What is Bowdoin known for?
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Anonymous
Yeah the statement is relatable to so few students. When I heard this the first time, I didn’t even know the person was trying to insult, because private elite boarding schools are just amazing places to go to school. |
Anonymous
it's like an elite boarding school for college kids. so, more freedom and weekend trips. who wouldnt want that? |
Anonymous
| Being expensive. Not a good deal. |
Anonymous
Mississippi has a coast too. Look at a map of Maine, go a couple miles inland, and look at the entire state. Maine is a big state. Name a nice town away from the coast. Ever been to Skowhegan? Waterville? Augusta? Mississippi is better…plenty of nice towns. Ever been to Oxford? |
Anonymous
| In the middle of nowhere |
Anonymous
I've been to Oxford a few times. That is a fun place for sure! |
Anonymous
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I toured Bowdoin back in the 1990s. My parents were keen on my attending a strong LAC but after a few of these schools I was more interested in a bigger school and ended up at an Ivy that combined many of the virtues of a LAC with a larger university.
Bowdoin and comparable LACs have always been known as strong schools with excellent classroom instruction and close faculty-student interactions. I don't get a sense that's changed in a century, my parents knew of Bowdoin in their own childhoods in the 50s-60s, so among the educated UMCs of the time Bowdoin was always a school that was known. Bowdoin is affluent for a LAC with a large endowment. Will say at my Ivy I met a few kids who'd transferred from schools of Bowdoin's caliber and every single one said while they appreciated the resources of a larger and more famous school, the classroom experience was better at the Bowdoins/Amhersts/Williams. It doesn't surprise me. |
Anonymous
I agree with this. |
Anonymous
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DS is a current sophomore. Overall he is having a very good experience and calls it home. There are ups and downs. When he talks to HS friends, he realizes he is in a really good place. He feels challenged in his course work, has access to professors and the appreciates the overall learning environment. Like any school, scheduling is a challenge but he is usually able to sort classes out during drop/add. His largest class was 50 students (still easy to connect with the prof during office hours), other classes range 20-25, a few smaller. As expected, class size is getting smaller as he wraps up his distribution requirements. It is competitive, but he describes it as collaboratively-competitve. Students do seem to look out for each other. He is a non-athlete, but has found his home in the outdoor club. His friend group includes non-athletes, athletes and arts/theater kids. From a parent perspective, the school is easily accessible -- several direct flights to Portland from DC area, Amtrak between Portland to Brunswick. When my husband was having a major surgery, we did inform our son's dean of students. The Dean called our son to check in but followed DS' lead on if he needed anything -- basically, supportive without being intrusive which our son appreciated.
DS shared during his first winter he was surprised how early it got dark and it was easy to get into a little bit of a funk. He worked through it by staying active, going to the gym a little more. The food is good and Bowdoin prides it as a way they build community. It is a wonderful and special place -- |
Anonymous
My Bowdoin student gets great financial aid. Prospective applicants should run the net price calculator to see if it would be a good financial fit. |
Anonymous
What r WASP schools? |
Anonymous
[center] ❖ Williams College ❖ Amherst College ❖ Swarthmore College ❖ Pomona College [/center] |
Anonymous
They are the top LACs that seem incredibly difficult to get into. Bowdoin isn't part of this group but it is right up there. |
Anonymous
| It is less nerdy but also there is less competition at Bowdoin vs WAS. Kids just outside of the top 20% ED there with success, and the top kids use it as an ivy or WAS backup. It is for bright kids but not best of the school super smarties. |
Anonymous
It is not an insult. Just intended to share this specific viewpoint. |