Anonymous wrote:Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

Let's be clear, prestige isn't the only reason to pick a college. People on this board are just obsessed. I know a kid who turned down MIT after visiting because they felt that they wouldn't fit in. Great choice for them was much less selective.

Let’s be clear. Bowdoin is extremely selective and among the most prestigious LACs. It’s very hard to get into that school even with Ivy type stats. It’s very hard NOT to get into Oxy if you are a reasonably strong full pay student. I have a DC at a school in between the two ranking wise - I’m paying full freight. I would be loathe to pay full price for Oxy, even though I can afford it. Choosing Oxy over Bowdoin is almost like picking Pitt over Harvard.

For sure Oxy. Yeah, you lose a little prestige, but you gain a lot more.

I wouldn't pick Bowdoin. It just wouldn't make sense for this student. Also, if they want to go west coast, Bowdoin is a strange choice that most people will have never heard of.

You’d think the east coast is the only place with jobs in America. This thread is dumb, pick Oxy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strongly suggest looking closer into Bowdoin. This would be a harsh opportunity to miss. Oxy is a no-name college in a decaying city.

Decaying city = city that produces 10x more economic output than whatever state the PP calls home.

+1 If they live in the DMV they'll be looking for a bread line once Elno is done with them. LA will just continue as a major cultural center and economic engine as always.

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.

I see that the stupid and foolish is running deep this morning. You might want look deep into your navel and try to find a clue before touching a keyboard again.

Anonymous wrote:Strongly suggest looking closer into Bowdoin. This would be a harsh opportunity to miss. Oxy is a no-name college in a decaying city.

Your ignorance and East Coast bias are shining bright today though you are a dim little tool.

Oxy had to evacuate during the fires. I doubt that will be the last time that happens. That would be my greatest concern.

My oldest graduated from Oxy with similar interests. First impressions panned out, found a good group of friends, but also relationships with professors were pivotal. Fit is important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin is adorable in summer but I would hate the gray Maine dreariness, so I relate. The surrounding area is also fairly grim and Trumpy and not great for a kid of color. Have spent a lot of time there and the drawbacks are real.

Thank you! I’m the one with the west coast kid considering Bowdoin. He has grown up in a very diverse community and as a student of color, being accepted and having peers in college is an important factor. He is nervous about being in a small town in Maine where he would not have access to comfort food, friendly faces, and have to adjust to winter days when it get dark at 4 pm. We plan to attend admitted students days coming up. It will be his first visit to Maine!

Also, there have been some very thoughtful replies and advice for the original poster. I agree that being an Urban planning major at one of the few liberal arts in an urban area would be a good match and a great experience.

To be fair I think Bowdoin tries very hard to be welcoming to diverse kids and Brunswick is cute and fancy/upscale. But Maine is a very white place. You should drive around Bath and surrounding areas where your kid might go to assess.

Anonymous wrote:Bowdoin is adorable in summer but I would hate the gray Maine dreariness, so I relate. The surrounding area is also fairly grim and Trumpy and not great for a kid of color. Have spent a lot of time there and the drawbacks are real.

Thank you! I’m the one with the west coast kid considering Bowdoin. He has grown up in a very diverse community and as a student of color, being accepted and having peers in college is an important factor. He is nervous about being in a small town in Maine where he would not have access to comfort food, friendly faces, and have to adjust to winter days when it get dark at 4 pm. We plan to attend admitted students days coming up. It will be his first visit to Maine!

Also, there have been some very thoughtful replies and advice for the original poster. I agree that being an Urban planning major at one of the few liberal arts in an urban area would be a good match and a great experience.

Factor in dark winter days in ME. If kid doesn't like is affected by weather, go with CA where it will also be dark from pollution

Both undergrad population about same
Comes down to major and setting.
One is in an urban location the other is not.

If my kid had reservations about winters in Maine and wanted to study urban policy, I would absolutely support this choice—especially if there’s merit money involved. A small college in a small town in a brutal winter (that lasts much longer than winter lasts down here) is tough if that’s not what you really want.

I love LA and have encouraged my kids to look at college there; one ended up in New England, but I still have hope for the other. There’s a ton to be said for sunshine and stuff to do beyond the campus walls.

It’s tempting to prioritize prestige, and if your kid were feeling equally good about both options, sure, pick the higher ranked school. But if prestige is the only reason he’d pick Bowdoin, that seems like a bad decision.