(another) would you choose …

[Anonymous]

The reason I think Bowdoin is more prestigious is that I think some kids would turn down Ivy for Bowdoin (I’ve heard examples) whereas no one would do that with Tufts. Bowdoin is a very top LAC whereas Tufts is not a very top national u.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, wait until you have the choice - both have very low admit rates especially during regular decision. If your child is lucky to be admitted to both, I’d visit one more time and let them decide which place they could best see themselves- they can’t go wrong!

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin. When I visited Tufts years ago, everyone seemed unhappy. My friends who went to Bowdoin loved it!

[Anonymous]

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

+1 (from a mom of one kid in college, and one who is a HS senior now)

[Anonymous]

Good luck to OP and your DC, let us know about acceptances and decisions! Have you toured both? If DC is fortunate enough to get in both places, perhaps an overnight or accepted students day will help them choose. Outstanding options, both, and I'm sure that in the event neither works out, your DC will do marvelously at one one of their other choices.

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin, Amherst, Williams etc. are not "elite New England boarding schools." They are SLAC. It is a different experience entirely. What do you mean that Tufts is in a different league than Bowdoin? It is quite literally in the same league (NESCAC) and it is silly to think that Tufts is better. There are some of the same schools on the overlap list and I think Bowdoin is probably more selective than Tufts.

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tufts - more prestige

Says no one who's anyone.

[Anonymous]

Academically, Tufts is not in the same league as Chicago, Brown, Harvard…Bowdoin is one of the best liberal arts colleges, similar to Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore. Based on academics only, I would choose Bowdoin. If location (urban) and size (large) matter, than I would go with Tufts.

[Anonymous]

If he knows he wants to do International Relations, then Tufts. Otherwise, Bowdoin - everyone I know who's gone there, raves about it.

[Anonymous]

Save money. Law schools don’t care where you went to undergrad.