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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DS is a freshman at Bowdoin who grew up in a major city on the west coast.  We researched every top 40 LAC focusing on academic offerings (majors, core curriculum requirements, research opportunities for STEM majors, class sizes, access to professors, ability to double or triple major), student life (residential life, dining halls, diversity of student body, access to clubs and organizations etc), career center/internship opportunities, local community and access to urban areas.

He applied to 20 LACs and was incredibly lucky (it’s all luck) to be accepted to 11 and chose Bowdoin.

Bowdoin has exceeded our expectations!  Every LAC really offers amazing academics, but to us, this is what makes Bowdoin special:

- the kind, welcoming, and supportive student body (not competitive at all!) starts with numerous opportunities to meet new students at orientation and many social activities the first weeks of school
- the school spirit and pride (walk across campus and every other student is wearing a Bowdoin sweatshirt)
- amazing dining hall meals with incredible staff (food quality is extremely important for his overall happiness)
- access to outstanding classes (1st semester he got all 4 classes he wanted including the Intro to AI class that had only 32 students!
- resources unmatched to other LACs including every student receives their own computer and ipad as part of tuition (allows all students to begin with the same foundational resources)
- career center that is accessible, they have a require sophomore boot camp in January, plus there’s money available for students who chose an unpaid summer internship 
- the residential halls are exceptional.  He has a double that has a separate bedroom and living room. And then there’s also a lounge outside his room. 
- the Schiller Coastal Studies institute on 2.5 miles of Maine coast and the base for college’s environmental studies program is unmatched 
- Portland (35 mins) is an amazing small city with a foodie culture scene
- Boston (easy 2.5 hours by train) is available when Brunswick feels a little slow and he can go see a Bruins or Red Socks game.

Downsides?  No college is “perfect”.  The weather is not as bad as he thought it would be, but darkness at 4 pm is a tough. He misses ethnic food and the diversity of an urban area, but that’s the exchange to go to a LAC.

Lastly, our other DC is at one of the Claremont Colleges and very active academically and socially across the 5cs.  Those are also amazing colleges too, but the exceedingly competitive nature of Pomona students was an unfortunate surprise.

Bowdoin College is an incredible place to spend four years.  We feel so lucky our DS is a Polar Bear![/quote]

Thanks for sharing - this is very helpful and glad he is having such a great experience!

Is he an athlete? If not, what are the dynamics between athletes and non-athletes, since athletes make up a very large percentage of the student body?

What were the other finalists in his decision process of schools he was admitted to? Why Bowdoin over those (you touched on this a bit).

Thanks![/quote]

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