Donuts. My first foray into cooking and true independence. Simple enough, right? Wrong. I'm terrible in the kitchen. I grew up believing the ability to cook food evidenced not only a divinely ordained gift, but veritable wizardry. But as I grew older and more capable, started driving and learned to do laundry, the kitchen seemed more and more a personal failure. Sure, not everyone cooks, but it seems that everyone at least knows how. So I decided I would learn...

When the tour guide told me of the Minority and Women Peer Counseling program, I knew I would apply early decision. The MPC program demonstrated to me the sincerity of Brown's commitment to social justice, but also to its students' experiences on campus: this is a place where my own voice can flourish. Brown's open curriculum and interdisciplinary concentrations mean that I can build a solid foundation in science without sacrificing my interest in questions of race. Programs like Health...

Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? Brown's Health and Human Biology Concentration fulfills many premed requirements while simultaneously allowing me electives like Developmental Biology. I can broaden my understanding of health historically and socially through the Social Context of Health and Disease Theme and by taking courses like Imperialism and Public Health or Biomedicalization: The Body as a Social Problem. I have always been fascinated by how racialization is imposed, understood, and engaged. Brown's...

Since the Program in Liberal Medical Education espouses a broad-based liberal education, please describe your fields of interest in both the sciences and the liberal arts. Be specific about what courses and aspects of the program will be woven into a potential personal plan. (limit responses to 500 words). A few months ago, I came across a video called the “Brown Difference.” If I hadn’t seen that video, I would never have believed that another person had pursued the same...

Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? Brown's Health and Human Biology Concentration fulfills many premed requirements while simultaneously allowing me electives like Developmental Biology. I can broaden my understanding of health historically and socially through the Social Context of Health and Disease Theme and by taking courses like Imperialism and Public Health or Biomedicalization: The Body as a Social Problem. I have always been fascinated by how racialization is imposed, understood, and engaged. Brown's...

"Why us" essays are important. It's a drag to write, but like in some sort of weird dating ritual that the college admissions process is this is the part where you demonstrate interest. I might like X University, does X like me back? The specific college supplement essay should take you a while to write if you're doing...

Junior year is the time to really pull out the stops and impress your teachers--specifically one social sciences/English/art teacher and one science/math teacher. Pick a teacher that has gotten to know you or that has seen you improve a lot. Don't just pick teachers that have seen you shine (that's great too, but also they have to write a whole letter about you and you don't want that to just be "He/She has 98% in my class. Seems like a good kid." But...

I took a gap year before matriculating to medical school. Brown's PLME program allows you to keep a spot and defer 1-2 years as long as you describe goals for your gap year that make sense. Now that I'm applying for medical residency, I'm very glad that I took a gap year because I had work experience and especially unique experiences that set me apart and made...