(another) would you choose …

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin or Tufts. For a policial science/history oriented male, likely will go to law school.

Obviously DC hasn’t heard from either yet. But these are his remaining top choices (DC was deferred at first choice (Dartmouth) and in hindsight we think that was good because DC is quiet and the type to have a few close friends and orefer to stay in and watch a movie, not so much the fraternity party type).

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Location alone should make this an easy choice, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Location alone should make this an easy choice, OP.

NP - hmm I don’t see the “ obvious” you do. Both locations seem pretty terrific to me but for very different reasons.
To answer OPs question though, I’d probably give the edge to Tufts because proximity to Boston will be valuable when they start looking for internships etc. I live not too far from Bowdoin and boy do I love Maine, but it doesn’t have the same density of opportunities as Boston will offer

[Anonymous]

Interesting schools. Bowdoin College has almost 1,800 undergraduates, while Tufts University has about 6,000 undergraduate students and about 5,000 graduate students.

Bowdoin is a really nice school. Bowdoin College is very much like an elite New England prep boarding school--nice campus, solid academics, motivated students, and involved faculty. Bowdoin is small, comfortable, and intimate. Everyone knows everyone else and, seemingly, each other's business. Excellent prep for law school.

Bowdoin's overlap schools are: Brown, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, and Colby. Williams, Dartmouth, Middlebury, and Colby are quite similar to Bowdoin in many respects.

In my view, Tufts University is in a different league than is Bowdoin College; this difference is evident in Tuft's overlap schools: Dartmouth, U Chicago, Brown, Harvard, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Northwestern, & WashUStL.

Academics are excellent at both schools.

Different environments. Bowdoin is located in a small town, while Tufts is more urban with easy access to Boston.

OP: If your student wants the experience of an elite New England prep boarding school and the familiarity and intimacy that such an experience entails, then Bowdoin College is the clear choice; but, if your student wants less isolation and more real world exposure at this stage, then Tufts University is the clear choice.

With respect to preparation for law school, both would be outstanding.

[Anonymous]

It sounds more like Bowdoin is a much better fit for your kid. Both are great schools but if your kid is unlikely to take advantage of being close to Boston and would prefer a quieter social life on campus, then Tufts doesn't seem to have much appeal. Also, Tufts has had major housing issues and off campus housing is very expensive. https://tuftsdaily.com/investigative/2022/05/22/reviewing-housing-at-tufts-can-a-crisis-years-in-the-making-be-put-in-the-past/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin or Tufts. For a policial science/history oriented male, likely will go to law school.

Obviously DC hasn’t heard from either yet. But these are his remaining top choices (DC was deferred at first choice (Dartmouth) and in hindsight we think that was good because DC is quiet and the type to have a few close friends and orefer to stay in and watch a movie, not so much the fraternity party type).

Thanks for your thoughts.

Based on your description of your child, Bowdoin is the better choice.

[Anonymous]

Tufts - more prestige

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting schools. Bowdoin College has almost 1,800 undergraduates, while Tufts University has about 6,000 undergraduate students and about 5,000 graduate students.

Bowdoin is a really nice school. Bowdoin College is very much like an elite New England prep boarding school--nice campus, solid academics, motivated students, and involved faculty. Bowdoin is small, comfortable, and intimate. Everyone knows everyone else and, seemingly, each other's business. Excellent prep for law school.

Bowdoin's overlap schools are: Brown, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, and Colby. Williams, Dartmouth, Middlebury, and Colby are quite similar to Bowdoin in many respects.

In my view, Tufts University is in a different league than is Bowdoin College; this difference is evident in Tuft's overlap schools: Dartmouth, U Chicago, Brown, Harvard, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Northwestern, & WashUStL.

Academics are excellent at both schools.

Different environments. Bowdoin is located in a small town, while Tufts is more urban with easy access to Boston.

OP: If your student wants the experience of an elite New England prep boarding school and the familiarity and intimacy that such an experience entails, then Bowdoin College is the clear choice; but, if your student wants less isolation and more real world exposure at this stage, then Tufts University is the clear choice.

With respect to preparation for law school, both would be outstanding.

I wrote the above post.

OP: I just cannot picture your child at Tufts based on your description of him or her. I have trouble picturing your chils at Dartmouth also as Dartmouth kids tend to be extroverts & socially outgoing personalities.

In addition to Bowdoin, Colby, Bates, Conn College, and Kenyon College should be good fits.

[Anonymous]

I would choose Bowdoin personally.

[Anonymous]

I’d choose Bowdoin were I so lucky to have a choice.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t think about now. Wait until the results are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location alone should make this an easy choice, OP.

NP - hmm I don’t see the “ obvious” you do. Both locations seem pretty terrific to me but for very different reasons.
To answer OPs question though, I’d probably give the edge to Tufts because proximity to Boston will be valuable when they start looking for internships etc. I live not too far from Bowdoin and boy do I love Maine, but it doesn’t have the same density of opportunities as Boston will offer

exactly...so assuming there is a choice, does the applicant want to be near a big city or in a small, remote town?

[Anonymous]

See, I think your kid sounds like a better fit for Tufts. I disagree with the PPs. I think Bowdoin is a little preppy. My DS (jr) who is similar to your DD is considering Tufts. The recent housing issues are a concern - I would not have been happy if my kid was placed in a hotel 2 miles from campus for my 85k - but if that is sorted out (not sure) I think Tufts sounds like a good fit.

I’m not sure one is really more prestigious than the other. Tufts may be slightly better known but Bowdoin is like one of the top 5 SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Visit both, as locations and "vibe" are very different. If he gets in at both, first visit and then decide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting schools. Bowdoin College has almost 1,800 undergraduates, while Tufts University has about 6,000 undergraduate students and about 5,000 graduate students.

Bowdoin is a really nice school. Bowdoin College is very much like an elite New England prep boarding school--nice campus, solid academics, motivated students, and involved faculty. Bowdoin is small, comfortable, and intimate. Everyone knows everyone else and, seemingly, each other's business. Excellent prep for law school.

Bowdoin's overlap schools are: Brown, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, and Colby. Williams, Dartmouth, Middlebury, and Colby are quite similar to Bowdoin in many respects.

In my view, Tufts University is in a different league than is Bowdoin College; this difference is evident in Tuft's overlap schools: Dartmouth, U Chicago, Brown, Harvard, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Northwestern, & WashUStL.

Academics are excellent at both schools.

Different environments. Bowdoin is located in a small town, while Tufts is more urban with easy access to Boston.

OP: If your student wants the experience of an elite New England prep boarding school and the familiarity and intimacy that such an experience entails, then Bowdoin College is the clear choice; but, if your student wants less isolation and more real world exposure at this stage, then Tufts University is the clear choice.

With respect to preparation for law school, both would be outstanding.

I wrote the above post.

OP: I just cannot picture your child at Tufts based on your description of him or her. I have trouble picturing your chils at Dartmouth also as Dartmouth kids tend to be extroverts & socially outgoing personalities.

In addition to Bowdoin, Colby, Bates, Conn College, and Kenyon College should be good fits.

This is OP. To be clear, DC is a senior and already applied and is awaiting results. DC did apply to some of these colleges “like” Bowdoin, and also others perhaps more “like” Tufts such as Wash U. DC also is waiting on a couple of larger state schools. So, while DC loved Dartmouth best (and as I said, I don’t disagree that not getting in was a bad thing), and DC has named Bowdoin and Tufts as next colleges of top interest, DC sees positives and thinks they would be happy at differing types of colleges, so it isn’t as simple as do they prefer city-ish or nature-ish.

I’d appreciate hearing why you can’t picture my DC at Tufts - honesty is appreciated! The anecdotal info we have gotten on both colleges is that Tufts is the better one for an introvert, both because the crowd is more non-partying and because one can better “hide” in a larger student body. Vs Bowdoin likes others said is super close knit and everyone knows everyone. I personally like Bowdoin better but am worried if DC doesn’t find a group of friends there quickly, they’ll always feel an outsider.

Thanks for all of the thoughts shared! Hopefully DC will get to make this wonderful choice (and if not, there will be other great options).