Metadata
Title
Undergraduate Admission
Category
undergraduate
UUID
83139eb16d6b4154bfd7e1eefd417cc5
Source URL
https://admission.brown.edu/rural-and-small-town-students
Parent URL
https://admission.brown.edu/apply
Crawl Time
2026-03-16T04:32:30+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Undergraduate Admission

Source: https://admission.brown.edu/rural-and-small-town-students Parent: https://admission.brown.edu/apply

Undergraduate Admission

Rural and Small Town Students

Brown University recognizes the academic contributions and valuable perspectives that students from rural and small town high schools add to our community.

Rural and Small Town Students

Brown University recognizes the academic contributions and valuable perspectives that students from rural and small town high schools add to our community.

Brown University brings together talented students from every part of the country. We feel strongly that where you grow up does not define your potential, and that the different perspectives students bring to Brown are essential to our community. As the number of rural and small town students on campus continues to grow, we want to make sure you have the resources needed to learn more about Brown and imagine what your college experience in Rhode Island might look like. It doesn’t matter whether anyone else in your high school has attended or even applied to Brown; every student who comes to campus will explore new academic opportunities, broaden their horizons, and discover new ways of thinking about the world. We hope these resources will help you get a better sense of all that Brown has to offer.

Brown is proud to be a founding member of the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network. The STARS Network is a group of 32 of the nation’s most prominent universities dedicated to connecting students to resources and programs that will help them discover, apply to, and attend their perfect college match. No matter where students are, the STARS Network aims to provide them with what they need to succeed. With the generous support of Trott Family Philanthropies and our partnerships with the rootEd Alliance, Khan Academy, and Schoolhouse, the STARS Network offers assistance with the college search and the application process, as well as with academics in the high school setting. We have increased college access programming available for students from small towns and rural communities in the form of free on-campus programs, internship opportunities, and additional information sessions.

For more information, a schedule of upcoming events, and opportunities to get in contact with STARS Network counselors, please visit starscollegenetwork.org.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/988754581

Are you a Schoolhouse tutor? If so, please submit your Schoolhouse portfolio as part of your application to Brown. Portfolios may be submitted as an external document via email to documents@brown.edu. Please email your portfolio as a PDF document and include your full name and applicant ID in the email.

In 2019, Brown became the first school in the country to offer a no-cost fly-in program specifically designed for rising seniors from rural and small town communities. This program offers seniors the opportunity to learn more about highly selective admissions from admission and financial aid experts, explore Brown’s campus and life in Providence, RI, and engage with current undergraduates about their college experiences.

In 2024, we expanded our rural fly-in offerings in partnership with the STARS College Network for counselors from rural and small town high schools and community-based organizations to share in these experiences across New England colleges and enhance their college counseling skill set at no cost.

More information about STARS sponsored fly-in programs can be found on the STARS College Network website. Brown University’s programs are listed below:

STARS Counselor Conference - Northeast Tour: September 11 – September 13, 2025; The application period for this event has closed. The deadline to apply was May 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM CDT.

STARS@Brown Senior Fly-in:October 5 – 7, 2025; The nomination and application period for this event has closed. The deadline to apply was August 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM CDT.

Students applying for the STARS@Brown Senior Fly-in program must be entering their senior year in high school. Students are encouraged to submit an application and will be considered with a primary focus on academic preparation.

How do I apply to the STARS@Brown Senior Fly-in?

Students can apply to STARS@Brown using the free STARS fly-in application. The application requires the following materials:

School officials can submit a nomination for students to attend a STARS fly-in. Nominations are optional, but recommended.

The deadline for all application materials is Friday, August 1 at 11:59 PM CT.

Who is eligible to apply for STARS@Brown?

Students must meet the following criteria to participate in STARS@Brown:

Students who are a strong fit for STARS@Brown are likely to have the following experiences:

How do I determine if I am from a rural area and eligible for STARS@Brown?

Rural and small town experiences vary greatly across the United States. We're happy to review your application if you believe that a rural area or small town would best describe your hometown or high school setting.

I was denied from STARS@Brown. Does this mean I shouldn’t apply to Brown University for undergraduate admission?

STARS@Brown is a selective and small program with a distinct mission to support rural and small town students. Decisions for STARS@Brown are separate from the undergraduate admission process. Students may still be competitive for undergraduate admission, and are encouraged to apply, even if they are not admitted to STARS@Brown.

Can I get a fee waiver for my undergraduate application?

All students who list Brown University as one of their programs of interest on the STARS fly-in application are eligible for a fee waiver. STARS@Brown applicants should select the "Brown Specific Fee Waiver" in the "Brown Questions" section of the Common Application.

What do students do during STARS@Brown?

Students will:

This is my first time traveling away from home. How will Brown support me/my student during this experience?

Brown University will fund all expenses related to participants’ travel, lodging, and meals. Students arriving at Brown will be met with a representative from the Office of College Admission at the airport, train station, and/or on-campus.

Participants will stay in a nearby hotel within close proximity to campus. A staff member from the Office of College Admission will also stay at the hotel overnight.

Admission officers, student ambassadors, and/or Rural Students@Brown volunteers will accompany STARS participants throughout the program.

All students admitted to STARS@Brown are asked to attend a virtual information session two weeks prior to the program to meet Brown representatives and their peers, and to have any questions answered in preparation for their travels. Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to attend as well.

I’m a parent of an admitted STARS student. Can I attend?

STARS@Brown can only fund travel, lodging, and meals for admitted students. We encourage families to support their students in having an independent experience away from home as an opportunity to prepare for their first year at college.

You can learn more about Brown through our recorded information session and on-campus events.

Have questions? Email admission@brown.edu with any questions about the admission process, and financial_aid@brown.edu to learn more about Brown’s generous financial aid program. You can also email askastudent@brown.edu to connect with our best representatives - current students! Finally, make sure to join our mailing list to stay updated on everything related to Brown’s admission process.