Bowdoin College

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Bowdoin at a Glance

Location:
Brunswick, ME
Setting:
Town
Control:
Private Non-Profit
In-State Tuition:
$40,020
Out-of-State Tuition:
$40,020
Room & Board:
$11,315
Full-Time Undergrads:
1,771
Part-Time Undergrads:
6
More statistics . . .
School Website:
www.bowdoin.edu
Admissions Website:
www.bowdoin.edu/admissions
Financial Aid Website:
www.bowdoin.edu/studentaid
Application Deadline:
January 1
Acceptance Rate:
20 %
Admission Difficulty:
Very Hard
Average SAT Scores:
1970–2250
Average ACT Scores:
30–33

Best Things

  • The close-knit community
  • The dining hall food and service people
  • The huge Outing Club program
  • The awesome housing available to students
  • More best things . . .

Worst Things

  • The administration seems very bureaucratic at times.
  • Being towed without warning
  • Brunswick doesn't stay up all night.
  • Twenty-five percent of the campus claims to be from Boston.
  • More worst things . . .

Most Popular Majors

  • Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
  • Languages and Literature
  • International Studies and Government
  • Political Science and Government
  • More majors . . .

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

College is a place where people from many different backgrounds come together, so it would be impossible to meet every desire of every student, and it's doubtful that any university or college could achieve a perfect environment with no area for improvement. However, at Bowdoin, a strong majority of the students say they are glad they made the decision to come here. Even those who initially didn't feel comfortable at Bowdoin admit to eventually developing a strong fondness for the school. And even when certain administrative procedures or requirements don't seem to make sense, the discourse that develops from these issues only adds to the vibrancy of Bowdoin's ongoing intellectual conversations. Bowdoin represents a place for students to experience a new way of seeing and interpreting life—students here come to realize that attending college is not just about going to classes, participating in sports, and partying on weekends, but it’s about doing everything with passion, determination, and the ability to give back.

Many select Bowdoin as their first-choice school because of the intimacy between the administrators, faculty, coaches, alumni, and students. Plus, the resources available are remarkable. The picture Admissions presents to high school students is not accurate in all aspects because there is so much more to Bowdoin that cannot be portrayed in brochures and on websites, but when most first-year students finally experience Bowdoin up close and personal, their love for the school grows. Students here are subject to constant busyness and often stress, yet the rewards of applying themselves passionately to life at college make that stress a beneficial one. Being a Polar Bear is more than hating the Panthers or Mules—it’s about honoring the faculty and coaches, as well as the entire experience, the past, the future, and interactions you are sharing with your peers. The best things about going to college here is the confidence you will gain in yourself to do anything you dream and the knowledge and skills you need to achieve those dreams.

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match up?

See how your test scores and GPA compare to other students that have applied to the same school.

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Bowdoin College Campus Tour Video

Bowdoin Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Bowdoin College

eucalyptus18

Biology '15

2.7
C+

Overrated

Our food may be frequently touted as the best college/university food in the country, but as a vegan I am EXTREMELY disappointed with my options. At least 5 nights a week my only option is some sort of pasta, and when that isn't available I end up eating rice or struggling to find vegan bread. One night they will have multiple delicious vegan options, and then the next night my only options will be a disgusting dish that no one eats, or even worse, nothing--except salad and cereal. Dining services needs to learn to look at their day-to-day menues from a vegan's perspective. When they do so, they will see that despite their efforts to create vegan dishes (which they do succeed at doing on occasion), their vegan offerings need to be more consistent at the very least. Is it really too much to ask to have vegan bread available every night? How hard would it be to spread out the vegan dishes so that I have (non-pasta) options EVERY night, not just a few nights a week? Come on Bowdoin, you can do better.

May 09, 2012

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Transportation at Bowdoin College

msmonyluv

Environmental Studies '15

3.5
B

Average Small School Transportation

Bowdoin is located in the extremely small town of Brunswick, Maine. The town just adopted a public transportation system with two buses. The buses go all over the city of Brunswick. There are also three Zipcars on campus. For larger groups, campus vehicles can be rented out.

Apr 19, 2012

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Academics at Bowdoin College

msmonyluv

Environmental Studies '15

4.6
A

Environmental Studies Major

I love being an ES major. The program is unique and allows you to pick from three concentrations. The programs directors are always looking to help the students with anything! The students in the program are very passionate!

Apr 19, 2012

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User rating for Bowdoin College is 4.6 out of 5 based on 492 user reviews.

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Name
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Hometown
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Major
Probably Sociology and German

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