Amherst vs Bowdoin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both Amherst and Bowdoin are great schools and neither are Ivy-reject schools as one poster stated (Ivies are very different from SLACs). Fit is most important but everything being equal, I would choose Amherst.

Amherst is more of an Ivy reject school than is Bowdoin judging by their respective overlap schools.

Dartmouth College is a Bowdoin overlap, but Dartmouth is more like a very large LAC than an Ivy League school.

Amherst overlaps include Yale, Brown, & Princeton. For those accepted to Amherst and at least one of Yale, Brown, or Princeton, Amherst does not do well according to Parchment.

Do you have any facts to back this up as it just sounds like made up crap? You do realize that SLACs are very different from Ivies so it is very unlikely they are "Ivy reject" schools.

You seem very young & inexperienced based on your posts. No need to be so impolite.

Yes, these overlap schools are "facts" provided by Amherst College and Bowdoin College to publications like Fiske Guide To Colleges.

Overlap schools by Fiske means that those schools share similar traits, NOT that students apply to those very schools. You need to do better.

You are wrong. These are schools with the most overlapping applications for admission.

Schools of similar caliber will always get applications from top students. However, you should know that top liberal arts colleges are very different from Ivy colleges and appeal to different types of students.

The yield rates are eye-opening. Until very recently, the yield rate for the top ranked LAC (Williams College) was a bit under 40%, while yield rates for all of the Ivy League schools are much higher.

In order to increase yield rates, top LACs have resorted to two rounds of binding ED admissions.

These schools don't lack applicants and I find applicants today are far more informed than they were in the past. The ones who pick liberal arts colleges are searching for that smaller college experience. For many, financial aid ends up being the deciding factor and they may find ivies a bit more generous.

That said, my kid attended Bowdoin and applied to Amherst also. She steadfastly would not apply to an ivy even though she had good chances (well as good as any other excellent student with a hook). She wanted a small, liberal arts college and applied and was accepted to many. She went on to an ivy for graduate school.

Thank you for your intelligent & polite response to my post. (I am not OP.)

Agree that admission rates are low which support your assertion that top LACs have many applicants relative to available spots in the upcoming class.

For Class of 2026: Among elite LACs, Bowdoin College reported the highest yield (59%) for a stand-alone LAC (Barnard College of Columbia University had a yield rate of about 66%). Pomona College was next at 55%.

Amherst yield was about 45%.

Williams College was over 44%.

Swarthmore was almost 43%.

Middlebury was almost 39%.

Yield rates do change due to "summer melt".

Yield rates for elite National Universities are much higher even though U Chicago is the only which utilizes two binding rounds of ED admissions.

A good reason that Bowdoin's and Pomona's yields are higher are probably because they both have 2 rounds of ED, whereas Amherst and Williams only have 1 round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both Amherst and Bowdoin are great schools and neither are Ivy-reject schools as one poster stated (Ivies are very different from SLACs). Fit is most important but everything being equal, I would choose Amherst.

Amherst is more of an Ivy reject school than is Bowdoin judging by their respective overlap schools.

Dartmouth College is a Bowdoin overlap, but Dartmouth is more like a very large LAC than an Ivy League school.

Amherst overlaps include Yale, Brown, & Princeton. For those accepted to Amherst and at least one of Yale, Brown, or Princeton, Amherst does not do well according to Parchment.

Do you have any facts to back this up as it just sounds like made up crap? You do realize that SLACs are very different from Ivies so it is very unlikely they are "Ivy reject" schools.

You seem very young & inexperienced based on your posts. No need to be so impolite.

Yes, these overlap schools are "facts" provided by Amherst College and Bowdoin College to publications like Fiske Guide To Colleges.

Overlap schools by Fiske means that those schools share similar traits, NOT that students apply to those very schools. You need to do better.

You are wrong. These are schools with the most overlapping applications for admission.

Schools of similar caliber will always get applications from top students. However, you should know that top liberal arts colleges are very different from Ivy colleges and appeal to different types of students.

The yield rates are eye-opening. Until very recently, the yield rate for the top ranked LAC (Williams College) was a bit under 40%, while yield rates for all of the Ivy League schools are much higher.

In order to increase yield rates, top LACs have resorted to two rounds of binding ED admissions.

These schools don't lack applicants and I find applicants today are far more informed than they were in the past. The ones who pick liberal arts colleges are searching for that smaller college experience. For many, financial aid ends up being the deciding factor and they may find ivies a bit more generous.

That said, my kid attended Bowdoin and applied to Amherst also. She steadfastly would not apply to an ivy even though she had good chances (well as good as any other excellent student with a hook). She wanted a small, liberal arts college and applied and was accepted to many. She went on to an ivy for graduate school.

Thank you for your intelligent & polite response to my post. (I am not OP.)

Agree that admission rates are low which support your assertion that top LACs have many applicants relative to available spots in the upcoming class.

For Class of 2026: Among elite LACs, Bowdoin College reported the highest yield (59%) for a stand-alone LAC (Barnard College of Columbia University had a yield rate of about 66%). Pomona College was next at 55%.

Amherst yield was about 45%.

Williams College was over 44%.

Swarthmore was almost 43%.

Middlebury was almost 39%.

Yield rates do change due to "summer melt".

Yield rates for elite National Universities are much higher even though U Chicago is the only which utilizes two binding rounds of ED admissions.

A good reason that Bowdoin's and Pomona's yields are higher are probably because they both have 2 rounds of ED, whereas Amherst and Williams only have 1 round.

Excellent point. Thank you.

Even though I prefer National Universities due to increased diversity, options, and opportunities, it is easy to understand the attraction to any of Bowdoin, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Barnard, Wellesley, Swarthmore, CMC and Davidson. Nevertheless, fit is more important regarding LACs than for National Universities.

[Anonymous]

All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

[Anonymous]

#5 Wellesley!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.
[\quote]

Not really. When you look at the yield for RD alone, which you may do by using the numbers in the CDS and performing a simple calculation, you find that Bowdoin’s yield (40+%) is still significantly higher than Amherst, Williams, Pomona, Swat (all in the 20+% range). RD yield is more telling than net yield, because it is in RD that applicants really get to choose between multiple offers. So among the elite WASP SLACs, when students get accepted they still only choose to attend that school about 1 time in 4. This says to me that either A) students are applying to all same elite SLACs, getting into all of them, and choosing one, or B) getting into an ivy+, all of which have RD yield rates above 50%, and choosing that instead. What do Bowdoin, CMC, and a very few other SLACs do to boost their RD yield? Good question!

[Anonymous]

Why’d you just decide to skip Wellesley and Smith? Do girls have cooties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why’d you just decide to skip Wellesley and Smith? Do girls have cooties?

Add Barnard to the banned list too…

[Anonymous]

If he prefers Bowdoin, he should go there. There is no meaningful difference between the schools.
from a parent of Amherst & Bowdoin students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.
[\quote]

Not really. When you look at the yield for RD alone, which you may do by using the numbers in the CDS and performing a simple calculation, you find that Bowdoin’s yield (40+%) is still significantly higher than Amherst, Williams, Pomona, Swat (all in the 20+% range). RD yield is more telling than net yield, because it is in RD that applicants really get to choose between multiple offers. So among the elite WASP SLACs, when students get accepted they still only choose to attend that school about 1 time in 4. This says to me that either A) students are applying to all same elite SLACs, getting into all of them, and choosing one, or B) getting into an ivy+, all of which have RD yield rates above 50%, and choosing that instead. What do Bowdoin, CMC, and a very few other SLACs do to boost their RD yield? Good question!

Bowdoin and CMC pay close attention to fit. Bowdoin wants students interested in championing for the common good. CMC values leadership and innovation. The WASP LACs seem to admit generic top diversity cases that are also commonly admitted to Ivy+ schools and will rarely pick the LAC instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

I'd guess Swarthmore and Pomona do EDII not because they're weaker schools, but because it gives them more control of their incoming class. Those two are the two most diverse non-specialized LACs in the country: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

I'd guess Swarthmore and Pomona do EDII not because they're weaker schools, but because it gives them more control of their incoming class. Those two are the two most diverse non-specialized LACs in the country: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity

(Not OP.)

Interesting thought. Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

I'd guess Swarthmore and Pomona do EDII not because they're weaker schools, but because it gives them more control of their incoming class. Those two are the two most diverse non-specialized LACs in the country: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity

That does not sound completely reasonable. After all, wouldn't most top college want to "control" their incoming class? Also, regarding the USNSWR link on diverse schools, Wellesley and Amherst and similarly diverse to Swarthmore and Pomona. Not saying Swarthmore and Pomona are weak schools because they're both great schools, but the fact remains that most of the very top schools do not have two ED rounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

I'd guess Swarthmore and Pomona do EDII not because they're weaker schools, but because it gives them more control of their incoming class. Those two are the two most diverse non-specialized LACs in the country: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity

Interesting that the two least diverse LACs are Morehouse College & Spelman College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the coed, non-military LACs below Williams and Amherst, like Bowdoin, have ED2 to help reduce acceptance rates and increase yields.

Weaker schools offer ED2.

Stronger schools like Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Williams, Amherst, don't need to.


USNWR LAC:
Williams College #1
Amherst College #2
Pomona College #3
Swarthmore College #4
Bowdoin College#6
Carleton College #6
Claremont McKenna College #9
Middlebury College #11
Washington and Lee University#11
Vassar College #13
Davidson College #15
Grinnell College #15
Hamilton College #15
Colgate University #18
Haverford College #18
University of Richmond #18
Wesleyan University #18
Colby College #24
Bates College #25

I'd guess Swarthmore and Pomona do EDII not because they're weaker schools, but because it gives them more control of their incoming class. Those two are the two most diverse non-specialized LACs in the country: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity

That does not sound completely reasonable. After all, wouldn't most top college want to "control" their incoming class? Also, regarding the USNSWR link on diverse schools, Wellesley and Amherst and similarly diverse to Swarthmore and Pomona. Not saying Swarthmore and Pomona are weak schools because they're both great schools, but the fact remains that most of the very top schools do not have two ED rounds.

So Amherst and Williams do not really care about their class composition? That's a ludicrous argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "Amherst - no question" response is really interesting.

. People who don't return their shopping cart to the rack and who will yell at you if you put your yoga mat too close to theirs. White people in their Patagonia vests.

Maine is 99% White and so are the schools. And not returning shopping carts is a Massachusetts thing.