Brown University delayed your child’s application during the Early Decision round. If this happened, it’s probably not what you and your child were expecting when you applied in early November. But don’t worry too much. Being postponed isn’t the worst thing that could happen. It means your child still has a shot at getting accepted, unlike being rejected outright. So, how can your child boost their chances of getting into Brown after being postponed? Let’s find out!
Brown Early Decision Admission Rates Over 20 Years
First, it’s important to understand your child’s deferral in perspective. So, what percentage of Brown’s Early Decision applicants get admitted? Brown’s Early Decision acceptance rate over the years is as follows:
| Admissions Cycle | Brown Graduating Class | Brown’s Early Decision Admission Rate |
| 2023-2024 | Class of 2028 | 14.38% |
| 2022-2023 | Class of 2027 | 12.98% |
| 2021-2022 | Class of 2026 | 14.6% |
| 2020-2021 | Class of 2025 | 15.9% |
| 2019-2020 | Class of 2024 | 17.5% |
| 2018-2019 | Class of 2023 | 18.2% |
| 2017-2018 | Class of 2022 | 21% |
| 2016-2017 | Class of 2021 | 21.9% |
| 2015-2016 | Class of 2020 | 22.1% |
| 2014-2015 | Class of 2019 | 20% |
| 2013-2014 | Class of 2018 | 18.9% |
| 2012-2013 | Class of 2017 | 18.5% |
| 2011-2012 | Class of 2016 | 19% |
| 2010-2011 | Class of 2015 | 20.6% |
| 2009-2010 | Class of 2014 | 19.9% |
| 2008-2009 | Class of 2013 | 23.7% |
| 2007-2008 | Class of 2012 | 22.7% |
| 2006-2007 | Class of 2011 | 22.7% |
| 2005-2006 | Class of 2010 | 22.8% |
| 2004-2005 | Class of 2009 | 28% |
| 2003-2004 | Class of 2008 | 28.3% |
| 2002-2003 | Class of 2007 | 25.8% |
Brown Early Decision Deferral Rates
Brown has shared Early Decision deferral numbers for the past three years. And, while the number has gone down, it’s still significant. These numbers are for the classes of 2028, 2027, 2026, and 2025.
| Admissions Cycle | Brown Graduating Class | Brown’s Early Decision Deferral Rate |
| 2023-2024 | Class of 2028 | 16.8% |
| 2022-2023 | Class of 2027 | 19% |
| 2021-2022 | Class of 2026 | 25% |
| 2020-2021 | Class of 2025 | 30% |
Brown Early Decision Denial Rates
While a deferral may seem disappointing, finding out about a school’s Early Decision denial rate might cheer up a student — especially at Brown, which denies more people than it defers.
Actually, the school has been rejecting more students during the Early Decision application period over the past few years, but it stopped increasing for the Class of 2028. Here are the numbers:
| Admissions Cycle | Brown Graduating Class | Brown’s Early Decision Deferral Rate |
| 2023-2024 | Class of 2028 | 67.6% |
| 2022-2023 | Class of 2027 | 68% |
| 2021-2022 | Class of 2026 | 60.25% |
| 2020-2021 | Class of 2025 | 54.1% |
5 Steps to Take After a Brown Deferral
After receiving the upsetting news that Brown University has deferred your child’s application, here’s a simple five-step plan:
1. Encourage Relaxation: Advise your child to try yoga or meditation for a day to calm down before taking any further steps. They have a lot on their plate, but taking a brief break can help clear their mind.
2. Schedule a Free Meeting with Ivy Coach: We’ll guide you through our deferral package, which includes an evaluation of your child’s application so far, and help them craft a compelling Letter of Continued Interest.
3. Complete the Evaluation Together: Both you and your child should attend the evaluation session. It’s important to do this within a few days of the deferral to fix any mistakes and improve their application before the Regular Decision deadlines.
4. Write a Strong Letter of Continued Interest: We’ll provide paragraph-by-paragraph guidance to make the letter as persuasive as possible. Unlike simply updating the school on recent accomplishments, our approach focuses on making a strong case without bragging.
5. Get Support from Your School Counsellor: Have your child bring the letter to their school counsellor in the New Year for support. Their counsellor can advocate on their behalf during conversations with admissions officers, which can be crucial for their application. While some counsellors may not make these calls, most effective ones will do so as part of their role.
Brown University Deferral FAQ
Is a Brown deferral meaningful?
Yes, unlike many similar schools, Brown turns down more students than it postpones in the Early Decision round. This year, for the Class of 2028, the school rejected more students than it postponed. Is your child’s postponement not seeming so bad anymore?
Does Brown defer more candidates than it accepts?
Indeed, Brown has historically postponed many more students than it accepts outright. Brown’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 during the most recent Early Decision cycle was 14.38%, with a 16.8% postponement rate. The previous year’s Early Decision admission rate for the Class of 2027 was 12.98%, with a 19% postponement rate. For the Class of 2026, the difference was even more pronounced. The school accepted 14.6% of Early Decision applications while postponing 25%.
Does Brown defer more candidates than it rejects?
Brown denies more applications than it postpones. This is different from what happens at other leading universities in the United States.
Should my child call their regional representative in Brown’s admissions office?
In addition, apart from your child’s Letter of Continued Interest, it’s best not to reach out to Brown’s admissions office. Contacting them might just annoy them. They aren’t interested in hearing from deferred applicants. Nobody likes talking to someone who didn’t get what they wanted. It’s like the character Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, if you catch my drift.
If my child’s high school counsellor spoke to Brown after the deferral, do you think the reason they gave for the deferral is accurate?
No, we always want school counsellors to speak up for a kid before Brown’s admissions committee. However, if the admissions official gives a reason for why your child was postponed, take it with a pinch of salt. Why? Because they will never tell you the real reason a student was delayed. It would just hurt their interests. So, the aim of the conversation shouldn’t be to find out what went wrong, but for the counsellor to focus on what makes your child special.
Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Brown Deferral
If Brown postponed your child’s application for the Class of 2028, please fill out Ivy Coach’s free consultation form, and we will contact you to discuss our post-deferral services, which increase your child’s chances of getting into Brown and the other schools they applied to during the Regular Decision round.
