<p>i dont live on the east coast, and nobody from my school has gone to bowdoin, so i havent really been able to gather a SUBJECTIVE feel for bowdoin.</p>
<p>have any of you visited? do you attend/have family that attends?
what are the students like?</p>
<p>i know there are always every type of student at every school, and generalizations may not be accurate, but sometimes this is the best way to get a broad feel for a school.</p>
<p>what other LAC students are similar to those at Bowdoin? Swarthmore students? Middlebury students?</p>
<p>please disucss anything…sports, social life, clubs, parties, music/art scence…etc.</p>
<p>I visited on a tuesday night, regrettably, but I got a feel for the classes and students in the dorm I stayed at. I think the bowdoin students are generally relaxed, obviously intelligent, and enjoy talking about classes outside of the actual class (which is sort of a cliche for liberal arts schools now... but I thought it was true). The sports are decent, especially hockey (it's in maine) and the athletic facilities were ok. The highlight of the trip was a combination of the food (Excellent... probably the best college food anywhere) and the interesting classes. I went to a mulit-variable calc class and a US gov class and both were engaging. The teachers are very eccentric, for those 2 classes at least. There is a hall dedicated to music and downstairs they have a bunch of practice rooms with pianos. Not luxurious, but adequate certainly, for practicing.
Hope that helps a little.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is amazing and more like Amherst rather than Swarthmore. I don't understand why there are so many Bowdoin-Middlebury cross admits because they are really different. Bowdoin gives you A LOT to do. How much of this you take advantage of is your decision. You get the engaging professors who want to talk to you in office hours and get to know you. I'm discussing research with my gov professor and I have a science major friend who started lab research his second week of school! You have amazing food. Sports are ok, except football but the main thing is hockey. Social life is very varied and peple make a lot of the experience. It ranges from partying to participating in the different things you are involved with to meeting people at events that are held on campus. Most freshmen haven't even had time to leave the Bowdoin Bubble and explore Brunswick yet. You won't find clubs in Brunswick even though the Student Government organizes shuttles for $3 to Portland but there is such a wide variety of parties to choose from on campus that I don't know anyone who's gone to Portland solely for clubbing. There are a bunch of a-Capella groups on campus and the Musuem of Arts is amazing as well as the Art History and Visual Arts Program(Top 5 in the nation) I could go on and on but it's late so I'll answer any specific questions you have. Also I don't check CC frequently anymore get a so you may not get a quick response but I will try my hardest now that I know you are probably waiting on my answers.</p>
<p>i think there are <em>some</em> differences between bowdoin and middlebury but hardly enough to think that crossover applicants would be surprising. i think they're more similar than different, actually. </p>
<p>the only way i can articulate the difference is by comparing them to similar feels at other schools. middlebury seemed a lot like dartmouth and williams to me, and i think their crossover applicants reflect that. whereas bowdoin seemed a little like a mix of brown and cornell with some williams...so i'm using stereotypes of schools to create stereotypes, but that was my impression. </p>
<p>still, middlebury and bowdoin are very similar places but for their location and even that isn't too different.</p>
<p>I totally agree with pb2002. I don't think they're all that different. I'm pretty sure the people I know who went to Bowdoin would have been just as happy at Midd, and vise versa.</p>
<p>OK, so let me see if I've got this right. I'm applying to both Bowdoin and Middlebury, so it'd be nice to clarify. From what's been said: Middlebury has more of a preppy/sporty/more frenetic feel, while Bowdoin is a more laid-back environment. Do I have that right (acknowledging, of course, that this is incredibly general and there's quite a broad range of people/interests on both campuses)? </p>
<p>What about drinking on campus (Bowdoin or Middlebury)? I'm not such a partier :), so I'd like to feel reassured that I wouldn't be the odd person out in the social scene.</p>
<p>Student bodies are virtually the same. Slightly higher percentage of students are varsity and club athletes at bowdoin (because it's smaller and field the same number of teams). more international students at midd. Other than those two differences, you'll find a similar wide spectrum of students at both places.</p>
<p>wow! thanks for all the insight.
i've gathered that the students and faculty are interesting, cultured and excited/happy to be there. there seems to be so many opportunities and activities on campus.
i really like the clearly strong focus on academics, balanced with the athleticism and outdoorsiness. i am almost certain i will be applying.</p>
<p>sort of unrelated to my original question:</p>
<p>how is the financial aid? </p>
<p>i'm going to check out the bowdoin website, but sometimes FA info is hard to find.</p>
<p>looked at their site I believe it stated that students were expected to contribute $5000 through outside scholarships.</p>
<p>Also, a very dear friend is an active alumni and conducts student interviews for bowdoin. He was disheartened that alumni interviews didn't have as much weight as on campus interviews. Also, their acceptance rates are a bit deceiving-not really as high as it appears. They are really looking for an eclectic and diverse population. Acceptance rates for white females are lower than what it would appear to be. </p>
<p>I grew up in Brunswick. Bowdoin is a fabulous school and the town is very accepting of students. Anyone accepted should go-they won't regret it!</p>