Is Bowdoin increasing?

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin seems to just be rising in popularity in a lot of the circles I know. I thought Bowdoin used to be alongside Colby and Hamilton, but more people online put it with Williams/Amherst in the NESCAC level and consistently ranks T5-T6 in rankings for the past few years. The yield continues to increase and the endowment/per student is also increasing/near the other top LACs like Swat (1.5M v 1.7M). Students also just seem happier with their quality of life. Is it rising or has it always been like this?

[Anonymous]

The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

[Anonymous]

All excellent schools with some differences. Visit all if you can and see if one seems like the best fit for your child to have a successful and productive experience.

[Anonymous]

Our neighbor is displaying a big flag for their child’s successful admission. So happy for them. Excellent school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

Says who? I’d put Swarthmore and Pomona above Bowdoin and Middlebury (as does USNWR, by the way), and Carleton and Haverford on par with it. This is so subjective … Colgate and Hamilton are a notch down Imo, they have only rocketed to popularity/selectivity in the sense they’d be mentioned in a convo with the others in the past 15 years (before you know it Colby is going to be lumped in with them, when not too long ago they were on even par with Bates).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

It wasn't that way when I applied. Williams and Amherst and Swarthmore used to be 1,2, 3. Bowdoin was in a group with Middlebury, Haverford, Colby, Hamilton, Bates and Colgate.

[Anonymous]

It is a great school. I am not at all sure it matters if it moved from 6 to 3 or whatever.

Seriously people. Get over these rankings!

You are looking at the best school for your child, not in the eyes of others.

[Anonymous]

This discussion about rankings and who’s a notch above whom is absolutely insane. Anyone making these statements can have absolutely no basis for what s/he is saying and should be completely ignored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

Please. Enough already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top of the NESCAC has long been Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury, in that order. It’s been that way for several decades. It’s not quite at the same level as the first two but right below them with Middlebury. Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, Swarthmore, Haverford and a few other NE SLACs are up in the same general tier.

Says who? I’d put Swarthmore and Pomona above Bowdoin and Middlebury (as does USNWR, by the way), and Carleton and Haverford on par with it. This is so subjective … Colgate and Hamilton are a notch down Imo, they have only rocketed to popularity/selectivity in the sense they’d be mentioned in a convo with the others in the past 15 years (before you know it Colby is going to be lumped in with them, when not too long ago they were on even par with Bates).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This discussion about rankings and who’s a notch above whom is absolutely insane. Anyone making these statements can have absolutely no basis for what s/he is saying and should be completely ignored.

Yawn yawn yawn. None if these schools are interested in pursuing students that are interested in them because they are ranked 1 or 2 or 3 etc. Better some up with better reasons they should admit a student of you will be out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor is displaying a big flag for their child’s successful admission. So happy for them. Excellent school!

Your neighbor is a pretentious asshole.

[Anonymous]

Just because a school rises in popularity does not mean that it has become a "better" school. Bowdoin has been a good school for a long time and has attracted smart and engaged students. But what has changed is that it has become more popular and is getting more applications and thus is more selective. And, of course, DCUM assumes selectivity makes it a better school. As the Ivies and Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore have become more difficult to get into, more kids have started looking at the other strong SLACs. A family member had a great experience at Bowdoin as a recruited athlete (and fully acknowledges that he would have not gotten in without the athlete hook). We visited at all three Maine SLACs more than once and felt that they are all far more alike than different. DCUM really needs to get over this ranking business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because a school rises in popularity does not mean that it has become a "better" school. Bowdoin has been a good school for a long time and has attracted smart and engaged students. But what has changed is that it has become more popular and is getting more applications and thus is more selective. And, of course, DCUM assumes selectivity makes it a better school. As the Ivies and Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore have become more difficult to get into, more kids have started looking at the other strong SLACs. A family member had a great experience at Bowdoin as a recruited athlete (and fully acknowledges that he would have not gotten in without the athlete hook). We visited at all three Maine SLACs more than once and felt that they are all far more alike than different. DCUM really needs to get over this ranking business.

We are over it. It is the same 5 posters that go on and on and on and on about it.