<p>Colgate is a little bigger than the 3 Maine schools and Hamilton - 2800 students, 740 or so in an entering class. The other schools are all in the 1700-1800 range, 450 in a class. On its face that's not a huge difference, but my son did think that Colgate felt bigger and that appealed to him.</p>
<p>By the way, Idler, I love your description of the Yankee ways......"austere indifference to worldly displays"....wonderful......reminds me of my parents who used to call our family "shabby gentility"..!!</p>
<p>Most people in our part of VA have never so much as heard of Bowdoin. Though we knew the school existed, we hadn't a clue as to how to pronouce the name. (found that out much later). Virtually everything we learned about the school last year was thanks to CC. </p>
<p>D did apply to Bowdoin, but was ultimately wait-listed. During her senior year, she'd had to turn down an invitation to attend a fly-in "diversity program" at the last minute, and so, was never interviewed (this turn of events probably didn't endear her to the adcom, which I understand places great weight on the interview). It was just as well in the end, though. H was very opposed to the idea of her attending a school so very far from home. Had she been admitted, I don't think he would have allowed her to matriculate. The distance would have made coming home for most school breaks (fall and spring, and thanksgiving) cost prohibitive for us. And by the time she received Bowdoin's decision, she'd already been admitted to seven other schools, including the one that stole her heart, Bryn Mawr.</p>
<p>I would have been very happy for her to attend Bowdoin. But these things have a way of working out for the best. She's blissfully happy at Bryn Mawr and I guess that's all that matters.</p>
<p>I'm sincerely regretting not applying to Bowdoin. When I made my college list, I was pretty sure I wanted to be farther from home, but as I get closer to college, I wish I still had Bowdoin as an option.</p>
<p>Reasons to love Bowdoin:</p>
<p>1) The hockey rivalry with Colby.<br>
2) The outstanding women's hockey team
3) The amazing history- Bowdoin was around before Maine was even a state.
4) The professors- some of the nicest people you'll meet.
5) Brunswick- the greatest town in the world
6) Maine
7) Sledding and Ice skating
8) Bowdoin's awesome outing club
9) The Mascot- come on, Polar Bears are an awful lot more intimidating than the Mules or the Jumbos.
10) The inflatable obstacle courses they bring in every spring.
11) The food
12) The college's relationship with the community- Bowdoin kids tutor at the local schools, do community service, and are a respected part of town life
13) Walking distance to everything you'll need, from old fashioned ice cream to Dansko clogs (but not clothes, except for Goodwill)</p>
<p>It's a great school- I'm also surprised it doesn't get more attention on these boards.</p>
<p>
[quote]
who used to call our family "shabby gentility"..!!
[/quote]
dke - Pawley's Island, NC has as it's motto "Arrogantly shabby". Once I visited there, I completely ceased worrying that my porch needed painting, deck furniture needed de-mossing, etc. A very freeing concept (that I hope S's college choice doesn't adopt). Have always regretted that I didn't buy the poster.</p>
<p>Right now we are planning a tour of lacs in NE and are having a tough time figuring out how to include Bowdoin. It is a school that really interests us but appears to be a nearly four hr (each way) diversion from the other locations. If anyone has a short cut from Dartmouth to Bowdoin I would appreciate learning about it!
I am not so sure that Bowdoin is undiscovered--the adm. stats are pretty high. As long as I am on this topic, D is keen on physics, french and photography (english too). Any info on how Bowdoin's depts in those areas are? D is also not very sportsy...more arty, cerebral type. Would she fit in?
Thanks!</p>
<p>DD liked the college, but thought it very non-diverse ethnically. That was one factor that helped her decide not to matriculate there.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is 20% diverse, 23% if you count internationals - 10% Asian, 5% each Hispanic and Black. That's not a great percentage compared to, say, Yale, but it's not terrible either. Bowdoin has been open and welcoming to blacks since the early 18th century, longer than all but one or two other colleges, but a problem might be that Maine is demographically a very white state. That might turn off some minorities. But the ones who go there tend to love it. </p>
<p>The New York Times Magazine had a cover story awhile back ago about an INCREDIBLE black Bowdoin graduate doing tremendous work in Harlem. </p>
<p>or do a search for "The Harlem Project" - 6/20/04. I can't imagine anyone reading this article deciding that Bowdoin wasn't a good choice for a person of color.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Right now we are planning a tour of lacs in NE and are having a tough time figuring out how to include Bowdoin. It is a school that really interests us but appears to be a nearly four hr (each way) diversion from the other locations. If anyone has a short cut from Dartmouth to Bowdoin I would appreciate learning about it!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Mommamia, that's exactly the dilemma we faced. I think that a great many of the students who are interested in Bowdoin are also interested in the New England Ivies, various Boston schools, the Little Three, the 5 College schools, Trinity, Conn College, etc., all of which (except Dartmouth) fit neatly into the efficient "box" I described in my earlier post. Their proximity to each other and convenient geographical arrangement make it easy to see quite a few of them in a week-long vacation. You can also do one detour--the Dartmouth/Middlebury detour, or the Maine detour. The former is a shorter detour, and Dartmouth is a big draw, so I think it often wins out (it did in our case).</p>
<p>There's no short cut between Hanover and Brunswick, just miles and miles of mountains, lakes, and beautiful country roads that wind slowly and circuitously around them. You really have to back-track to 95, and then go back up into Maine that way. One thought: Dartmouth has a regular summer undergrad session due to their unique system--you could opt to see it over the summer, perhaps as part of a summer vacation. Then you could take the Maine detour as part of your NE LAC trip.</p>
<p>I should add: If your daughter is into physics, english, and french, I hope Middlebury is on your list.</p>
<p>The only shorter way I found was to do a flying leg to the trip.</p>
<p>I forget the airline, but if you Google the airport's flight schedules you will see what commuter flights they have to other new England cities-- Albany, Boston, Hartford, etc. </p>
<p>Check into that; it may help you add the Maine schools without taking a whole extra day for travel.</p>
<p>Thanks! Yes, Midd. is on the list. We will be sure to visit there.</p>
<p>The off-the-circuit for visits makes sense. But why wouldn't folks apply anyway and go see after acceptance if it becomes viable? Just curious. Admittedly, I haven't looked to see what their app situation is, as S is an Engineering kid, so these are not that relevant. Do they accept common app with a reasonable supplement? Or do they require extra essays, etc.?</p>
<p>Colby did have two extra essays - a why Colby essay, and also "answer one of the following specific questions" (in addition to the common app essay). I agree that could discourage applications. On the other hand, only kids who are really interested in the school are going to complete this app.</p>