After almost 10 years of serving as a cryptologist and working in special operations for the U.S. Navy, John Green ’27 was ready for a change. His time in the military taught him that “knowledge is power,” he said.
So he decided to apply to Brown for engineering.
Green is one of the University’s 58 current veteran students, many of whom were granted admission through Brown’s Veterans Application. In recent years, the University has developed initiatives to foster a welcoming space for veterans seeking a return to higher education after their service, The Herald previously reported.
Since 2019, the University has more than doubled its undergraduate veteran population.
The Veterans Application is completely separate from the application process for traditional undergraduate, transfer and resumed undergraduate education students, as its requirements are modified to reflect veterans’ unique path to higher education.
The application requires two letters of recommendation, one preferably from a military commanding officer or supervisor. Supplemental essay questions like “How has your military experience contributed to your personal growth and future plans?” give veterans space to reflect upon their experiences in the military.
For veteran applicants, the “financial burden (of college) is top of mind because they are likely funding their education without the support of their parents and may even be parents themselves,” wrote Christian “Mac” Manning, the program director of the Office of Military-Affiliated Students.
The Veterans Application is free and need-blind. To support veterans financially, Brown is also affiliated with assistance programs such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers all mandatory tuition costs for eligible veterans.
The application is also test-optional, which Green said allows prospective students to focus on their most recent academic and professional experiences.
For Green, Brown’s application process felt more customized to veterans’ experiences compared to that of other universities. The application enabled him to place greater emphasis on his service in the military instead of his high school record, he added.
“It really felt like I was applying for something with who I am today,” Green said.
On campus, there are many opportunities for veterans to find community, said Kloey Albertson ’27, a U.S. Army veteran and the president of both the Student Veteran Society and Military Women @ Brown.
On campus, there are many opportunities for veterans to find community, said Kloey Albertson ’27, a U.S. Army veteran and the president of both the Student Veteran Society and Military Women @ Brown.
OMAS provides student veterans with a designated lounge to study in and “robust programming” for community building and professional development, Manning wrote.
From a Providence ghost tour to a Thanksgiving dinner, the Student Veteran Society hosts events that aim to “be the fun side of the veteran experience here at Brown,” Albertson said.
For military-affiliated women, Military Women @ Brown is a space to “come together and share their experiences,” Albertson added. The student organization is currently creating a mentorship program between veterans and cadets on campus.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jessica Stewart ’25.5 transferred to Brown from the University of Colorado Boulder. Compared to her experiences at a larger public school, Stewart said Brown’s smaller community encourages people with different backgrounds and perspectives to engage with one another.
Albertson mostly socializes with veterans and non-traditional students, she said. But she still feels as though she fits into the broader Brown community.
Being older than the majority of the undergraduates at Brown “is a little weird at first,” Albertson noted. But after acclimating, “it’s a pretty cool experience when somebody finds out that I am older and that I have had a whole career before coming to Brown,” she said. “They are super inquisitive and want to know everything.”
Correction: The photo caption has been updated to accurately identify the subject of the photo. The photo features Kloey Albertson ’27, not Jessica Stewart ’25.5. The Herald regrets the error.
