pursue all of them, without compromise.

Of course, choosing a college goes beyond reading its homepage or browsing a course catalog. Life outside the classroom matters just as much—whether it’s spent conducting research, hanging out with friends, or joining clubs and organizations. Brown’s collaborative and low-competition atmosphere really appealed to me. I want to explore climate tech and entrepreneurship, and Brown felt like the right place to think and build alongside peers, not in competition with them.

As I dug deeper into Brown’s research landscape, I discovered two programs that excited me: the Initiative for Sustainable Research and the Watson Climate Solutions Lab. I read about how students contribute meaningfully to both, and I saw myself joining that community, bringing my interests in climate, data, and economics to a space that encourages interdisciplinary work.

Brown’s “Why Us” essay is especially unique: just one sentence, up to 50 words. You can’t fit everything into that limit, so every word has to count. Here’s what I wrote:

“As a prospective climate science student, I hope to aid in the research goals of Brown’s newly created Initiative for Sustainable Research and Watson Climate Solutions Lab, work that will apply my knowledge of weather and the environment into other disciplines to fight climate change from multiple angles.”

This sentence packed in my goals, the tools Brown offers to support them, and how I intend to take action. It also subtly highlighted the school’s emphasis on undergraduate involvement and collaboration, two core values I admire about Brown.

When it comes to deciding where to apply, make sure you look at all the variables, not just rankings or peer pressure. Think deeply about how a school can serve your growth, not just how you’ll look in its admissions pool. If you stay honest about who you are and what you need, I’m confident you’ll find the right place to spend the next four years.

Written by Max Donovan