PRIME Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need to have an engineering background in order to be admitted to PRIME?
As it is presently set up, PRIME is designed for students who have a engineering or science undergraduate background (this includes applied mathematics and computer science; students from an industrial design background may qualify, depending upon background.). A degree in the field is not necessary, but a significant amount of background (more than just a few courses) is required. This is because each student will have to independently develop a business plan around a technology area- a student from a non-technical background will have a difficult time quickly coming up to the level necessary to successfully meet this requirement.
2. Is this program similar to an MBA?
No, it is designed to be very different. The PRIME program is only a year long, as compared with the typical MBA program. PRIME does not strive to provide the in-depth study of a business specialty, as would take place in an MBA program. Rather, it is intended to introduce students from an engineering or science background to how technology startup companies function, and to provide enough background so that the student can be effective in such an environment.
3. I have been working in a technology business environment for 5 to 10 years. Is PRIME right for me?
The program is designed for recent graduates of engineering and science programs. If one already has extensive business experience, it is quite possible that a traditional MBA is a better choice than the PRIME degree, which assumes relatively little familiarity with the business environment.
4. Are there any electives in the PRIME curriculum?
The PRIME curriculum consists of 8 courses that normally fill an entire academic year. These are described in the program brochure. Where there is elective choice is in picking a technology area on which to focus, and to develop a business plan. This is done in consultation with the PRIME faculty advisors, and should be consistent with the undergraduate background of the student. The business plan course is equivalent to a thesis requirement, and hence its subject is an elective choice.
5. Where do the PRIME students get jobs upon graduation?
The goal of the program is to prepare students to move into a technology startup environment. That said, the career opportunities are many. Students have gone on to jobs in consulting and investment banking, and with small technology firms.
6. Can you provide statistics on the incoming classes and what jobs they have gone on to?
Eventually yes, but it needs to be recognized that the program just began in academic year 2006-2007, so no statistics are yet available. The first class consisted of only 5 regular PRIME students. The goal is to build this to a maximum of about 20. The first formal advertising of the program outside of Brown will only take place in 2007-2008.
7. Can I develop my own business idea within PRIME?
The purpose of PRIME is to let students develop business ideas that are their own. Most will come upon these ideas after they arrive at Brown, but a few will have the idea before they matriculate. In that case, we will work as best we can to help the student find an appropriate advisor who can work with them to develop the pre-existing idea, but this might not always be possible if the relevant expertise is not to be found at Brown, or if the idea is at a stage that makes it inappropriate for the purposes of the program.
8. Is it expected that I launch the business that I work on in the PRIME program?
No, though we would be supportive if a student chose to do so. The main product of the program is the experience of how to take and develop a technology idea into a business. In the event that a business is to be further developed beyond the period of the course, Brown has resources that it can make available to the student. These would be made available on the same basis as for any other graduate research inspired business that comes about at Brown.
9. Is there any financial aid available for students?
As is generally the policy for all professional masters programs, the PRIME program unfortunately cannot offer any regular research or teaching assistantships to students. Brown’s Graduate Financial Aid office can help students explore possibilities for scholarships or loans, which would come from outside of PRIME or the Division of Engineering. One feature of the PRIME program that students should take note of is that the courses are largely scheduled in the late afternoons. This was done to permit students to possibly work part time in the morning hours. We do not encourage assuming a heavy workload at the time a student is enrolled in PRIME, as the program is itself quite demanding (and again, this work cannot take the form of a regular research assistantship). Stuidents should visit the Bursar's office website for more detailed costs.
10. What is involved in the globalization experience?
During the January course break, the students will, as a group, visit institutions outside of the US, that are likewise engaged in entrepreneurship activities. The trip will be roughly 10 days duration, and will be accompanied by Brown faculty members. The students will be required to present their business concepts and preliminary plans to these outside groups, and will be critiqued. In turn, the students from the other country will present their business plans to the PRIME students, and expect a similar critique. In order to help defray the significant expenses of the foreign travel, the students in the PRIME program will be assessed an additional fee for this trip (the extra fee is $1500). The choice of country is made by the program faculty and will be announced in the early fall.
11. Is it possible to have an informal evaluation of my chances of being admitted, based upon my undergraduate transcripts, GRE’s TOEFL scores, etc.?
Division of Engineering policy does not allow informal evaluation of credentials. To do so would not be fair. Hence, we can only evaluate full records that become available with a formal application.
12. Are three references required during application?
Yes, and this is very important. At least one of these references should be from someone who can speak to your technical background.
13. Are Graduate Record Examinations (GRE’s) required?
The Division of Engineering does formally require GRE scores, as we do for all of our graduate programs.
