Early Decision | Undergraduate Admission - Brown University

Undergraduate Admission Early Decision

If Brown is your first choice and you would definitely accept an offer of admission if admitted, you may choose our Early Decision plan.

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Early Decision

If Brown is your first choice and you would definitely accept an offer of admission if admitted, you may choose our Early Decision plan.

We offer Early Decision as an opportunity for students who are ready to commit and would like early notification of their admission status. If you choose to apply to Brown under Early Decision, we ask that you not submit an application to another institution under another early decision, single-choice early action or restrictive early action plan. If you are admitted under our Early Decision plan, you will be required to withdraw all pending applications—including those you may have already submitted to regular, rolling or (open) early action programs.

Please do not assume that your admission chances are improved by applying under the Early Decision plan. The Board of Admission makes the same decisions under Early Decision that it would under the Regular Decision plan.

Under Early Decision, prospective students apply by November 1 (11:59 p.m. applicant's local time) and receive a decision by mid-December.

Brown University has returned to a policy requiring standardized test scores (either SAT or ACT scores) for first-year applicants beginning with the 2024-25 admission cycle. As we have done in prior years, we will superscore either the SAT or ACT, or both. More information can be found on our Standardized Tests webpage.

Not determinative, but informative, we have always utilized testing in context as a metric when evaluating student applications. Brown does not have minimum test scores required for admission, and a score that may be below our average test ranges should not deter a student from applying. Considering testing in context means that our understanding of a student’s scores is based on multiple factors, including educational background, socioeconomic status, home and school community, and accessibility to well-equipped testing centers. This type of contextual evaluation is one more resource we can use to ensure equitable consideration of standardized test scores and support academic preparation as we work to create a diverse and dynamic class. This policy will provide greater clarity and consistency in Brown’s admission process and will allow us to be mission-driven and data-informed.

Once you have submitted your Common Application, you will receive access to your Brown Applicant Portal from us on a rolling basis.

Under Brown's Early Decision plan, there are three possible outcomes:

• Your application is accepted: You must withdraw all applications to other colleges. Your place in Brown's first-year class is secure, pending satisfactory completion of your senior year.
• A final decision on your application is deferred: Your credentials will be revisited within the context of the Regular Decision pool of applicants.
• Your application is denied: If you are denied admission under Early Decision, you may not reapply for admission under the Regular Decision plan during the same year.

Start Your Application

Applications to Brown are submitted online via the Common Application. Learn how to apply and start your application.

How to Apply