@Orcmeister ranking system?
@homerdog I think he means USNEWS rankings for top LACs. Swarthmore is #3, Bowdoin is #5… which is basically a worthless metric to compare with since they are so close and both excellent institutes. But yeah I see his parents’ perspective because mine also hold rankings to heart.
As a parent, and for what it’s worth, I don’t take US News’ rankings seriously and consider the system a con. Also for what it’s worth, Reed College has put out a great response to why US News ranks them so low, mainly because the school refuses to play their game.
Hang in there, @CueMyBafflement !
Hang in there @UMDreamer and @highkeystressed3!
Curious Neurotic?
Is there anything in particular about the academics between the two schools that stands out with respect to the major/minor/degree offered that is of interest to you?
For D18 she has varied schools accepted into that offer very different options along the same degree path. She is still waiting on several schools and it’s already semi-apparent which schools have the strongest degree path options ( not necessarily overall numerical US News ranking ) yet we wait on the cost considerations of the remaining programs to best decide.
D18 will also have graduate school costs that will weigh in on the ultimate decision.
After visiting most of the schools and those that yet remain upon acceptance clearly campus fit will matter considerably too. If the course program offerings differ little and the campuses both have a “positive vibe” for four years of study the full ride would then decide with ease as ultimately at the end of the day it’s not about getting in its about graduating.
After visiting both schools you will know in your heart what’s the right option for you over the Longue duree…
Just out of curiosity, has anyone heard about Bowdoin waitlist? I wonder what it means if they haven’t taken anyone off of it yet. I also hope it means they aren’t over-enrolled.
Haven’t heard a peep. And with school out, the Bowdoin Orient staff is not reporting on these interesting, sometimes juicy, details!
@Mwfan1921 right. That means that they don’t need to go to their waitlist for now. They have enough kids for next year. But they also haven’t said they aren’t taking any. Hm. I hope it means they hit the number they planned for and are just holding out on closing the waitlist in case of summer melt.
Yes, no way to know, they could be overenrolled with 550 deposits, or hit the target which is around 510. Tempting to call this week and ask, especially if a student answers the phone in the admissions office—they are talkers ?
I would think they would let families know if they were that overenrolled. S19 received his packet of info and forms to fill out for housing. No word at all about housing being different this year. Many schools that are overenrolled have already announced that.
Just to clarify: do Bowdoin’s pre-orientation trips take place starting on August 27, when freshman are due to report to campus? Or do they occur at other points during the summer? We’ve not yet found much in the way of info – our daughter is very excited to start in the fall. TIA for any details anyone might be able to provide.
The orientation trip descriptions are here, signups begin June 3. https://www.bowdoin.edu/outing/orientation-trips/trips/index.html
My understanding is that most trips leave on Aug 28th, the day after frosh move-in. That is also what the calendar reflects: https://www.bowdoin.edu/academic-affairs/pdf/calendar-19-20.pdf
@garvey the kids were sent an email with all of this information last week. There are four or five forms that need to be filled out before June 1.
Thanks so much to you both for responding - we will review the recent emails to getter a better grasp of the details.I’m wondering whether some trips are particularly more popular than others?
@garvey Yes, the freshman move in and spend their first official night at Bowdoin sleeping in the field house with the people they’re on the trip with. They then wake up in the morning and leave for a couple days, and official orientation begins once they return.
Some trips are more popular. For the more popular ones, such as Aziscohos Valley (the one I went on, and loved!) there are multiple groups so around 50-60 students get to do them.
YOu guys I’m so confused and now freaking out. The calendar online says orientation trips are the 27-31st. But, on the orientation website where you register for the trips, it says they start on the 22nd! We already made flight and hotel reservations for that first date. Can anyone confirm the dates?
Now that I look at it, the dates on the orientation trips says “class of 2022”. So maybe those dates are wrong and 27-31st are correct?
@soliantu do you know anyone who went on the whitewater rafting trip? Our S is interested and has been three times with us as a family. I still worry that it might be a little dangerous though especially if it’s just college kids on the rafts. We had professional guides.
@homerdog income class of 2023 I’m pretty sure they start the 27th
@homerdog hi, current Bowdoin student and orientation trip leader - they are not going to send out orientation trips that are high-risk. Many BOC (Bowdoin Outing Club) leaders ARE professional raft guides over the summer - I know at least 10. In addition, the BOC trains its own raft guides in August before move-in. The students who are assigned to lead these trips have been adequately prepared to guide whitewater. They also might assign more leaders (generally it is two leaders per trip) to more technical trips like whitewater. I was on a whitewater orientation trip my first year and loved it. I never felt unsafe with my “college kid” leaders - they definitely knew what they were doing. We also had 6 leaders between 2 trip groups. If it’s what your son is interested in, he should go for it! (and you’re not necessarily going to get your first choice trip anyway)
Sorry if this is late advice! Not sure when y’all had to turn in trip requests by…