Every summer, high school students from across the globe make their way to Brown for its annual pre-college programs. Ranging from one to six weeks long, the programs give attendees a glimpse of undergraduate college life.
Despite the common misconception that Brown’s pre-college programs give an advantage to students when applying to the University’s undergraduate programs, Brown says it does not.
In an email to The Herald, University Spokesperson Brian Clark emphasized that “Brown’s admissions office does not receive the names of pre-college participants, does not track these students during the application process and has no information on their admissions outcomes.”
Rather, the pre-college programs are meant to prepare students for future college life, according to Adrienne Marcus, the dean of the pre-college and undergraduate programs. She hopes that it will serve as “an opportunity to investigate areas of study without the pressure of grades or credit,” she said in an email to The Herald.
Marcus said the application process is intended to mimic a typical college application. It includes “submission of biographical information, a short essay from a provided prompt, a transcript and, for some, a recommendation letter.”
The pre-college programs cost between $3,000 to $17,000, depending on the location and duration of the specific program and whether it is in-person or virtual.
Marcus told The Herald that “while we enroll students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, the number of pre-college students who receive scholarships is far lower than the undergraduate population.” This is because “one factor in the work of pre-college is to generate revenue for the University as it supports degree students at Brown,” she said.
That being said, every student admitted from the local Providence Public School District receives a full scholarship that covers “all direct expenses including courses, housing, meals and fees,” according to Marcus.
Of the seven pre-college programs offered, the most popular is Summer@Brown, through which students enroll in a few of the over 200 non-credit courses in any subject of their choice.
Ana Vissicchio ’26, a post- Magazine writer, attended pre-college while in high school to “get a glimpse into college life” and have “a chance to learn about something new,” she said in a message to The Herald. She already knew that she wanted to apply to the University, but the experience solidified her decision.
Vissicchio told The Herald that “before going, I definitely thought that pre-college would give me a leg up when I was applying to Brown,” but now knows that it has no impact on applications.
Despite that, she looks back on her time at pre-college fondly and says it helped with personal development and college preparation. “You’re living on a college campus and taking college classes for a month straight,” she said. “I think that’s plenty of time to get a taste of college life and how you’ll live when you’re on your own.”
