Which has better supplemental essays to write: Columbia or Brown?

Brown’s supplements are often more manageable for a student who enjoys reflective, personal writing and wants room to develop an idea. Its questions tend to invite you to explain how you learn, what brings you joy, and how you would participate in a collaborative community, which can be answered through concrete experiences rather than extensive institutional research. The Open Curriculum also gives applicants a natural, specific lens for explaining academic curiosity.

Brown is a particularly comfortable fit for a writer who can make everyday interests feel vivid and meaningful. A strong response might connect an intellectual interest to the freedom to combine fields, or use one small community moment to show how the student listens, contributes, or builds relationships. The challenge is avoiding broad claims about loving “freedom” or “interdisciplinary learning”; the essays still need personal detail and a clear connection to Brown.

Columbia’s supplements may suit a student who likes concise writing, has already researched colleges carefully, and can articulate why a structured Core Curriculum and New York City environment matter to them. Columbia’s short responses, including its reading-and-media list and school-specific questions, reward precision. They can feel harder because there is little space to recover from a vague sentence, and a convincing answer usually requires more than naming courses, professors, or the city.