Oxy versus Bowdoin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fools go to La for college. It’s not a place for young people, and it’s extremely dirty and smoggy- at Indian city levels. So no on Oxy, unless you don’t care about crime and filth.

And wild fires!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:maybe he can try and do summers in LA or an internship or something. also start at bowdoin and if he really hates it transfer to pomona or oxy.

This internship suggestion would be a good compromise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oxy gives merit aid. What's the merit aid package? 20-25k or more merit, Oxy is fine over Bowdoin.

Where do you live? Maine is very, very isolated and the only real way to get there, driving-wise, is through Massachusetts.

Having said that, Bowdoin has the best location of the 3 Maine SLACs; it adjoins a nice enough downtown. Bates and, to a lesser extent, Colby, are in terrible places, though -- so that's not necessarily saying much.

Maine is gorgeous (true, in the summer).

Bowdoin was my kid’s absolute first choice, though she did not get in. Congratulations to any kid who does!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a person who puts as much emphasis on status as most DCUM posters….but these schools are not even in the same universe.
Bowdoin is a jewel. It has great teachers and resources. Oxy is for kids who could never get into Bowdoin. The administration at Bowdoin seems actively engaged in helping kids succeed.

Here are inside facts experienced by my neighbors’ kid at Oxy: you get updates from the school about shootings in the surrounding neighborhood, which is not a fact of life at Bowdoin. Also, hi kid got into partying /getting high at Oxy, in ways that tanked her academic performance. There was also serious overcrowding in campus housing.

Oxy’s campus is pretty, and the community is diverse…though there was unrest over that during the pandemic.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-02-10/a-text-message-that-all-asian-people-need-to-die-has-occidental-college-in-an-uproar

…for what op’s child wants to do, bowdoin has much worse faculty.

[Anonymous]

as majority of dcum is quick to cast aspersions at attending college in tennessee or the South in general, I would never allow my kid attend college in Ca based on the rancid political climate -

[Anonymous]

All the DCUM pearl-clutching about wintry weather puzzles me. My four years in the distinctive four seasons climate of northern New England is etched on my memory as a magical time, and the snow-blanketed winters a surprisingly wonderful experience I’d never have again one moving back to the mid Atlantic.

[Anonymous]

DS is a second year student at Bowdoin. He absolutely loves it. The school is very accessible --he enjoys the outdoors, but it is also an Amtrak ride to Boston, NYC. He admits the first winter there he was surprised how early it got dark, which so far has says is his only drawback. He did snowshoe for the first time. He loves access to professors, community, dorms are a nice size and the food is good. Also, keep in mind that he may change is his mind re: major. DS declared his major recently -- while it is close to what he thought he would study, there is some slight variation from what he originally thought he would major in. He also is able to double major.

[Anonymous]

Bowdoin is a dumb decision for this student. Like going to europe for a degree in American studies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oxy gives merit aid. What's the merit aid package? 20-25k or more merit, Oxy is fine over Bowdoin.

Where do you live? Maine is very, very isolated and the only real way to get there, driving-wise, is through Massachusetts.

Having said that, Bowdoin has the best location of the 3 Maine SLACs; it adjoins a nice enough downtown. Bates and, to a lesser extent, Colby, are in terrible places, though -- so that's not necessarily saying

As a New Hampshirite, I would like to say that you get to Maine by going through New Hampshire not Massachusetts. Not sure what the driving route has to do with anything though. There are plenty of schools in isolated areas (Colgate, Bucknell, Amherst, Middlebury, etc) that aren’t in Maine.

[Anonymous]

As a New Hampshirite, I would like to say you get to Maine by going through New Hampshire, not Massachusetts. Not sure what the driving route has to do with anything though - there are plenty of schools in other states that are very isolated as well. Colgate, Middlebury, Williams, etc. Portland is 1/2 hour away from Bowdoin and you can take Amtrak to Boston.

[Anonymous]

A good friend from HS went to bowdoin. Lasted a year and then transferred to our state school and was very happy. It’s pricey, small, and cold. It’s known in the NE but not nearly as well known elsewhere.

For my dc, Oxy. LA is great

[Anonymous]

Both are excellent schools, OP. You can't go wrong. My advice is re-visit and talk to current students.

Best of luck and congrats to your DC!

[Anonymous]

I’d take Meth over Oxy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are excellent schools, OP. You can't go wrong. My advice is re-visit and talk to current students.

Best of luck and congrats to your DC!

Agreed, Bowdoin parent here with very happy kid. We have good friends who have a son at Occidental (finishing junior year) and he’s equally as pleased. Both kids are self starters and have had great experiences. I’d leave it to kid’s personal preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oxy gives merit aid. What's the merit aid package? 20-25k or more merit, Oxy is fine over Bowdoin.

Where do you live? Maine is very, very isolated and the only real way to get there, driving-wise, is through Massachusetts.

Having said that, Bowdoin has the best location of the 3 Maine SLACs; it adjoins a nice enough downtown. Bates and, to a lesser extent, Colby, are in terrible places, though -- so that's not necessarily saying

As a New Hampshirite, I would like to say that you get to Maine by going through New Hampshire not Massachusetts. Not sure what the driving route has to do with anything though. There are plenty of schools in isolated areas (Colgate, Bucknell, Amherst, Middlebury, etc) that aren’t in Maine.

Bowdoin is very accessible --Direct flights to Portland or Boston, Bus service to Boston -- oh, and an Amtrak station right next to campus