Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:How do these four schools differ? What are their unique personas, or all they mainly very similar?

Ok! Getting back to the original question. I am a grad of one of these schools. The Vermont vibe is a bit different from Maine and I think Middlebury is considered most prestigious - more influenced by Burlington in terms of hippie vibe in the town nearby, but also excellent language programs, climate / energy classes, and strong English department.

Bowdoin also wonderful - outdoorsy, down to earth, strong classes across the spectrum, strong sports.

I’ve always thought Bowdoin was most prestigious but all of these schools are well regarded.

Agree. The ranking in my head is: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Bates and Colby. They're all great but if forced to rank, this would be my list.

I hate rankings but if forced to choose I'd agree with your ranking, with one change: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, Bates.

I think Bowdoin’s rise is recent. Middlebury likely was previously the most prestigious.

One point separates Middlebury and Bowdoin in the most recent USNews ranking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do these four schools differ? What are their unique personas, or all they mainly very similar?

Ok! Getting back to the original question. I am a grad of one of these schools. The Vermont vibe is a bit different from Maine and I think Middlebury is considered most prestigious - more influenced by Burlington in terms of hippie vibe in the town nearby, but also excellent language programs, climate / energy classes, and strong English department.

Bowdoin also wonderful - outdoorsy, down to earth, strong classes across the spectrum, strong sports.

I’ve always thought Bowdoin was most prestigious but all of these schools are well regarded.

Agree. The ranking in my head is: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Bates and Colby. They're all great but if forced to rank, this would be my list.

I hate rankings but if forced to choose I'd agree with your ranking, with one change: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, Bates.

I think Bowdoin’s rise is recent. Middlebury likely was previously the most prestigious.

Bowdoin first appeared on the USNews ranking in 1986 at #10. Middlebury first appeared on the USNews ranking in 1988 at #17.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do these four schools differ? What are their unique personas, or all they mainly very similar?

Ok! Getting back to the original question. I am a grad of one of these schools. The Vermont vibe is a bit different from Maine and I think Middlebury is considered most prestigious - more influenced by Burlington in terms of hippie vibe in the town nearby, but also excellent language programs, climate / energy classes, and strong English department.

Bowdoin also wonderful - outdoorsy, down to earth, strong classes across the spectrum, strong sports.

I’ve always thought Bowdoin was most prestigious but all of these schools are well regarded.

Agree. The ranking in my head is: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Bates and Colby. They're all great but if forced to rank, this would be my list.

I hate rankings but if forced to choose I'd agree with your ranking, with one change: Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, Bates.

I think Bowdoin’s rise is recent. Middlebury likely was previously the most prestigious.

Bowdoin first appeared on the USNews ranking in 1986 at #10. Middlebury first appeared on the USNews ranking in 1988 at #17.

Since 2000, Middlebury has ranked above Bowdoin an equal number of times that Bowdoin has ranked above Middlebury. They’ve tied several times.

[Anonymous]

After I read the story of this poor girl at Middlebury who overdosed on campus last fall, I wouldn't consider the school for my kids (and I've had DCs at 2 other NESCAC schools). It seems like a poorly-run place.

https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/22/a-students-death-sparks-questions-about-support-services-at-middlebury-college/

[Anonymous]

What about Connecticut College?

[Anonymous]

The top LAC schools are generally seen as Williams Amherst Swarthmore Pomona, which kind of cheekily spells “WASP”. They have been seen as schools that offer incredible undergraduate opportunities, with many kids heading to graduate programs at ivies, or MBA programs after a few years in finance living in NYC. Kids will sometimes choose them over Cornell and Dartmouth, but not Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn etc. Basically, those 4 are a different level than other LACs. Swarthmore is the most academic, Pomona gives west coast beauty and a shared campus with 4 other schools. the other two are havens for east coast elites.

Bowdoin has moved up to be basically be next in line. Kids love the food, the dorms and the social, low stress atmosphere.

Middlebury is a step down unless your child is focused on languages. It’s beautiful but a bit more introverted

Bates and Colby are strong NESCAC schools, so if your child is an athlete, both are great because they will be part of the NESCAC networking cult. All the NESCAC schools are pretty good about laddering each other up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top LAC schools are generally seen as Williams Amherst Swarthmore Pomona, which kind of cheekily spells “WASP”. They have been seen as schools that offer incredible undergraduate opportunities, with many kids heading to graduate programs at ivies, or MBA programs after a few years in finance living in NYC. Kids will sometimes choose them over Cornell and Dartmouth, but not Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn etc. Basically, those 4 are a different level than other LACs. Swarthmore is the most academic, Pomona gives west coast beauty and a shared campus with 4 other schools. the other two are havens for east coast elites.

Bowdoin has moved up to be basically be next in line. Kids love the food, the dorms and the social, low stress atmosphere.

Middlebury is a step down unless your child is focused on languages. It’s beautiful but a bit more introverted

Bates and Colby are strong NESCAC schools, so if your child is an athlete, both are great because they will be part of the NESCAC networking cult. All the NESCAC schools are pretty good about laddering each other up.

Pomona is a relative new-comer to the list of top LACs, and benefits tremendously from it's southern California location. Bowdoin and Middlebury are equals, just below AWS. Then Wesleyan, then the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After I read the story of this poor girl at Middlebury who overdosed on campus last fall, I wouldn't consider the school for my kids (and I've had DCs at 2 other NESCAC schools). It seems like a poorly-run place.

https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/22/a-students-death-sparks-questions-about-support-services-at-middlebury-college/

In all fairness, this is a pretty unbalanced article, especially considering that the college can't respond to these allegations due to privacy laws and legal considerations. This was a tough situation all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After I read the story of this poor girl at Middlebury who overdosed on campus last fall, I wouldn't consider the school for my kids (and I've had DCs at 2 other NESCAC schools). It seems like a poorly-run place.

https://vtdigger.org/2023/12/22/a-students-death-sparks-questions-about-support-services-at-middlebury-college/

In all fairness, this is a pretty unbalanced article, especially considering that the college can't respond to these allegations due to privacy laws and legal considerations. This was a tough situation all around.

Agree.

I place substantial blame on the student's parent/parents who failed to deal effectively with the student's difficulties--instead leaving it up to a college thousands of miles away to provide parental care and mental health care. Colleges are neither substitute parents nor responsible for serious mental health care.

[Anonymous]

I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

They’re equally prestigious, can’t go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

Both are excellent. What do you want to study and are the costs equivalent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

Both are excellent. What do you want to study and are the costs equivalent?

I want to study computer science. The cost to attended is the same. Bowdoin is expensive by about 2000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

Obviously Bowdoin..

What tf is Colby? a low ranker LAC. Any LAC out of T15 USNews is useless, and not worth the value

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently got into both Colby and Bowdoin. Where should I commit? Colby also chose me as a Pulver Scholar. Only 10 are selected and being a scholar guarantees one internship and one research opportunity. Bowdoin is much more closer to civilization though and more prestigious. Colby has a better campus though.

Congrats! These are two excellent schools! You should be very proud of yourself. You can’t go wrong with either one.