Anonymous
05/08/2021 20:03
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Don't believe the out-of-teach weirdos in this thread. Vast majority of people have never heard of these schools, and most do not care. It certainly won't give you "a leg up" or confer some magical social status if you attend, despite the very pushy insistence of the aforementioned posters.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 19:56
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Additional note, watch The Sopranos Season 1 Episode 5 “College.” Tony and Meadow do the “BBC tour” it has nothing to do with the colleges but it is notoriously every actor and every critic’s favorite episode and as a Mainer it’s funny to see the crossover.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 19:52
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
NP, haven’t read the whole thread. I’m a Mainer and this is based on 20yrs ago BUT...
Bowdoin is the best return on investment, all my friends who went to Bowdoin got great jobs right out of college 2007 (Goldman Sachs, Citibank etc) two continued on to Yale Law. As a college student Bowdoin was my favorite place to visit, great people, really welcoming. It’s the closest to Portland and Freeport.
Bates has a great long term community network. My Bates friends have been successful in their fields but have not attended as competitive graduate schools. Lewiston is not a particularly nice place but it didn’t seem to bother my friends who were there.
Colby is the furthest from Portland. I know fewer people who attended Colby, those who did loved it (minus 1 friend who immediately transferred to Colgate). Similar grad schools as Bates friends.
My general understanding is if you don’t like skiing don’t go to Middlebury.
Bowdoin is the best return on investment, all my friends who went to Bowdoin got great jobs right out of college 2007 (Goldman Sachs, Citibank etc) two continued on to Yale Law. As a college student Bowdoin was my favorite place to visit, great people, really welcoming. It’s the closest to Portland and Freeport.
Bates has a great long term community network. My Bates friends have been successful in their fields but have not attended as competitive graduate schools. Lewiston is not a particularly nice place but it didn’t seem to bother my friends who were there.
Colby is the furthest from Portland. I know fewer people who attended Colby, those who did loved it (minus 1 friend who immediately transferred to Colgate). Similar grad schools as Bates friends.
My general understanding is if you don’t like skiing don’t go to Middlebury.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 17:10
Subject: Re:Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They all excel in "educating" the spoiled children of the rich.
I work for a top research organization and we hire graduates of top state institutions at same or higher rate than graduates of these schools.
Well, that actually speaks very highly of them since these schools are a fraction of the size of “top state institutions”
Anonymous
05/08/2021 11:01
Subject: Re:Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bates grad who spent a good amount of time at both Bowdoin and Colby for sports. All three of these are great schools and have beautiful campus facilities and offer similar opportunities for students. Bowdoin is known to have more prestige and Colby has recently risen in the US News ranks by playing the ratings game well but honestly all are strong. Bowdoin is closer to Portland and has the nicest town whereas Colby is much more remote and Bates is in the middle (about 45 min to Portland and 25 to Freeport). Lewiston isn't winning any beauty contests but I've seen a lot of great changes over the years since I graduated in the 90's.
I wish I could go to the Bates of today because they have put a lot of money into the campus and have a new science center opening this fall and have built many new dorms and other buildings over the past few years. Bates is more outdoorsy IMO and has a very laid back vibe and a big focus on what they call "Purposeful Work" which means helping students target careers in their industry through alumni and parents. I'm only familiar with Bates' efforts here but they have been significant over the past 5-10 years.
My spouse and I both are Bates grads and have great jobs making a good amount of money (750K+). I don't have a graduate degree but my spouse does. Contrary to statements about people not caring or recognizing the value of a Bates degree I have had employers/interviewers call out my Bates degree as impressive - and I was an English major. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working at Starbucks but I'm not and never have! YMMV but that's my experience at one of these four schools. I highly recommend visiting all and looking at their strengths.
What jobs pay 750k+?
DP. Guessing someone went to law school and someone works a mom job?
"Jobs" = plural. Salary might be combined. Reading carefully is a helpful skill -- which I developed at a peer school to those mentioned here and at a T3 law school. And, BTW, when I was interviewing for jobs and clerkships, the name of my SLAC always drew a positive response. Yes, people do know these schools.
I agree. Probably one is a lawyer. My spouse makes $950k+ a year. Equity partner at a law firm.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:38
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
The ski hill at Midd is a draw for skiers, but as someone not that into skiing the thought of going to school with lots of skiers was a turnoff. Midd has a group of students who start in February. It has a lot of prep school grads. The others may too.
I was surprised on a recent visit by how diverse the students looked at Bowdoin. The alums I’ve know are preppy and white, but the students we saw studying outside and walking on campus were much less homogeneous.
I was surprised on a recent visit by how diverse the students looked at Bowdoin. The alums I’ve know are preppy and white, but the students we saw studying outside and walking on campus were much less homogeneous.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:36
Subject: Re:Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:All four schools are more similar than different, as with most of the NESCAC schools. That said, they have different focuses and vibes. Although 3 are in Maine, their geos are very different. Bowdoin is the most “urban.” Bates is near Lewiston, which isn’t the prettiest town. Colby feels the most remost, next to Middlebury, which is all alone in a very quiet part of VT but has the most students. All 4 provide a top-notch education, if your kid is comfortable in a generally small and rural setting.
There are always some on this forum who disparage SLACs. I’m not sure why, other than pure name recognition which is clearly lower among the general population for SLACs vs. Ivys, USC, Ohio State, and other big schools or big sports programs, etc. But that’s a good thing, as their kids presumably aren’t applying. If they did, the admit rates for Bowdoin, Middlebury, etc. would be even lower than 10-15%.
Well, Colby is 8% this year.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:33
Subject: Re:Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bates grad who spent a good amount of time at both Bowdoin and Colby for sports. All three of these are great schools and have beautiful campus facilities and offer similar opportunities for students. Bowdoin is known to have more prestige and Colby has recently risen in the US News ranks by playing the ratings game well but honestly all are strong. Bowdoin is closer to Portland and has the nicest town whereas Colby is much more remote and Bates is in the middle (about 45 min to Portland and 25 to Freeport). Lewiston isn't winning any beauty contests but I've seen a lot of great changes over the years since I graduated in the 90's.
I wish I could go to the Bates of today because they have put a lot of money into the campus and have a new science center opening this fall and have built many new dorms and other buildings over the past few years. Bates is more outdoorsy IMO and has a very laid back vibe and a big focus on what they call "Purposeful Work" which means helping students target careers in their industry through alumni and parents. I'm only familiar with Bates' efforts here but they have been significant over the past 5-10 years.
My spouse and I both are Bates grads and have great jobs making a good amount of money (750K+). I don't have a graduate degree but my spouse does. Contrary to statements about people not caring or recognizing the value of a Bates degree I have had employers/interviewers call out my Bates degree as impressive - and I was an English major. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working at Starbucks but I'm not and never have! YMMV but that's my experience at one of these four schools. I highly recommend visiting all and looking at their strengths.
What jobs pay 750k+?
DP. Guessing someone went to law school and someone works a mom job?
"Jobs" = plural. Salary might be combined. Reading carefully is a helpful skill -- which I developed at a peer school to those mentioned here and at a T3 law school. And, BTW, when I was interviewing for jobs and clerkships, the name of my SLAC always drew a positive response. Yes, people do know these schools.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:29
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
I have never heard of a human being being envious of those places. If anything the silently smirking response will be, sorry your kid got rejected from her first choices.
That's hilarious. You just made me spit out my coffee.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:28
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
I have never heard of a human being being envious of those places. If anything the silently smirking response will be, sorry your kid got rejected from her first choices.
I believe you. The 90% of kids rejected from Bowdoin, many of whom applied ED, had no interest in attending.
That’s interesting.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:25
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
I have never heard of a human being being envious of those places. If anything the silently smirking response will be, sorry your kid got rejected from her first choices.
I believe you. The 90% of kids rejected from Bowdoin, many of whom applied ED, had no interest in attending.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:24
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
How is that possible when no one has ever heard of these schools?
Lots of people have heard of these schools. It’s a social indicator that you haven’t.
This. Anyone who hasn’t heard of these schools is from flyover country. Or likely not college-educated, if they live on the East Coast.
I went to a peer school, Williams, and am a big fan of SLACs. They are certainly by many people, including admissions staff at top professional and graduate schools, as well as selective employers. Many of those people live in what you condescendingly refer to as "flyover country". I grew up in California and have lived on the east coast since college. People like you are pathetic.
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:19
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
How is that possible when no one has ever heard of these schools?
Lots of people have heard of these schools. It’s a social indicator that you haven’t.
+2 If you haven’t heard of these schools it is probably because you are an immigrant, your parents didn’t go to college (you are first gen) or you are middle class and attended your local public college (state flagship, etc).
That's me! Never heard of them until scouring "best college" lists for the kids.
That’s how I found Duke!
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:18
Subject: Re:Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bates grad who spent a good amount of time at both Bowdoin and Colby for sports. All three of these are great schools and have beautiful campus facilities and offer similar opportunities for students. Bowdoin is known to have more prestige and Colby has recently risen in the US News ranks by playing the ratings game well but honestly all are strong. Bowdoin is closer to Portland and has the nicest town whereas Colby is much more remote and Bates is in the middle (about 45 min to Portland and 25 to Freeport). Lewiston isn't winning any beauty contests but I've seen a lot of great changes over the years since I graduated in the 90's.
I wish I could go to the Bates of today because they have put a lot of money into the campus and have a new science center opening this fall and have built many new dorms and other buildings over the past few years. Bates is more outdoorsy IMO and has a very laid back vibe and a big focus on what they call "Purposeful Work" which means helping students target careers in their industry through alumni and parents. I'm only familiar with Bates' efforts here but they have been significant over the past 5-10 years.
My spouse and I both are Bates grads and have great jobs making a good amount of money (750K+). I don't have a graduate degree but my spouse does. Contrary to statements about people not caring or recognizing the value of a Bates degree I have had employers/interviewers call out my Bates degree as impressive - and I was an English major. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working at Starbucks but I'm not and never have! YMMV but that's my experience at one of these four schools. I highly recommend visiting all and looking at their strengths.
What jobs pay 750k+?
DP. Guessing someone went to law school and someone works a mom job?
Anonymous
05/08/2021 10:14
Subject: Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Middlebury
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:And make dullards envious.
How is that possible when no one has ever heard of these schools?
Lots of people have heard of these schools. It’s a social indicator that you haven’t.
Maybe in a 99 percent wealthy white New England town in 1983.