The type of student who thrives at Conn College vs. Bowdoin

[Anonymous]

For us not interested in Maine or Vt SLACs with long winters Nov-March being a non starter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not find Bowdoin students that impressive post covid.

+1, the test optional craze has made unqualified students everywhere.

Bowdoin has been test-optional for 40-plus years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not find Bowdoin students that impressive post covid.

+1, the test optional craze has made unqualified students everywhere.

Bowdoin has been test-optional for 40-plus years.

The type of student who is test optional today is very different than 40 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Bowdoin has incredible resources (including islands).

And they treat their faculty so well, that they are relaxed and generous interacting with students.

New London is also very sketchy.


(Both are accessible by train to DC, which is convenient for winter/holidays).

I have a kid at Bowdoin and agree that the resources are incredible. It's a fabulous school, and my kid has not found it to be uber progressive. There is an Amtrak station literally 2 blocks from campus, so it's easy to catch a train. But while theoretically accessible, I quibble with the idea that it's practical to get to DC by train. The train from Brunswick goes to Boston North station. From there, one would have to catch a cab to Boston South station to actually get to DC. It's a shame, but there are multiple direct flights daily from DCA and IAD into Portland (30 min from campus).

For an 18 year old, that isn't exactly a hassle. The issue is much more likely to be cost.

You are in the train a ridiculously long time. But my kid (who trained it home from another school in the winter, when I did not want to risk driving on icy roads), just researched internships on her computer. Much less stressful and more productive for all involved.

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin has a lot more money, probably because Conn College used to be all women's. Being well resources makes a difference. I'd go with Bowdoin over Conn College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Bowdoin has incredible resources (including islands).

And they treat their faculty so well, that they are relaxed and generous interacting with students.

New London is also very sketchy.


(Both are accessible by train to DC, which is convenient for winter/holidays).

I have a kid at Bowdoin and agree that the resources are incredible. It's a fabulous school, and my kid has not found it to be uber progressive. There is an Amtrak station literally 2 blocks from campus, so it's easy to catch a train. But while theoretically accessible, I quibble with the idea that it's practical to get to DC by train. The train from Brunswick goes to Boston North station. From there, one would have to catch a cab to Boston South station to actually get to DC. It's a shame, but there are multiple direct flights daily from DCA and IAD into Portland (30 min from campus).

For an 18 year old, that isn't exactly a hassle. The issue is much more likely to be cost.

You are in the train a ridiculously long time. But my kid (who trained it home from another school in the winter, when I did not want to risk driving on icy roads), just researched internships on her computer. Much less stressful and more productive for all involved.

Yeah, college kids today have no problem staying on their computers for 12 hours straight.

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin is many steps ahead of Conn College. Not peers by any stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

Conn College, straight As, then Yale Law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin is many steps ahead of Conn College. Not peers by any stretch.

My nephew went to Conn and then to Harvard Business School. So I don’t know if the difference btw the two matters that much. It seems like a great school, and I have DD very interested in it.