Anonymous
04/11/2026 22:36
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:SKIP ALL THE MAINE ONES. NOT WORTH IT.
Yelling something doesn't make you more convincing.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 22:24
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
I have good friends who've gone to each college and rave about their experiences. The Midd group seems especially tight knit (and wealthiest!!). My crunchier friends went to Bates. Bowdoin has phenomenal food!
Anonymous
04/11/2026 21:56
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
SKIP ALL THE MAINE ONES. NOT WORTH IT.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 17:39
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
We looked at all of these schools. They are all great but in different ways. Suggest looking closely at the offerings in your kid's area of interest. Bates had a nice feel to it, but the econ department unraveled a few years back, and they had no good answer to the question of "what would the path be for a kid who is interested in x"
Anonymous
04/11/2026 17:32
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:All great schools. Bowdoin has the lowest admit rates of the bunch and the least isolated (closest to Portland which is a great city.) Middlebury has the ski slope and a great reputation for languages as well as finance placement, but they've had a lot of financial problems and some of that has impacted the student experience (forced triples etc.) Colby has a ton of money (as does Bowdoin) but it's much more remote. Bates has been a fantastic place for my kid who's there now; they are less of a conveyor belt to finance careers, but there's a strong DC alumni community.
Forced triples was during COVID when Midd’s enrollment surged to almost 2,900. It’s back down to around 2,650 now. No more kids at the Marriott or Bread Loaf.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 16:14
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They all seem like very good, somewhat preppy and classic New England schools.
How do they differ?
Bowdoin is the top of that group, Middlebury close second. Those two align with T25-30 as per student level of intellect and drive.
Colby is a big step down in student quality as is Bates, both equivalent to T50-65 as far as peer group.
This is the truth. If you have an outdoors-loving kid, Midd is a no brainer. Prettiest college campus I've ever seen and the academics can't be beat.
PP here - but I agree, they are all phenomenal and you can't go wrong. Pick the one you like best and go for it ED if possible.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 16:12
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They all seem like very good, somewhat preppy and classic New England schools.
How do they differ?
Bowdoin is the top of that group, Middlebury close second. Those two align with T25-30 as per student level of intellect and drive.
Colby is a big step down in student quality as is Bates, both equivalent to T50-65 as far as peer group.
This is the truth. If you have an outdoors-loving kid, Midd is a no brainer. Prettiest college campus I've ever seen and the academics can't be beat.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 15:55
Subject: Re:What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:All excellent schools. You can't really go wrong.
People who say that Bowdoin is easier to get to are only saying that because Amtrak goes from North Station in Boston to Brunswick. Keep in mind you go to South station if you are coming from anywhere south of Boston and have to change stations to get north of Boston. It's easy to fly into Portland and get to Colby, Bates, or Bowdoin. Middlebury is a bit harder to get to than the ones in Maine.
All are D3 schools but Colby and Middlebury have been D1 in skiing for years.
Bates has the worst town by far. Lewiston is an old mill town that is still trying to recover.
Colby has invested a ton of money in the town of Waterville and it has benefited greatly. It now has restaurants and businesses that have made the central Maine town much nicer than it was 30 years ago. The campus is on a hill removed from town. You cannot walk there but it's not hard to get into town. Colby has also invested huge amounts of money in athletics, environmental science, and performing arts.
Bowdoin sits right at the edge of Brunswick, a cute mid-coast town that has fun shops, coffeeshops, and restaurants.
Middlebury is in Vermont - different vibe from Maine.
Again, a kid couldn't go wrong at any of these.
The last sentence says it all. I know several happy kids at each of these schools. Visit for preference.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 15:29
Subject: Re:What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
All excellent schools. You can't really go wrong.
People who say that Bowdoin is easier to get to are only saying that because Amtrak goes from North Station in Boston to Brunswick. Keep in mind you go to South station if you are coming from anywhere south of Boston and have to change stations to get north of Boston. It's easy to fly into Portland and get to Colby, Bates, or Bowdoin. Middlebury is a bit harder to get to than the ones in Maine.
All are D3 schools but Colby and Middlebury have been D1 in skiing for years.
Bates has the worst town by far. Lewiston is an old mill town that is still trying to recover.
Colby has invested a ton of money in the town of Waterville and it has benefited greatly. It now has restaurants and businesses that have made the central Maine town much nicer than it was 30 years ago. The campus is on a hill removed from town. You cannot walk there but it's not hard to get into town. Colby has also invested huge amounts of money in athletics, environmental science, and performing arts.
Bowdoin sits right at the edge of Brunswick, a cute mid-coast town that has fun shops, coffeeshops, and restaurants.
Middlebury is in Vermont - different vibe from Maine.
Again, a kid couldn't go wrong at any of these.
People who say that Bowdoin is easier to get to are only saying that because Amtrak goes from North Station in Boston to Brunswick. Keep in mind you go to South station if you are coming from anywhere south of Boston and have to change stations to get north of Boston. It's easy to fly into Portland and get to Colby, Bates, or Bowdoin. Middlebury is a bit harder to get to than the ones in Maine.
All are D3 schools but Colby and Middlebury have been D1 in skiing for years.
Bates has the worst town by far. Lewiston is an old mill town that is still trying to recover.
Colby has invested a ton of money in the town of Waterville and it has benefited greatly. It now has restaurants and businesses that have made the central Maine town much nicer than it was 30 years ago. The campus is on a hill removed from town. You cannot walk there but it's not hard to get into town. Colby has also invested huge amounts of money in athletics, environmental science, and performing arts.
Bowdoin sits right at the edge of Brunswick, a cute mid-coast town that has fun shops, coffeeshops, and restaurants.
Middlebury is in Vermont - different vibe from Maine.
Again, a kid couldn't go wrong at any of these.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 12:48
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Bowdoin and Colby are popular at our private.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 12:46
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
All great schools. Bowdoin has the lowest admit rates of the bunch and the least isolated (closest to Portland which is a great city.) Middlebury has the ski slope and a great reputation for languages as well as finance placement, but they've had a lot of financial problems and some of that has impacted the student experience (forced triples etc.) Colby has a ton of money (as does Bowdoin) but it's much more remote. Bates has been a fantastic place for my kid who's there now; they are less of a conveyor belt to finance careers, but there's a strong DC alumni community.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 12:02
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Bowdoin then Colby
Anonymous
04/11/2026 11:59
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:They all seem like very good, somewhat preppy and classic New England schools.
How do they differ?
Friend's kids, Colby, are super happy. A friend who used to teach at Bates didn't really like it as much.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 11:15
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They all seem like very good, somewhat preppy and classic New England schools.
How do they differ?
Bowdoin is the top of that group, Middlebury close second. Those two align with T25-30 as per student level of intellect and drive.
Colby is a big step down in student quality as is Bates, both equivalent to T50-65 as far as peer group.
Sorry but no.
Bowdoin and Middlebury give no ground academically to any school in the T10+. They are equal to anybody.
Hamilton, and most believe Colby is right there is well, a tiny step behind if any. The challenge with Colby is that they play games and nobody is actual sure because they won’t release a CDS.
Bates is a bit easier but still an excellent school.
Anonymous
04/11/2026 08:46
Subject: What are the differences between Middlebury, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin is best, Middlebury next as far as best academics, peers, faculty.
Bates and Colby are more about social life athletics and fun than studying or being academically driven.
So not true. Where do u get this drivel—USNews?
PP is correct