Following last week鈥檚 regular decision admissions release, The Herald spoke with students of Brown鈥檚 incoming class of 2028 to hear their reactions to joining the next cohort of Brunonians.
On Dec. 1, Sola Idiaghe, who plans to pursue computer science or mechanical engineering, was sitting in his fourth period psychology class when he received the status update. He had applied for admission via Questbridge, a nonprofit that matches students from low-income backgrounds to elite universities on full-ride scholarships.
鈥淚 opened the status update without any hesitation and, to my surprise, I matched to Brown,鈥� Idiaghe said. He began shaking from excitement and, after prompting from his teacher, shared the news of his admission and received congratulations from the entire class.
For Idiaghe, the best part of his acceptance was his mother鈥檚 reaction: 鈥淚 experienced strong emotions not because I got into Brown, but because my mom was so happy for me. Getting accepted into Brown will be something I will cherish forever,鈥� he said.
Idiaghe is most excited to take advantage of Brown鈥檚 open curriculum 鈥渢o explore different branches of STEM, as I am undecided in what field I want to concentrate in.鈥�
For Claire Cho from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brown was a dream school. After being deferred during the early decision round, she was ultimately accepted this spring. Cho plans on studying biomedical engineering and psychology on the pre-med track.
鈥淚 visited back in August with my dad and from then on, I knew I had to become a student at Brown,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a long and stressful process but it all paid off in the end.鈥�
Cho joked, saying 鈥淚 wanted to buy merch but nothing too expensive just in case I didn鈥檛 get in. I also didn鈥檛 wear it 鈥� because I thought it would jinx me.鈥�
After the disappointment of being deferred, Cho said she 鈥渞eminded (herself) that Brown was the goal from the start.鈥�
On March 28, all Ivy League colleges simultaneously released their admissions decisions. 鈥淚t was the longest day of my life,鈥� Cho said.
鈥淚 opened all my decisions in my room alone, saving Brown for last,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y mom was crying downstairs already because she knew how anxious I had been. My dad was also waiting quietly. And then the acceptance letter finally opened without the portals crashing. I ran down the stairs and my parents and I embraced.鈥�
鈥淲e cried and celebrated, and I learned that patience is key, and no matter how cheesy it sounds, dreams can come true,鈥� Cho said.
In her commitment photo shared with The Herald, Cho dons the shirt she bought during her August visit.
Topher Sah from Fremont, California was also admitted last Thursday. Once he arrives on College Hill, he plans to study biology or engineering, and 鈥渢ake full advantage of the open curriculum.鈥� He is also 鈥渕ost excited to have independence from home.鈥�
When his decision was released, he was in the car driving his brother home from school. 鈥淚 was about five minutes away from home,鈥� Sah said. 鈥淚 opened my letter at a red light.鈥�
Sah said he was 鈥渉onestly shocked. It felt unreal and I had to look at the letter multiple times.鈥�
Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Logan Powell previously told The Herald that the application review process focused on 鈥渋dentifying students from a broad range of experiences with demonstrated academic excellence and the potential to make extraordinary contributions to the Brown community.鈥�
Accepted students have until May 1 to indicate their intent to matriculate to the University.
Talia LeVine is a photographer for The Herald and a University News Senior Staff Writer focusing on Admissions & Financial aid. She is a first-year from Seattle, WA studying Political Science with an emphasis on human rights.
