No, Brown’s pre-college course does not help students gain acceptance as undergraduate students

Each summer, high school students from around the world come to Brown for annual pre-college programs. The one to six week programs give participants an insight into life at the university.

Despite the common misconception that Brown’s pre-college programs give students an advantage when applying to the university’s undergraduate programs, Brown maintains that this is not the case.

In an email to The Herald, university spokesman Brian Clark emphasized that “Brown’s admissions office does not receive names of pre-med students, does not track these students during the application process, and has no information about their admissions results.”

Rather, according to Adrienne Marcus, dean of pre- and undergraduate programs, pre-college programs are intended to prepare students for future college life. She hopes it will be “an opportunity to explore areas of study without the pressure of grades or performance,” 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 letter of recommendation.”

Pre-degree programs range from $3,000 to $17,000, depending on the location and length of each program and whether it is in-person or virtual.

Marcus told The Herald: “Although we enroll students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, the number of pre-college students receiving scholarships is far lower than that of undergraduate students.” This is because “a “One factor in the work of the pre-college is to generate revenue for the university by supporting students at Brown University,” she said.

However, every student accepted by the local Providence Public School District receives a full scholarship, which Marcus says covers “all direct costs including classes, room, board and fees.”

Of the seven pre-degree programs offered, the most popular is Summer@Brown, through which students enroll in some of over 200 non-credit courses in any subject of their choice.

Ana Vissicchio ’26, a Post-Magazine writer, attended the preschool during her high school years to “get a taste of college life” and “have a chance to learn something new,” she said in a message to The Herald. She already knew she wanted to apply to college, but the experience solidified her decision.

Vissicchio told The Herald, “Before I left, I definitely thought the pre-med degree would give me a leg up when applying to Brown,” but now knows it doesn’t impact applications.

Still, she looks back fondly on her time before college and says it helped her with personal development and college preparation. “You live on a university campus and take college classes non-stop for a month,” she said. “I think that’s enough time to get a taste of university life and how you live when you’re alone.”