What is Bowdoin known for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the question in the subject line been answered yet? I quickly skimmed through the posts, and aside from its popularity with Meadow, I couldn’t identify what Bowdoin is particularly known for. I do enjoy the controversy among SLAC fans if Bowdoin is as elite as a WASP school. Fun world.

It hasn’t. It really doesn’t have a standout academic profile, just a very low-key, well endowed college. A big thing with LACs is being able to point at a career or academic program that is very strong, and Bowdoin lacks that.

Bowdoin has more than one standout academic program. So do each of its 5 closest peers (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Carleton.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the question in the subject line been answered yet? I quickly skimmed through the posts, and aside from its popularity with Meadow, I couldn’t identify what Bowdoin is particularly known for. I do enjoy the controversy among SLAC fans if Bowdoin is as elite as a WASP school. Fun world.

It hasn’t. It really doesn’t have a standout academic profile, just a very low-key, well endowed college. A big thing with LACs is being able to point at a career or academic program that is very strong, and Bowdoin lacks that.

Bowdoin has more than one standout academic program. So do each of its 5 closest peers (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Carleton.)

Could you please name some ? Thank you in advance !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the question in the subject line been answered yet? I quickly skimmed through the posts, and aside from its popularity with Meadow, I couldn’t identify what Bowdoin is particularly known for. I do enjoy the controversy among SLAC fans if Bowdoin is as elite as a WASP school. Fun world.

It hasn’t. It really doesn’t have a standout academic profile, just a very low-key, well endowed college. A big thing with LACs is being able to point at a career or academic program that is very strong, and Bowdoin lacks that.

Bowdoin has more than one standout academic program. So do each of its 5 closest peers (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Carleton.)

Could you please name some ? Thank you in advance !

I'm curious, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the question in the subject line been answered yet? I quickly skimmed through the posts, and aside from its popularity with Meadow, I couldn’t identify what Bowdoin is particularly known for. I do enjoy the controversy among SLAC fans if Bowdoin is as elite as a WASP school. Fun world.

It hasn’t. It really doesn’t have a standout academic profile, just a very low-key, well endowed college. A big thing with LACs is being able to point at a career or academic program that is very strong, and Bowdoin lacks that.

Bowdoin has more than one standout academic program. So do each of its 5 closest peers (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Carleton.)

Name them. This is basically what op’s question is, and it has been avoided by posters for many pages!

[Anonymous]

Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the question in the subject line been answered yet? I quickly skimmed through the posts, and aside from its popularity with Meadow, I couldn’t identify what Bowdoin is particularly known for. I do enjoy the controversy among SLAC fans if Bowdoin is as elite as a WASP school. Fun world.

It hasn’t. It really doesn’t have a standout academic profile, just a very low-key, well endowed college. A big thing with LACs is being able to point at a career or academic program that is very strong, and Bowdoin lacks that.

Bowdoin has more than one standout academic program. So do each of its 5 closest peers (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Carleton.)

SWAMP……nary a B or C to be found

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

So aside from good food and a nice culture, what makes Bowdoin stand out as an academic institution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

So aside from good food and a nice culture, what makes Bowdoin stand out as an academic institution?

It seems like the definition of a low-value luxury good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

Maybe…Maine does have some unique topography and the more undeveloped land than any other state, plus more coastline than California. I bet there are some excellent reasons to get an environmental science degree there.

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin is a very wealthy LAC. Its endowment per student is only behind WASP and Grinnell. Its location is also pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

So aside from good food and a nice culture, what makes Bowdoin stand out as an academic institution?

A recent write-up on this topic... https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2024/5/10/the-best-majors-at-bowdoin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Government (Bowdoin Public Service Initiative)
English
Environmental Studies

Quick note that Bowdoin is NOT known for its English department. It doesn’t have an attached review, it lacks dedicated faculty that arent stretched across various area studies departments, and doesn’t have the type of area/period interest diversity as top English lacs like Kenyon or hamilton. Environmental science is correct, government is eh…it has a lot of dead alum who are very important, but it’s not matching in public service or international affair opportunities like Williams, CMC, and Macalester.

Can one even justify Bowdoin's tuition for an environmental science degree? Certainly not for public service.

So aside from good food and a nice culture, what makes Bowdoin stand out as an academic institution?

A recent write-up on this topic... https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2024/5/10/the-best-majors-at-bowdoin

The classes sound important:"The Economics of Art and Culture" and "The Souls of Animals" are my two favorite that were detailed in the article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin is a very wealthy LAC. Its endowment per student is only behind WASP and Grinnell. Its location is also pretty good.

True but how does that money translate into excellence? There are many lacs that have less money but standout offerings.