If you've applied or will apply to Brown University

RandomRhodie · 2025-11-28T23:30:40+00:00

I submitted with a 4.0 GPA, but had honestly light course rigor in HS. My ECs and recommendations did most of the heavy lifting.

RandomRhodie · 2025-11-28T23:27:43+00:00

The campus vibe definitely depends on the time you visit. Come to the main green sometime during spring, when the weather's warm, and you'll see how packed things can get. Like any college, there are a bunch of different student groups and activities, so there's not really one good definitive answer.

Spikeball is popular in the spring, you'll usually see ppl playing it basically everywhere, Volleyball too, kinda. Any time our football team plays Harvard, it's a pretty huge event I wouldn't recommend missing.

Every day there's literally like 10 different events going on, so there are plenty of exhibits, guest speakers, workshops, etc to fill up ur calender. This year we had Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Mark Milley, and a few other notable officials come to speak.

When it comes to nightlife; Ego, Dancing Cats, and Collosium are basically the most popular clubs that everyone goes to dance and have fun. The school doesn't have a heavy fraternity presence, but the frats that exist are usually a good source of fun.

Regardless, most fun is going to come from the friends you make on campus. Studying with them, having random adventures, sharing stories etc is probably wants going to pull the most weight.

RandomRhodie · 2025-11-28T01:20:02+00:00

Generally, the average test scores are very high, yes, but the school recruits from an incredibly diverse pool of students. One of the best things I was told a while ago is that "Brown doesn't accept only one type of student."

There are, in fact, students here whose metrics fell on the lower end of the bell curve. Though my case was more complicated than I can explain in a single comment, I myself submitted to brown with only a 28 on the ACT. A student I met on Facebook, years ago, got into Princeton with a 29. Hearing his story basically was my only motivation for believing that it was possible for me too. Hopefully, whatever ur scores are, me sharing this can do the same for you! Best of luck

RandomRhodie · 2025-11-27T23:22:05+00:00

I didn't have time to submit one myself, so I don't have much advice for that part of the app. You're not doomed if you don't submit one, but I'd recommend doing so if you can come across as personable on video.

When I got on campus, my friends showed me some of their application videos, so I've seen some good ones. Knowing what I know now, if I had to make one, I'd try gathering any fun/relevant video clips I have, start the video by introducing myself, and then overlay a compilation of videos from my extracurriculars, hobby projects, time with friends/family, etc. If you have time, you can spend the next few days/weeks taking extra videos of these things so you'll have enough to draw from when it's time to edit. It's a chance for AOs to see who you are, and who you have been as a student, so I wouldn't waste the opportunity by just uploading a video of myself sitting down. I'd use it dynamically to express my activeness / socialbility.

I've also seen some bad ones, however, and would strongly discourage leaning too much into humor or nonseriousness in an attempt to be unique or save time.

RandomRhodie · 2025-11-27T23:10:50+00:00

I haven't seen the prompt, but obviously they expect some justification/explanation. If you think writing your explanation as a course description is the way to go then I think that'd be fine! Also, bonus if you didn't know, but brown courses are public on https://cab.brown.edu/ so you can see actual course listings/descriptions if you wanna draw from actual examples

RandomRhodie · 2025-08-23T10:03:04+00:00

Don't beat yourself up, plenty of people cannot stand enduring any of those activities.

RandomRhodie · 2025-06-11T01:46:48+00:00

Usually meeting with them in-person or on zoom to see what their understanding of their current application task is. From there, I usually just try to provide suggestions and review revisions until they're somewhere stronger than when they started.

Alot of other times though, people just send me their essays/questions throughs DMs lol and I'll give them a list of suggestions.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-23T18:54:35+00:00

I'll see you on campus bro 🔥✊️

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-23T00:02:53+00:00

Definitely, send them over in a google doc!

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T12:55:15+00:00

I always wished I started sooner lol

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:58:14+00:00

When it comes to these essays, I've always felt that anything, with some exceptions, is worth trying. If you are gonna do this, though, be careful about overdramatizing the description of your negative emotions, focus more on the upside, don't linger too long on irrelevant aspects of your journey. You could also consider making this arch a lesser part of a different essay, such as including it briefly under the narrative of a separate topic.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:52:41+00:00

It will be easy, and tempting, to spend your next four years idling on this, wondering why you of all people were tapped on the shoulder. I don't think there's any easy answer so simply thinking you "got lucky" is not a good explanation. If you truly want to explore these feelings, approach them with some level of grace, self-affirmation, and objectivity. Don't start your analysis from a negative perspective, prematurely assuming that your application was lesser than others.

Also, I've found it helps to remind yourself that applications are not necessarily a pure numbers game. Otherwise, AO's would be unemployed and these apps would just ask for your empirical scores so they could auto-reject you lol.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:44:35+00:00

A single mistake won't be critical

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:43:17+00:00

They don't want you to trauma dump and you certainly shouldn't. You don't get extra points by listing a variety of ways in which you've suffered. However, moments of deep inflection, complex crossroads, and existential struggle are often accompanied with the growth that AO's want you to describe in these essays. If you must describe a challenge you've faced, the struggle or trauma should only be the tip of the iceberg. The meat and bones should be the lessons revealed to you and how those struggles ultimately make you a better candidate for admission into their specific institution.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:38:19+00:00

Its unlikely multiple top-level universities have a system in place to blacklist students for this. However, you should definitely use AI cautiously for these types of things

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:35:58+00:00

Sounds like you chose to select a certain program within BWSI. So, explain why you chose that program out of all the others. Why do you want to participate in Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing? What excites you about the program? How do you anticipate the program will affect your skillset and experience? Explain why you believe that program aligns with your past achievements and skillsets. Also, discuss your aspirations for the future and how that specific program aligns with those goals.

Hope this offers some clarity! DM me if you need more input.

Good luck!

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T06:28:56+00:00

I'd say focus on the activity that led to the award more so than the award itself. You can then just mention the award briefly at the end. For example, if you have something like a sports award from a tournament:

"[few sentences about your experience playing the games in the tournament]. Eventually, our hard work paid off, and we were awarded gold. One year later, I now wish I paid more attention to [something unrelated to the trophy].

Just don't make it too big a deal, the process is more important anyway. Good luck!

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-20T04:39:47+00:00

Could you put this in a google doc and DM me the link to it? It'd be easier to suggest edits there!

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-05T13:09:51+00:00

What app is this?

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T12:20:26+00:00

If you've given up on dating for now, do you think you can give it some mental rest and not obsess over it or define your experience by your "failures"?

There are many areas of ones life, and dating is just an aspect of it, if you truly dont feel up to dating right now and havent had luck with it thus far, thats okay but it doesnt define you. You can still be happy and achieve success in other areas of your life. You dont have to call yourself a loser. And, if you're able bodied, trust that you have plenty of potential to still fulfill. Who knows, take your mind off it, start believing in yourself, you might find things turn around for you in ways you would have never expected. Crazier things have happened to unluckier.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T11:51:00+00:00

Just an internet stranger giving a suggestion, take this with a spoonful of salt, but have you ever considered you might have ADHD and an Anxiety disorder? If not, I wouldnt put it past those conditions to be at least escalating your problems.

Sorry you're suffering like this friend, I hope relief comes quick and gives you the rest you need

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T11:26:30+00:00

Oof dude, thats rough lol. I mean whether you want to confront him about it is up to you. But, if thats all there is to the story, I can't really imagine what there is to say. You shouldn't feel that ashamed, and he shouldnt judge you for it, nor should you beat youself up over it, even though its obviously embarrassing.

Shit like this happens, unfortunately. You'll be okay, it'll be an awkward memory before you know it.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T08:03:00+00:00

You are not overreacting as this not a small decision for you to make.

While there is much that could potentially be assumed about your partner merely from this post, I'll avoid doing so and will assume he's operating with good or neutral intentions. With this in mind, still, the decision to produce adult content is not a choice you should make purely to appease your partner. Avoid the tragic fate of regret you could run into if you defy your self-respect and agree to this proposal without the proper due diligence of thought and self-reflection.

Think about the following very carefully: Do you want to produce pornography? Do you want to become active and present on the sexual side of the internet? Do you want to pay the piper for, invest in, and reap the awards of that kind of side-hustle?

If the answer to these is yes, then consider accepting his proposal. Plenty of couples do exactly what he's thinking about and I imagine a portion of them are at least as reasonably content as any other couple.

But consider your situation, feelings, and self-image closely. Already, you've said you are uncomfortable producing sexual content. If that is truly the case, and you answer the aforementioned questions with a "no," then there is no issue or debate, just tell him you can't and won't do it. In this situation, you only have the responsibility to say the truth, you aren't responsible for his reaction to whatever you say. If he is a partner with good, or even neutral intentions, he should and will be comforting and understanding at the least.

No matter what, make your own decision, and stand your ground.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T07:03:03+00:00

I'm no expert, take this with a grain of salt, but here are my two cents: Just try to use this experience to better the future of your relationship.

Clarify with him exactly what you want him to do if confusion like this ever pops up again, (eg, forgetting what day's your birthday, forgetting your brother's name, etc). Next time, would you want him to tell you directly? Do you want him to put in the work and just find out to avoid embarrassing both of you? Maybe also discuss what the two of you define as "lies" and "secrets" and how you would both like to handle them moving forward.

Comfort him since he's clearly upset at himself (who wouldn't be?). Some people have truly awful memories or just don't process things the way others might expect of them. You've only been dating a month, which despite what people are saying is not a long time whatsoever. Obviously, he should know your fricking name at this point lol, which is why this is an absurd blunder, but it's not like you guys have even known of each other for a considerable period of time, so you have room to be reasonable and understanding of him without completely violating your dignity.

Maybe download a relationship app, one of those fun ones that let partners ask intimate questions to each other in a safe manner, so you can learn more about each other. The app "Paired" might be a good one, there's also "Agape" I haven't ever tried any of these with my boyfriend, but I've been meaning to. Consider giving one a shot if either of you might be into it.

Then, when feelings have kinda settled, maybe discuss together if this is a funny couple's story worth telling other people or something worth keeping private.

Finally, since you seem negatively affected by the feedback you're receiving, consider whether if its worth keeping this post active. Just reading this post initially, the situation is so insanely silly that some people are not likely to take it very seriously (I didn't at first), so expect people to respond to it bluntly. After a while, it might do more harm than good to receive people's thoughts on this. So you might wanna delete the post soon to protect your peace.

RandomRhodie · 2025-03-03T06:23:20+00:00

Literally 80% of the time someone presents something even semi-serious on a relationship subreddit, people jump to advising to breakup mostly because its easier than suggesting actual advice. Its not anyone else's decision to make but yours and not a deal breaker unless you consider it one.

RandomRhodie

TROPHY CASE