<p><a href=“http://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/explore/”>http://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/explore/</a></p>
<p>Do a lot of people apply for this? I want to know how selective this program (and all the other all expenses paid trip programs) are. </p>
<p>It differs each year. Most are fairly selective, considering the school is spending hundreds on each student.</p>
<p>I think it’s pretty selective, but my impression is that these programs especially seek to encourage those kids who might not otherwise be able to visit the campus…ie; geography, financial limitations, etc. It’s my observation that Bowdoin really wants to reach beyond the New England (Maine, Mass, CT) kids that make up a bulk of the student population. </p>
<p>one of my kids attended Explore Bowdoin last year ( and 5 other Diversity programs at SLACs) and had an incredible time. The program was a day longer than the others she attended, really well organized and super fun! The food at Bowdoin is apparently extraordinary and the student body super welcoming. Claudia Marroquin who runs the program is a powerhouse (also a Bowdoin grad). In May she actually wrote emails to the Explore Bowdoin attendees who were accepted to Bowdoin but chose other colleges, congratulating them and wishing them well. Really impressive personal attention. The selectivity of these fly-in programs varies year to year depending on applications, but if you get the chance to attend they are well worth it (even with the missed HS classes) and Explore Bowdoin is the cream of the crop. </p>
<p>How “low income” is low income? We are finding visits like these impossible to fund, yet are not URM. My kid has top academics and top scores, but do we qualify?</p>
<p>Lots of non URM kids attend fly-ins. Can’t hurt to apply.</p>
<p>Decisions are out I think!</p>
<p>I was rejected :(</p>
<p>I applied for the October Bowdoin fly-in program!! I hope I get in! If anyone has experienced this program, can you tell me if the experience really impacted your decisions on which colleges to apply? </p>
<p>@LadyPika, two of my kids did this program, one several years ago (when it was a slightly different program) and one last year. I definitely recommend it and for my D it absolutely sent Bowdoin flying to the top of the list.</p>
<p>This may come a bit late, but for every application process I think it’s useful to know this.
It’s not necessarily low income! They like to give a chance to every applicant, and low income is just what they might prefer because typically if these children have great scores and grades and are low income, they show initiative and drive, so that’s what they seek. It’s not a determining factor. my family is not low income really, but I tried to really market myself as a driven student, highlighting my diverse background (not even URM, but Asian). Really try to emphasize all the strengths in the the application. Explore Bowdoin really was a wonderful experience and it’s the reason I’m applying there now:)</p>