Brown admitted 556 of early decision applicants to class of 2016

Brown's early decision admission rate dropped to 19 percent this year, as the University yesterday admitted 556 out of 2,919 early decision applicants to the class of 2016, according to the Admission Office.
The early decision acceptance rate fell slightly from last year's 20 percent rate. This year's applicant pool was the largest in the past three years. Last year, 2,796 students applied early decision, and in 2009, 2,847 did.
A plurality of students — about 31 percent — declared interest in the social sciences, followed by about 26 percent in the life and medical sciences and about 23 percent in the physical sciences. Engineering was the most popular intended concentration, with 46 students — roughly 8 percent of admits — listing it as their field of interest.
This year marked the second admissions cycle since the University formally approved the School of Engineering in 2010. Last year, Dean of Admission Jim Miller '73 told The Herald the University hoped to see an increase in the number of engineering applicants.
In the U.S., the most admits came from New York, where 83 students were accepted. California followed, with 78 admitted students. Regionally, about 21 percent of admits came from New England, followed by about 15 percent from New York and about 14 percent each from the Mid-Atlantic and California.
International students comprised roughly 11 percent of early decision admits. The most international admits hailed from China, with 13 students — or about 21 percent of international admits — accepted. Canada, the United Kingdom and India followed with nine, seven and six admits, respectively.
The University has in recent years attempted to increase its presence in India and China by forming educational partnerships and organizing both a Year of India and Year of China.
Admission statistics for the Program in Liberal Medical Education, whose students are grouped with other early decision applicants, were not provided. PLME students can opt out of the binding application if denied from the PLME program but accepted into the College by specifying this preference on their initial application.
About 58 percent of students admitted come from public high schools, while about 35 percent come from private schools.
Regular decision applications are due Jan. 1. The University usually aims to have a freshman class of about 1,500 students, The Herald has previously reported.
Charlie Figueroa '16, who was admitted as a PLME student, said he was very surprised to have been admitted. When decisions came out, his mother had the computer open and a video camera to record his reaction.
"I screamed the f-bomb in front of her, which I've never done," he said. Figueroa, who plans to study biology and theater arts and performance studies, said he was drawn to Brown because it seemed very "community-oriented" and because of its LGBT culture.
"It'll be wonderful," he said.

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