When Do Brown Decisions Come Out?

Photo of a black student wearing a red scarf looking at her laptop. The student is waiting to hear about the Brown decision dates
Updated:
February 9, 2024
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 2/9/24

We don’t have the exact college decision-date details & dates yet, but we’ll update this article as soon as they are available.

Brown University is one of the top 10 national schools thanks to its abundant resources, prestige, and world-class instruction. If you’ve applied to Brown or plan to, you’re probably wondering when Brown decisions come out. 

Read on to learn more about Brown, when you can expect to hear your admissions decision, the pros and cons of each application program, and more. 

About Brown 

Brown University is an Ivy League school that attracts tens of thousands of applications from hopeful students annually. The school is a leading research university that emphasizes the collaboration of students and faculty. 

Brown’s mission is to “serve the community, the nation and the world by discovering, communicating and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry, and by educating and preparing students to discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation.” 

To help fulfill this mission, Brown is perhaps best known for its infamous Open Curriculum. This curriculum structure allows students to develop their own course of study unrestricted from traditional core curriculums. While developing your own curriculum can sound challenging, you’ll be able to pursue any of your interests and follow your passions.

Brown has more than 80 concentrations and 2,000 undergraduate courses: you're much more likely to find courses related to any of your niche interests. Small class sizes, a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and plenty of study-abroad opportunities make Brown an attractive option for students. 

When Do Brown Decisions Come Out? 

Regular Decision applicants to Brown need to submit their applications by January 3 and will receive an admissions decision by early April. This means that Brown admissions decisions tend to come out about 2-3 months after the application deadline. 

alarm clock

Brown does not provide exact dates on when you can expect to receive an admissions decision, but it does provide timeframes. 

Brown Early Decision: If you apply through Early Decision, you’ll need to submit your application by November 1st at 11:59 p.m. in your local time. Brown early decisions come out in mid-December. 

Brown Regular Decision: Regular Decisions applicants must submit their applications by January 3 at 11:59 p.m. in their local time. You will receive your admissions decision by early April on Ivy League Decision Day

Brown Transfer Applications: Transfer applications are due by March 1 for the fall entry deadline or October 2 for spring entry. If you apply in March, you’ll receive a decision notification by mid-May. If you apply in October, the decision date will be in late November. 

What Are the Ways I Can Apply to Brown University? 

Princeton applicants can apply through Early Decision, Regular Decision, or as a transfer. All applications to Brown are submitted online via the Common Application for all programs. 

Early Decision 

If Brown University is your first-choice school (and you’re in high school or not already enrolled at a college), applying through Early Decision is something you should heavily consider. Brown Early Decision is binding, meaning you must enroll if you’re accepted. 

Regular Decision 

Most Brown applicants apply through Regular Decision. You will receive your admissions decision around the same time as all other schools you applied to. 

Transfer Applications 

College students who wish to transfer to Brown will need to follow many of the same steps as first-year applicants. The main differences are that you will need letters of recommendation from college faculty, a letter of good standing, and your college transcripts. 

Pros and Cons of Each Program 

You now know when Brown decisions come out: it's time to choose which program is best for you. We've compiled the main advantages and disadvantages of each application timeline. 

Early Decision

While only a fraction of applicants apply through Early Decision, it does come with its advantages: 

  • Generally higher acceptance rates than Regular Decision (however, it’s important to note that early applications are typically very impressive)
  • You’ll receive your admissions decision sooner 
  • You won’t have to worry about selecting a school if you’re accepted
  • You can spend more time enjoying your senior year if you’re accepted early 

Early Decision also has its downsides: 

  • Your application is due much sooner 
  • You can’t apply to any other early program 
  • You can get deferred to Regular Decision 
  • You won’t be able to compare financial aid at other institutions if you’re accepted 
  • You’re up against generally fiercer competition, despite fewer applicants

If Brown University is your first-choice school, you’re happy with your estimated financial aid package, and you’re sure you can create a perfect application on time, Early Decision may be right for you. 

Regular Decision

Most students applying to Brown University apply through Regular Decision. These are the pros: 

  • You have more time to craft the perfect application
  • You have more time and choices when it comes time to decide which school to attend 
  • You can apply early to any other school of your choice 
  • You can compare financial aid packages

However, Regular Decision is not without its downsides: 

  • You’ll have to wait longer to receive an admissions decision
  • You may have to make a difficult choice about where to attend
  • Statistically lower acceptance rates than Early Decision (keep in mind that you’re up against more applicants) 

It would be best if you didn't decide which pathway is right for you based on statistics alone. If you want to compare financial aid packages or need extra time to craft the best application possible, Regular Decision may be for you. 

Transfer Applications

Transfer students don’t have much choice about when they can apply, so they won’t have the same pros and cons as first-year students. Successful applications will gain acceptance at Brown! 

However, transferring to an Ivy League school can be challenging. Brown accepted only 149 transfer students out of 2,828 applications in a recent admissions cycle.

Brown Decisions FAQs 

If you have more questions about Brown decisions or when they come out, read on to learn more! 

1. What Day Do Brown Decisions Come Out?

Brown decisions come out by early April. 

Most Ivy League schools like Dartmouth or Harvard also release decisions around this time. 

2. What Time Do Brown Decisions Come Out? 

Ivy Day decisions typically come out between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST. 

3. When Do Brown Early Decisions Come Out? 

Brown Early Decision notifications come out sometime in mid-December: there is no set day. 

4. How Many Brown Early Applicants Are Accepted? 

In a recent admissions cycle, Brown accepted approximately 15% of early applicants, deferred 25%, and rejected 60%. 

5. What is Brown’s Transfer Acceptance Rate? 

Although Brown’s transfer acceptance rate fluctuates each year, recent data shows the transfer acceptance rate is 4.1%

6. What Is Brown University’s Acceptance Rate? 

Brown’s recent acceptance rate for all applicants is 5.1%. 

Final Thoughts

Patiently waiting on admissions decisions is difficult. However, now that you know when Brown decisions come out, you can spend time enjoying your senior year and pursuing meaningful activities rather than stressing over when you'll hear back. 

Waiting can be agonizing, but you'll receive your decision soon enough. Good luck!

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