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Bowdoin College - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Campus Housing

A+
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 1,725
Average Housing Costs $5,295
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? Yes
Undergrads Living On Campus 94%
Freshmen Living On Campus 100%
Number of Dormitories 21
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 6
Best Freshman Dorms There is not clear consensus as to which freshman "Bricks" is best—they have all been renovated in recent years, so they are about the same. However, Hyde is most likely the cleanest because it is chem-free.
Best Upperclassman Dorms
  • Brunswick Apartments
  • Coles Tower
Worst Freshman Dorms The recently renovated freshman dorms are mostly the same, but if any are considered "not as good” as the others, Osher and West are not as centrally located and Coleman lacks a study room.
Worst Upperclassman Dorms
  • Chamberlain
  • Stowe Inn

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Bowdoin students say that the amenities, cleanliness, proximity to classes, residential community, social atmosphere, and spaciousness are quite good in on-campus housing. In fact, Bowdoin first-years live in rooms that are nicer than many upperclassmen get at competing schools. There are eight freshman dorms at Bowdoin, commonly referred to as “The Bricks,” all of which have been beautifully renovated within recent years. The old buildings were basically gutted and rebuilt on the inside, so students have modern and spacious dorms, while the campus maintains a traditional appearance. These dorms are equipped with laundry and bike storage in the basements, and the rooms are either quads (a common room and two bedrooms) or doubles (a common room and a bedroom), although recently, an influx of students has resulted in making quads into quints and doubles into triples.

Upperclass students can choose to live in any of the other dorms, social houses, and apartments on campus. If nothing satiates their needs, students can live off campus if they are a junior or a senior, but overall, students at Bowdoin love their options. The biggest complaint is about the housing lottery—it can be a very long-winded and frustrating process, especially for underclassmen, since the whole system is based on seniority. Students can also apply to be a proctor or resident adviser in the first-year or upperclassman dorms, and if you are hired by the Residential Life directors, you get a single room, a stipend, and more responsibility.

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Bowdoin Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at Bowdoin College

klsanchez

Romance Languages '14

4.6
A

Great

Atmosphere is really nice, freshman dorms are the best I've ever seen, great options for upper classmen, not as many options if you want to live off campus

Feb 29, 2012

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Campus Housing at Bowdoin College

Mattdbx

Political Science and Government '16

4.6
A

What Can I Say?

If you've been on this site looking at Bowdoin, you should have seen that the freshman dorms are amazing, after freshman year it's a bit sketchy, but at that point it's up to chance.

Feb 12, 2012

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Campus Housing at Bowdoin College

eelong

History '14

5.0
A+

Housing

Freshmen dorms are amazing! All dorms have at least two rooms (a common room and a bed room). Even doubles have two rooms which is great. Housing is a little worse for sophomores however juniors and seniors get great choices for housing. There are so many different options for upperclassmen housing that after the housing lottery almost everyone is happy!

Jul 24, 2011

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Page 1 of 8
User rating for Bowdoin College - Campus Housing is 4.6 out of 5 based on 23 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Types of Housing Offered
  • Apartments for single students
  • Coed dorms
  • Special housing for disabled students
  • Wellness housing
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Cable TV and phone jacks
  • Chair
  • Couch
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet connection
Also Available Chemical- and substance-free housing is offered in Howell House, Howard Hall, Mayflower Apartments, Smith House, and two floors of a wing in Chamberlain Hall.

Available for Rent

Students can rent an Energy Star MicroFridge that includes a microwave, freezer, and refrigerator. Information Technology also has cameras, computers, DVD players, external hard drives, GPS systems, microphones, MP3 players, projectors, speakers, and tripods available for short-term borrowing.

Did You Know?
  • Coles Tower, when first built, stood as the tallest building in Maine. Now it's ranked third.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin in her husband's study while he was living in Appleton Hall.
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne lived on the third floor of Winthrop Hall.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Appleton Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Quads (a common room with two doubles)
Special Features: Common room, limited-use elevator to the second floor, study rooms on second, third and fourth floors.

Baxter House
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Bicycle storage and function room in the basement, kitchen, laundry, living room.

Burnett House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Dining room, kitchen, laundry, living room, two study rooms.

Chamberlain Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, suite-style
Special Features: Elevator, grand piano, near Thorne Hall, study lounges.

Coleman Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement floor (students live in basement)
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles, quads, quints
Special Features: Common room with couches, television, VCR; limited elevator use to the second floor; vending machines.

Coles Tower
Floors: 16
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Quad suites (four singles with living room and private bath)
Special Features: Building is attached to Thorne Hall and has a 24-hour computer lab, full-sized elevator, laundry in the basement, vending machines.

Helmreich House
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Internet ports in each bedroom, kitchen, laundry, living rooms, two studies, vending machines.

Howard Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Suites with two doubles, a living area in between, and a private bathroom
Special Features: Chemical- and substance-free living, elevator, laundry, TV room.

Howell House
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Basement, chemical- and substance-free living, dance room, dining room, game room, kitchen, laundry, TV room.

Hyde Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles, quads
Special Features: Bicycle storage room, chemical- and substance-free living, common room, full-sized elevator, laundry, study rooms on second and third floors, vending machines.

Ladd House
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Bicycle storage room, billiards room, deck, dining room, fireplace, kitchen, laundry, TV room.

MacMillan House
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Bicycle storage room, dining room, full-sized elevator, kitchen, laundry, living room, shared parking lot with Quinby House, sun room.

Maine Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Quads (a common room with two doubles)
Special Features: Bicycle storage, common room, laundry, limited-use elevator to second floor, study rooms, vending machines.

Moore Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Quads, quints
Special Features: Close to dining hall, common room, elevator that operates up to third floor, two study rooms in basement, vending machines.

Osher Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Bicycle storage, common room, full kitchen, laundry, study spaces on second and third floors, vending machines.

Quinby House
Floors: 3 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Bicycle storage, common room, dining room, full-sized elevator, function room, kitchen without a stove, laundry, library/study room, piano.

Reed House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Bicycle storage, full kitchen, functions room, living room, study.

Smith House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: <20
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, one double
Special Features: Chemical- and substance-free living, full kitchen, laundry, living room.

Stowe Hall
Floors: 6
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Quad suites with two bedrooms, common room, and bathroom.
Special Features: Bicycle storage, common room with television, full-sized elevator, kitchen without a stove, laundry, vending machines.

West Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Bicycle storage, common room, elevator, laundry, LEED certified, study rooms, vending machines.

Winthrop Hall
Floors: 4 plus basement
Number of Occupants: 50–99
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Triples, quads
Special Features: Bicycle storage,c common room, elevator, laundry, study rooms, vending machines.

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

Brunswick Apartments
Floors: 2
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Two- or three-person apartments
Special Features: Each apartment has bathroom, full kitchen, living area, and one double bedroom (three-person units have an extra single).

Cleaveland Street Apartments
Floors: 2
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Three- and four-person apartments
Special Features: Each unit has kitchen, living area, one double and one single (four-person units have an extra single). Building has parking and is in close proximity to academic buildings.

Harpswell Apartments
Floors: 2
Number of Units: 10–24
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Four-person apartments
Special Features: Each unit is two stories and has a bathroom, full kitchen, living room, two singles and one double. The complex has an off-campus feel.

Mayflower Apartments
Floors: 2
Number of Units: 10–24
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Two- and three-person apartments
Special Features: Each unit has full kitchen, living room, and a double bedroom (three-person units have an extra single). This complex offers all the amenities of off-campus living and it's in a real neighborhood.

Pine Street Apartments
Floors: 2
Number of Units: 10–24
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Four-person apartments
Special Features: Each apartment is two stories and has a bathroom, full kitchen, living room, one double and two singles. There are ample parking lot spaces.

Stowe Inn
Floors: 2
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, three- and four-person apartments
Special Features: This complex has a common room, elevator, and off-campus feel (it's a campus-owned inn). All singles have private bathrooms and some have an efficiency kitchen. Apartments have a kitchen and living/dining room.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Danica Loucks
Hometown
Hamilton, Mont.
Major
Probably Sociology and German

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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