PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Brown University has invited 617 early decision applicants to become members of the Class of 2019. The 617 students, admitted from an applicant pool of 3,043, represent the largest early decision cohort since Brown adopted its current early decision program 13 years ago. Applicants began logging on to a secure website at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, to learn the status of their applications.

“The record number of students admitted in our early decision process reflects the extraordinary talent of this applicant pool,” said James Miller, dean of admission. “We could not be more impressed with the academic, extracurricular, and personal qualities of the entire group of applicants. It was both a joy and an honor to learn about them, their accomplishments, and their aspirations. We are delighted to welcome the first members of the Class of 2019 to Brown.”

By applying for early decision, prospective students indicated that Brown was their first choice for college and agreed to accept an offer of admission if they received one.

Forty-six percent of the accepted students applied to receive financial aid. Brown is committed to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for admitted undergraduates. Forty-six percent of the Brown undergraduate student body currently receives need-based financial aid. Since the matriculation of the Class of 2007, all domestic undergraduates admitted as freshmen have been admitted under the University’s need-blind admission policy.

The students who were accepted from the early decision applicant pool will come to Brown from 31 nations and 43 U.S. states. The top countries represented outside the United States are the People’s Republic of China, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, France, and India.

Nine percent of accepted students represent the first generation in their family to attend college. Additionally, 31 percent are students of color, defined as students who self-identify as African American, Latino, Native American or Asian. Of the accepted students, 358 are female and 259 are male.

New members of the Class of 2019 who mentioned specific academic interests listed biology, engineering, history, economics, computer science, biochemistry, English, and international relations as the top concentrations.

The deadline for regular decision applications is Jan. 1, 2015.