Oxy versus Bowdoin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

We're talking about LACs. Prestige is an absolute joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

We're talking about LACs. Prestige is an absolute joke.

Sure- for people like gas station attendants who don’t know the difference between Harvard and Hartford

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

We're talking about LACs. Prestige is an absolute joke.

Sure- for people like gas station attendants who don’t know the difference between Harvard and Hartford

or 99% of employers who don't care about whether you went to Oxy or Bowdoin. There's very little difference.

[Anonymous]

I taught for a year at Oxy and currently live in LA. Bowdoin is a much, much better school but the weather is a serious consideration and Oxy, which has a minuscule endowment relative to Bowdoin, tries to entice strong students with so-called "merit scholarships" (these are in fact tuition discounts, paid for out of other tuition revenue).

If you can stomach the weather and money is not a huge issue, Bowdoin by a mile.

[Anonymous]

I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

[Anonymous]

When I was a senior at a remote SLAC, I had some frustrations with the remoteness. But I remember going downtown one beautiful day and thinking that it was unlikely I would ever live in such a peaceful place again.
You have the rest of your life to live in LA.
I’d go to Bowdoin.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, op, don’t let this be about you. Clipping your kid’s wings because you don’t want them to live on the west coast will not be good for your relationship with them in the long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

Let's be clear, prestige isn't the only reason to pick a college. People on this board are just obsessed. I know a kid who turned down MIT after visiting because they felt that they wouldn't fit in. Great choice for them was much less selective.

Right? This board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

So...what's so good about Bowdoin. You didn't answer my question. I get they have good stats-i'd hope so with the way people are talking of it like it is Harvard. What is so good about Bowdoin, especially when all you can display is a SAT range that comes from a very heavily test optional school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

Questionable. Ones with more $ and desire to pay for SAT test prep services, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

So...what's so good about Bowdoin. You didn't answer my question. I get they have good stats-i'd hope so with the way people are talking of it like it is Harvard. What is so good about Bowdoin, especially when all you can display is a SAT range that comes from a very heavily test optional school.

DP. Not poster you are asking.
"Niche" perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

So...what's so good about Bowdoin. You didn't answer my question. I get they have good stats-i'd hope so with the way people are talking of it like it is Harvard. What is so good about Bowdoin, especially when all you can display is a SAT range that comes from a very heavily test optional school.

Bowdoin 60% submit test score.
Oxy, 36% ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

So...what's so good about Bowdoin. You didn't answer my question. I get they have good stats-i'd hope so with the way people are talking of it like it is Harvard. What is so good about Bowdoin, especially when all you can display is a SAT range that comes from a very heavily test optional school.

DP. Not poster you are asking.
"Niche" perhaps?

No, I'm interested in others' opinion. I'm not an LAC champion-I went to state flagship/ivy and parents on this board continue to talk about how amazing and special these places are but will almost never answer why they're so prestigious. If you asked me about Harvard, there'd be 100 things I could comment on before the students. If the kid likes Oxy, I don't see the point of burning yourself blue in the Maine winter for prestige at a college most people have never heard of and where parents here, who are clearly fans, can't even speak on its reputation beyond the student's SAT scores-mind you, a majority of admitted students don't even submit SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll ask the unpopular question: what's so good about Bowdoin? So far, I'll I've seen is they have a nice dining hall.

Peers!
Bowdoin SAT 1480/1510/1550
Oxy SAT 1360/1450/1500

You are more likely to find more ambitious kids at Bowdoin.

So...what's so good about Bowdoin. You didn't answer my question. I get they have good stats-i'd hope so with the way people are talking of it like it is Harvard. What is so good about Bowdoin, especially when all you can display is a SAT range that comes from a very heavily test optional school.

Bowdoin 60% submit test score.
Oxy, 36% ...

Only 47% of Bowdoin students submitted test scores in the most recent admissions cycle: https://www.bowdoin.edu/ir/pdf/bowdoin-cds_2024-2025.pdf