Anonymous wrote:I do not find Bowdoin students that impressive post covid.

+1, the test optional craze has made unqualified students everywhere.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Bowdoin has incredible resources (including islands).

And they treat their faculty so well, that they are relaxed and generous interacting with students.

New London is also very sketchy.


(Both are accessible by train to DC, which is convenient for winter/holidays).

I have a kid at Bowdoin and agree that the resources are incredible. It's a fabulous school, and my kid has not found it to be uber progressive. There is an Amtrak station literally 2 blocks from campus, so it's easy to catch a train. But while theoretically accessible, I quibble with the idea that it's practical to get to DC by train. The train from Brunswick goes to Boston North station. From there, one would have to catch a cab to Boston South station to actually get to DC. It's a shame, but there are multiple direct flights daily from DCA and IAD into Portland (30 min from campus).

For an 18 year old, that isn't exactly a hassle. The issue is much more likely to be cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Bowdoin has incredible resources (including islands).

And they treat their faculty so well, that they are relaxed and generous interacting with students.

New London is also very sketchy.


(Both are accessible by train to DC, which is convenient for winter/holidays).

I have a kid at Bowdoin and agree that the resources are incredible. It's a fabulous school, and my kid has not found it to be uber progressive. There is an Amtrak station literally 2 blocks from campus, so it's easy to catch a train. But while theoretically accessible, I quibble with the idea that it's practical to get to DC by train. The train from Brunswick goes to Boston North station. From there, one would have to catch a cab to Boston South station to actually get to DC. It's a shame, but there are multiple direct flights daily from DCA and IAD into Portland (30 min from campus).

Conn College is not a top SLAC and their yield is very low.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Bowdoin has incredible resources (including islands).

And they treat their faculty so well, that they are relaxed and generous interacting with students.

New London is also very sketchy.

(Both are accessible by train to DC, which is convenient for winter/holidays).

Conn kids looked painfully preppy to me.

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Anonymous wrote:Academically, consider Connecticut College for fields such as botany, international studies, art, English and dance.

Thank you. Bio/enviro is the focus right now but it could change, so this is helpful.

I would include general biology as one of Conn's stronger programs.

Anonymous wrote:My senior likes both from the limited visit time and extensive virtual exploration. As ED deadlines loom, is anyone able to weigh in with personal experience at one or the other? And yes, my senior and I know that selectivity-wise, they are drastically different schools, and Bowdoin is a significant reach. Still, would love to hear about the type of student who seems to fit at either. Thanks in advance.

No doubt your child would get a great education at either school. However, it is hard to compete with the quality of life at Bowdoin. Dorms are incredibly spacious and the food is exceptional. Our daughter graduated in '24 and loved the food. Grabbing a meal at Bowdoin was not just about eating, it was very social. Additionally, Bowdoin's endowment is $2.9 billion whereas Connecticut College is less than $500m.

Anonymous wrote:I do not find Bowdoin students that impressive post covid.

We've seen just the opposite.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that Conn is as far left as Bowdoin is.

Our kid is at Bowdoin and most kids are left center, not far left.

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Anonymous wrote:Have current student at Conn (Bio major). I'd recommend visiting both. My child much preferred area (and weather) of New London/Mystic and Groton vs. Brunswick, ME. Big difference for our family is that Conn offered merit money (not just a meets needs school) and Bowdoin and many other NESCAC's do not. FWIW, when we toured both campuses - they appeared to both have welcoming communities for all kiddos (sporty, artsy, nature loving, etc).

Np here. Dc who is being recruited there. Can you tell me about the culture? Does it have sporty kids? Mostly Kids from the northeast?

I’m another poster with an athlete at Conn. Definitely most kids are from the Northeast; I think Bowdoin has a higher percentage of kids from outside the region. The coastal setting of Conn is really nice. Beautiful view from the track, and the XC course is right on the beach. The schools are more alike than different, and while Bowdoin is more prestigious, the merit aid that Conn offers is appealing. If your kid is an athlete, team vibe and the coach also matter. Have them stay overnight with a team member.

I do not find Bowdoin students that impressive post covid.

Np here. Dc who is being recruited there. Can you tell me about the culture? Does it have sporty kids? Mostly Kids from the northeast?

My child is actually a student-athlete at Conn and has teammates from all over the US. Although there are many from MA, NY, and CT, my child has made friends outside this region and has quite of few from mid-west/West Coast. Conn, like other NESCAC's, has its share of sporty kids, but child is also involved with many academic and non-sports related interests (bonus of Div 3) so has met a good share of friends outside of the team itself. My impression is that any of the NESCAC's are more similar than different having multiple family members attend other colleges in this conference. My child was particularly drawn to team, coach, and coastal vibe (meaning more beach than mountains and more moderate temps than Maine or Vermont).

I don't think that Conn is as far left as Bowdoin is.

Anonymous wrote:Have current student at Conn (Bio major). I'd recommend visiting both. My child much preferred area (and weather) of New London/Mystic and Groton vs. Brunswick, ME. Big difference for our family is that Conn offered merit money (not just a meets needs school) and Bowdoin and many other NESCAC's do not. FWIW, when we toured both campuses - they appeared to both have welcoming communities for all kiddos (sporty, artsy, nature loving, etc).

Np here. Dc who is being recruited there. Can you tell me about the culture? Does it have sporty kids? Mostly Kids from the northeast?