New 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 primarily designed for students who have an engineering or science undergraduate background (this includes applied mathematics and computer science. Students from an industrial design background may qualify, depending upon background, as may students who have a significant technical background via some other route. 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 develop a business plan around a technology area.
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 typically longer 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 discipline to the workings of technology startup companies (and to the technology innovation process in larger firms), 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 primarily 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 more appropriate 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 exists 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.
5. Where do the PRIME students get jobs upon graduation?
A main 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?
The typical incoming PRIME class is in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 students. While the majority of students are graduates of US institutions, there is always a significant fraction of students from other countries.
7. Can I develop my own business idea within PRIME?
Most ideas that students work on come from areas that they learn about at Brown, but a few may have an idea before they matriculate. In that case, we would evaluate whether we could help the student find an appropriate advisor who can work with them to develop this pre-existing idea, but this might not always be possible (either because the relevant expertise is not to be found at Brown, or 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 delighted 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). Students 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 learn about doing business in another country, and compare US experiences in the technology startup field with those in other countries. 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.?
Brown 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.
