My College Application Process | Brown University

[@katherinebeggs7606]

Ahh I got deferred from Yale and rejected later, but got into Brown!

[@cecilesch]

Same dude!

[@keibutindenial]

damnnn have fun in brown

[@heroryan7859]

hows life

[@chlochlo8207]

thats still good!!

[@laptv2144]

Thank you for the time stamps. It’s so efficient.

[@sarahbautista7893]

just got rejected from columbia ed, so im really focusing on my brown application now. thank you for the informative video!

[@MayGao]

Hope it helped! Best of luck 💫

[@connerpettit4384]

Thanks again for the videos! Brown is my first choice. The people are so nice and actually take initiative in their own education. What do you think is specific and special about brown besides the open curriculum? How did you write about the open curriculum in your app. (If you did) in a not cliche way? Thanks sooooooo much!

[@MayGao]

People think having an open curriculum means we can do whatever we want and pass/fail every course which is definitely not true to almost all cases. Personally I think having freedom warrants a lot of maturity and independent decision making (I mean there are HUNDREDS of courses to choose from). Brown is definitely not a conventional college experience!

[@HeyitsFong]

HONESTLY THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH FOR THESE VIDEOS!! THEY HELP A TON! ❤️

[@Dawnwing9]

i’m about to submit my supplementals and i’m scared. but you have definitely helped!

[@MayGao]

Believe in yourself! Keep me updated ✨

[@bench.convos]

Submitted them too; best of luck!!

[@beko____]

I watched this right around college admissions time. Recently got rejected from a lotta schools - like 8 this week- and am kinda regretting not having applied ED to brown. But ya know, there’s no going back. Luckily, like yesterday, after just so many rejections, I got into UMich! Deciding between Miami, Florida, and umich for computer science (but totally might change). If you have any advice lmk

[@beko____]

Thanks for being so awesome and down to earth

[@aditichatterjee7722]

Hey! I had a question about how you did your internship at Stanford- how did you connect with people/mentors to help you intern there? I'm confused on how to start interning there and who to talk to. Thanks!

[@Beautybykenz42]

Thank you for making this! I've been binge watching your videos and so many videos like this ahaha so nervous for admissions! Also just wondering I have gotten all A's throughout high school and I've taken difficult classes but I don't really have an upward trend, I've had a similar average each year. Will that hurt me? Thanks! :)

[@Beautybykenz42]

Also I've been taking art classes since middle school, should I submit a portfolio?

[@MayGao]

Beautybykenz42 You're definitely more than fine! Upward trends are more helpful for people who didn't do as well academically in their freshman year. If you're a consistent A student that's even better. And I'd say submit the portfolio if the school allows for one, they don't hurt your application. That being said, make sure it's something you're proud of and put a lot of effort into! Good luck and thanks for watching :-)

[@thomasfowler1]

May Gao Hey! I think I have a problem, because the ivy league requires you to send all transcripts from 9th-12th grade. The problem is that I had an average of 83% for gr. 9 and 10. This year (11th grade) I decided to boost my average and have attained 89% throughout the year. Will my gr. 9 and 10 scores negatively affect my chances of getting into an ivy league??

[@chlochlo8207]

do you think a 3.4-3.5 as a transfer student from college is enough? and back in my day in 2018 i sound so ood🫤 they didnt force us to take act/sat it was optional after i graduated i heard that everyone has to do it from other peers . will that look bad on my application?

[@itsanz6204]

Thanks for the tips!

[@haileycerrato9667]

Brown is my dream school and I want to apply ED but my mom wants to look at other financial packages from schools I end up getting into. I'm super nervous about my scores right now because they are lower than the avergae

[@MayGao]

tuition is definitely a factor to consider when making a choice about early decision (a conversation to have with parents). remember that brown assesses students holistically and grades alone definitely do not determine whether you have a shot at getting in. best of luck!

[@calxxx]

Research tips please. Resources to read/learn to improve research skills

[@MayGao]

Check out my Pre-med playlist!

[@BeeFwee]

Thank you! I appreciate this.

[@promisel9902]

can you do a video on how to score high on your SAT !!

[@mathilde3611]

Hey I just wanted to ask if you have some international students ? How many just an quick average I mean :)

[@katiegarrigan1928]

Thank you so much for this video!!! I have a quick question though, I am in geometry honors as a freshman. Will this hurt my chances at Brown because I am not in algebra II honors? I have a 4.7 gpa and I am involved in many extracurriculars. I may be overthinking things, I just feel like my math class placement will hurt me especially because I want to pursue a medical career. The last time we were given a placement test was in 6th grade, and I was unable to take after school math programs due to financial reasons. I am taking all honors and the two ap’s available to me next year. Sorry for the long comment, but if you could give me some input, that would be great!

[@isabelknight9675]

I'm not sure if your school allows this, but you could possibly summer school a math course to get ahead/up to speed. A friend of mine is behind in math, so she is taking it during the summer so she could take AP Calculus AB senior year. Taking 2 AP's sophomore year is really good, you're doing amazing xx [:

[@katieli6383]

it won’t hurt you much at all though I’m wondering how you have above a 4.0 as a freshman? are honors (not Just AP) classes weighted at your school?

[@katiegarrigan1928]

Katie Li Yeah, honors at my school are weighted and freshmen are not allowed to take AP courses

[@sarahpreston4558]

this is suuuuuper late but i was on the same math path as you-actually, it might be worse: 7: algebra 1 8: algebra 1 AGAIN!!! 9: h geometry 10: h algebra 2 11: h precalc 12: ap calc bc and i got in to rice. for science. i think i even told my interviewer that i took algebra 1 twice.

[@pinkcupcakeanime8155]

ur so cool!! did you apply to plme?

[@GraceLiu-n1d]

Hi, May, thank you very much for your reply. We are living at bay area and my daughter are studying at SHS. So, you haven't applied music or art major for Brown? Super like your essay of personnel statement

[@MayGao]

No, I applied for Health & Human Biology. However, I submitted art and music portfolios (which is supplementary and not required).

[@nadiamohammad-baigi4096]

Do you think that an unweighted GPA of 3.8 is good enough for Ivies? ( All IB classes)

[@mubaraqadedayo7616]

Update ?

[@alexlevine78]

Honestly, will a single C on my transcript keep me out of everything else is fine? I'm a high school junior from California and may have lost my chances at this point due to a little blimp junior. I ended up getting a C in AP physics (unfortunately a 79) due to some tensions with the teacher? I honestly had a pretty rough first semester of junior year due to some personal stress and earned that c and 3 b's but every other semester has been straight A's with the exception of a b in Spanish (another 89 lol). I should get straight A's moving forward though. My courses are the most rigorous as well. My gpa is 3.78/4.5 and that probably puts me in the top 5-7% but I'll never know since my school doesn't rank. My test scores are very good, actually pretty much perfect. I also have pretty good ec's including lots of personal computer science projects, leadership and entrepreneurship, volunteering, internships, and a little research with a university professor. A few teachers I'm close to know about my ec's and I plan to ask them for recs. Also I will work like crazy on my essays to ensure they're the best. But can this blimp semester really kill me? Thanks!

[@alexlevine78]

I have a couple of schools in mind and am not targeting one particular one at the moment. Just like everyone else, my dream is Stanford, MIT, or Princeton but I'm pretty open at the moment. Brown might be a good option too!

[@MayGao]

Relax! You can explain personal circumstances regarding your transcript on your college applications. AP Physics is really difficult and getting a C is not the end of the world. You can't change your grades from the past, so there is genuinely no point in worrying about them.

[@GraceLiu-n1d]

Great Video, very helpful, did you need to declare major when you applied Brown? What major did you apply? thx

[@MayGao]

I applied as a Health & Human Biology concentrator.

[@valarie2547]

What is Gpa sats. So before you choose your concentration what do you do at the time🤔

[@Alliexkw]

Hey May! I have a quick question about college acceptance: how much does a person's location affect their acceptance? Because I live in a Massachusetts town with a really good school so the school wouldn't have a lack of representation

[@MayGao]

Allie Katz I wouldn’t worry about that. Excelling at your school and doing the best you can is really all that matters in the long run, trust me! If your school has a reputation of being academically strong, you’re already at an advantage of receiving a solid educational foundation.

[@niakaproductions2020ukus]

30th August 10011 (recorded)

[@Emma19]

Are you also suppose to choose SAT subjects to take? Or no?

[@jasleensidhu4499]

Thanks for the helpful video! How were you able to shadow an open heart surgery?

[@animentalx]

Hi, I have a question. Did you take an prep classes at academies or did you self-study for the sat??

[@MayGao]

animental I took a prep class outside of school. I don’t think it’s worth the money tbh. Just do as many practice tests as possible!

[@GraceLiu-n1d]

Many thx

[@alanding1425]

would you recommend submitting an art portfolio even if you don't plan to study anything related to art?

[@MayGao]

Yes! If you think it would benefit your application (which in most cases it will). I submitted both an art and music portfolio and am studying Public Health.

[@lovejsjh]

Hi, thanks for the useful tips. What did you play for your music portfolio that you submitted with your application?

[@MayGao]

lovejsjh I played a Bach partita and Saint Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

[@therealsushmita]

I have A's but a C in gym because I missed one class so is that gonna hurt my chances... because it's affecting my gpa a lot

[@shereenahmed2807]

Sushmita Narayan Dw man, I hope you got ur pe grade up

[@anirudhjagannath5034]

p kb got

[@jimintho3066]

Did you get in early decision or regular?

[@weijichen5117]

For your 4.7 GPA, is that counting Senior year?

[@shereenahmed2807]

Weiji chen I’m not her, but my college counselor said that they count first sem of senior year- I hope I helped

[@renekim7073]

Hello! I was just wondering, what is your major at brown?

[@MayGao]

We officially decide sophomore spring, but I applied as a Health & Human Biology concentrator (concentration = major at Brown).

[@renekim7073]

Ohh! Thank you!!

[@ladybirdkoo]

Does brown provide financial aid for international students?

[@MayGao]

ladybird ronan short answer is yes, but check out Brown’s website for more details: www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/international-applicants/financial-aid

[@kanekiken5736]

I've been consistently getting slightly above average scores. Any tips?

[@MayGao]

If you're talking about the SAT/ACT, practice only the sections you aren't doing as well on. Figure out which kinds of questions you tend to get wrong when you practice. Consistent practice is key. Don't beat yourself up about scores though!

[@kanekiken5736]

Thanks a ton. I was actually talking about my GPA. Also, i havent done any community service as i got no time. Is that going to make my application look bad?

[@kanekiken5736]

Not to mention im an international student. So if there's one thing i should focus on the most please let me know

[@MayGao]

Kaneki Ken There's no universal way to appear as a competitive applicant. As long as you try your best with grades, do things you are passionate about, and show dedication, you will be fine! Community service (for like 10hrs a year) was a requirement at my school, so I would recommend it but it's probably not necessary!

[@jaspham2133]

ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye bay areaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@asarod7606]

Dang nabit too bad i’m too poor to go to Ivy League

[@MayGao]

Prison Mike valid concern, but do look into scholarships (Coke, Elks, Khan Academy...) & QuestBridge and apply for financial aid!

[@yvonneyoon4771]

did you join any sports in high school?

[@MayGao]

I played volleyball in freshman year lol but definitely nothing significant in athletics

[@shravanr8264]

Hey, I'm an international applicant I have a 1470 on the SAT...... Worth applying to Brown? Great video btw!: )

[@minifigw7145]

Shravan Ravi yes, as long as you have additional extracurriculars and a good GPA that score puts you within reach.

[@afriaahmed2977]

Shravan Ravi You score puts you in the bottom 25% of applicants, but it's not impossible. Did you apply?

[@ems6261]

I got in with a 1490 so you never know!

[@weijichen5117]

Oh wait nvm, I got it lol

[@ismaaeel8957]

Hi I was just wondering what math did you have freshman year?

[@MayGao]

Ismaaeel Abdur I believe I took honors Algebra II/Trig

[@bowenchen3733]

BrOwN isN;T a ReAl iVy tHo

[@MayGao]

Bowen Chen when are you going to transfer to UCLA¿?

[@dohoonkim1326]

Am i the youngest cuz im only at grade 7

[@d0ryane_]

Dohoon master omg you have time, you're fine 😂👍

[@galepark1261]

Omg her essay is about a Karen lmao

[@thegarychapman]

Is this meant to represent the stereotype of a Brown student? Cause it does that very well. Upspeak, flighty and superficial and all. I'm sure there are positives too. Legacy status?

[@janetomoruyi]

@~FruityCandy love ur comment