Brown University is an Ivy League institution located in Providence, Rhode Island. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Getting admitted to Brown is very competitive, with the university having an acceptance rate of just 6.9% for the class of 2025. One of the most important factors that Brown considers for admission is an applicant’s high school GPA. So what GPA do you need to get into Brown?
Brown’s GPA Requirements
Brown does not publish any official minimum GPA requirement for admission. However, looking at the academic profiles of admitted students can give a good indication of the GPA range you’ll need to be a competitive applicant. Here are some key data points on the GPAs of students admitted to Brown:
| Median GPA of admitted students | 4.00 unweighted |
| Middle 50% GPA range | 3.88 – 4.00 unweighted |
| Average GPA of admitted students | 3.96 unweighted |
As you can see, the middle 50% of students admitted to Brown had an unweighted high school GPA between 3.88 and 4.00. So ideally, you’ll want your GPA to be within or above this range to be a strong applicant. An unweighted GPA below 3.88 starts to become more borderline.
To put those GPAs into better perspective, here is how they translate to weighted GPAs:
| Median weighted GPA | 4.28 |
| Middle 50% weighted GPA range | 4.12 – 4.43 |
| Average weighted GPA | 4.25 |
So if your school uses a weighted GPA scale, you’ll generally want your GPA to be 4.12 or higher to be a competitive applicant to Brown. The higher your weighted GPA is within or above that middle 50% range, the better.
How Rigorous is Your High School Curriculum?
While the GPAs above provide a good benchmark, it’s important to note that Brown also takes the rigor of your high school curriculum into consideration when assessing GPA. If you attend an extremely competitive magnet school with mostly accelerated and AP/IB courses, Brown may give more flexibility on GPA requirements. Conversely, if you attend a high school where very few advanced courses are offered, Brown may expect your GPA to be on the higher end of the range.
Here are some general curriculum levels and associated GPAs Brown likely looks for within each tier:
| Curriculum Level | Competitive GPA Range |
| Less Rigorous (mostly standard classes) | 3.9+ unweighted |
| Moderately Rigorous (some honors/AP classes) | 3.8+ unweighted |
| Very Rigorous (majority honors/AP classes) | 3.7+ unweighted |
| Extremely Rigorous (nearly all accelerated courses) | 3.5+ unweighted |
This table provides loose guidelines, but the takeaway is this: the more challenging your high school curriculum is, the more leeway Brown generally gives on GPA requirements. But even coming from an extremely challenging curriculum, your unweighted GPA should still be 3.5 or higher to be reasonably competitive for admission.
How GPA Factors Into Your Application as a Whole
While a strong GPA is important for admission to Brown, it’s just one piece of your application. Here are some other key factors Brown considers:
– Standardized test scores: Strong SAT or ACT scores help demonstrate your academic preparedness. Brown is test-optional, but submitted scores can help strengthen your application if they are competitive.
– Extracurricular activities: Brown wants students who are passionate and engaged outside the classroom. Having meaningful extracurricular involvement in areas like community service, student government, arts, or athletics can help boost your candidacy. Leadership roles are a plus.
– Letters of recommendation: Strong letters from teachers and counselors vouching for your academic abilities and potential help round out your academic profile.
– Essays: The essays give insight into your personality, background, passions, and intellectual curiosity. They help make you stand out as an individual.
– Interviews: Interviews are recommended but not required. They provide a chance to make a personal connection and directly showcase your interests and thinking.
To summarize, while GPA is important, it is not the sole factor in admissions decisions. A weak GPA can potentially be offset by strengths in other areas of your application. But generally, the higher your GPA is relative to your high school context, the better your chances will be.
Conclusion
To be a strong candidate for admission to Brown, you should strive for:
– An unweighted high school GPA of 3.7 or higher (or weighted GPA of 4.12+). The higher, the better.
– Maximum rigor in your high school curriculum. Take the most challenging courses available.
– Competitive SAT/ACT scores, ideally in the top percentiles.
– Robust and meaningful extracurricular involvement.
– Strong letters of recommendation and essays.
While nothing can guarantee admission to an Ivy League school, meeting these GPA and application benchmarks gives you the best shot at getting into Brown. Focus on presenting your absolute strongest academic and personal profile. Withpersistence and putting your best foot forward, you can potentially turn your dream of attending this prestigious university into reality.
