Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 16:19     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
All of my kids’ college counselors told them “Optional” should be considered “Required”.

One of my kids graduated from Brown in May.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 22:37     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a freshman and did the video. She actually thought it was a lot of fun and a way to show her personality, as well as to bring together different threads from her app to show why she was a great fit for Brown. I think that helped her make her case. It was very lo fi. It's not about production value; it's about authentically showing who you are.

From the perspective of Brown, it's a way to differentiate kids. Think of all the kids who apply blindly to every top 20, whether or not they are a good fit for each school. The video shows the kid took the extra time to follow this request, which is unique to Brown, and shows if they are the sort of kid who will thrive at Brown. The video also shows if the kid actually has a spark or personality, weeding out some college-counselor-Frankenkids who had everything written for them by adults. You can't fake that as much on camera.


My son is a first-year student and he did one as well. I think the above poster has it right: why not use it as an opportunity to offer more information, esp. "qualitative" info, about yourself to an admissions officer desperate to figure how to differentiate from among tens of thousands 3.95/1550 applications, most of them from upper middle class families in a few states....? Just do a 3-5 little segments that reveal something about your kid's life: where you live, where you to middle school, where you perform music or play sports, the things that you love about your hometown, school, family, ECs. If you can be humorous, even a little self-reflective in a lighthearted way, it will come off as an honest self-portrait that might make your kid seem more than a grindy good student. etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 22:00     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:Hi,

DC is applying to Brown. Didn't realize that there is a video part of the application which is optional. Is it really optional or not? At once college visit to another school, AO said the optional essay was not really optional. Is that the case with Brown. Wish DC had known about this earlier. Definitely would have affected decision to apply, but now feel stuck.


Honestly, it does not appear to be optional.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 20:57     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It absolutely does NOT disadvantage the application if you don't submit! Absolutely not.

But it gives you a leg up (sometimes determinative) when you submit one.

If that makes sense.

No, it doesn’t. Admissions is a zero sum game; advantaging only some applicants means the others are disadvantaged.


I generally agree but if the video is not a positive representation of the kid, leave it off. Like TO…submit if it helps. My kid’s friend’s Brown video was not good (almost impossible to hear, difficult to understand bc garbled, and started with something I think should not be mentioned).
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 20:52     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Okay she missed the deadline


when is the deadline for RD?

Let me google that for you.

Jan 5.

https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/application-checklist


Actually, looks like Jan 7th. Oof.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:22     Subject: Re:Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Do it now. Explain she missed it.

I used to do alumni interviews for Brown. I've done them for people who missed the deadline. "Better late than never" is true. IMO, it's better to have Brown think she made a mistake than she's not that interested.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:02     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:It absolutely does NOT disadvantage the application if you don't submit! Absolutely not.

But it gives you a leg up (sometimes determinative) when you submit one.

If that makes sense.

No, it doesn’t. Admissions is a zero sum game; advantaging only some applicants means the others are disadvantaged.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:41     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:An admissions officer is down to two candidates for the last spot. One did the video. The other couldn’t have been bothered.

Who do you think they’re choosing?


I think they’re choosing the one who fills an institutional need.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:37     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Okay she missed the deadline


when is the deadline for RD?

Let me google that for you.

Jan 5.

https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/application-checklist
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:36     Subject: Re:Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Jan 7
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:33     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:Okay she missed the deadline


when is the deadline for RD?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 17:57     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi,

DC is applying to Brown. Didn't realize that there is a video part of the application which is optional. Is it really optional or not? At once college visit to another school, AO said the optional essay was not really optional. Is that the case with Brown. Wish DC had known about this earlier. Definitely would have affected decision to apply, but now feel stuck.


If your kid is serious about Brown then it is not optional. If just giving it a shot or trying some luck then optional


If the applicant is compelling, it's optional.

If the applicant is on the cusp, it's not optional.

If the applicant has no chance to start with, it's optional.

Really only matters for a small number of applicants.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 17:57     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Mine didn’t do glimpse for Vandy-but did do a quick informal, with phone, video for Brown. Told him it’s the only way I’m paying for the app fee.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 17:50     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:Hi,

DC is applying to Brown. Didn't realize that there is a video part of the application which is optional. Is it really optional or not? At once college visit to another school, AO said the optional essay was not really optional. Is that the case with Brown. Wish DC had known about this earlier. Definitely would have affected decision to apply, but now feel stuck.


If your kid is serious about Brown then it is not optional. If just giving it a shot or trying some luck then optional