Brown University offers pre-college programs in the summer, in addition to an innovative spring institute dedicated to ecology and environmental science. For example, Summer@Brown is an opportunity for students to experience life at an Ivy League liberal arts school without the pressure of earning credits. Of course, pre-university courses are also offered for college credit both on campus and online in the summer. Students in grades 6 through 12 are eligible to apply to many of Brown’s programs, and students who are completing grades 9 through 12 may apply to Summer@Brown and online pre-college courses.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When do programs begin? Summer programs typically start around the beginning of June, and science institutes run for around one week near the start of spring. These institutes often coincide with many American universities’ spring breaks. For rising and recently graduated seniors, the seven-week-long pre-baccalaureate program begins in mid- to late June.
- When is the application deadline? Deadlines for Brown are clearer than many summer programs, but they are also much stricter. For programs beginning in mid-June, for instance, all materials related to the student’s application and visa must be received by mid-spring or slightly before.
- What kinds of courses do they offer? Brown’s programs are representative of the actual choices students will encounter when they get to college. Thus, many courses from both general studies subjects and up-and-coming, highly-demanded fields are offered. There is also an intensive language program available which focuses on cultural immersion while building proficiency in written and spoken English.
- What level of English language skill is required? Because of the fast pace of academic life, it is important that students enrolling for credit have full proficiency in English. For non-credit students, the requirement is lower: In test terms, this means a TOEFL score of 90 or higher.
To complete the online application, you will need:
- Teacher/Administrator/Counselor Recommendation (for credit-based programs)
- Financial Aid Application (Optional)
- Personal Essay (approximately 500 words)
- $50 application fee
- $75 health insurance fee (for non-credit students)
Brown recommends that all international students have completed at least two years of formal English language study. However, no matter which program you choose, students will experience full English language immersion. The better your language skills become, the better you will do in American universities.
