Independent Concentration alums have received fellowships like the Fulbright, Goldwater, and Truman, entered M.D. and Ph.D. programs in their IC field, joined large companies, founded start-ups, served in government positions, and more! Both conventional and innovative career options are easily accessible to Independent Concentration graduates because of how interdisciplinary the Independent Concentration process is. In fact, a degree in an Independent Concentration makes you attractive as a job candidate. Employers come across candidates in standard concentrations all the time; chances are, degrees like yours are more unusual and demonstrate your creativity, ability to work independently, discipline, and entrepreneurial spirit. Further, after advocating for your own curriculum to Brown, it becomes pretty easy to “sell” your concentration to employers post-grad. Many independent concentrators refer to their Independent Concentration by its title rather than presenting it as an “independent concentration in [x field].”
Family members can sometimes be skeptical of a non-traditional degree. However, we encourage you to discuss with your family the success of Independent Concentration alumni in the working world, the many benefits of the personalized advising network, the close relationship you will have with faculty, and the ownership of your time at Brown in having this discussion. We are also happy to help you plan out ways to talk to your family about the Independent Concentration process.
To find Brown IC alums, do a key work search on LinkedIn or request to join the LinkedIn Brown University IC Community group.