<p>Because I am talking specifically about the schools method and philosophy of education.</p>
<p>and pedagogical is an uber-cool word :-P</p>
<p>I like it too...please, continue to use it :)</p>
<p>Is it wrong for me to read this thread and kind of be insulted?</p>
<p>I was always under the impression that Bowdoin was kind of in a separate league from Bates and Colby. Did other people hear otherwise?</p>
<p>Modern day promotional techniques demand competitors make use of every advantage even among the closest of traditional allies. I notice even Swarthmore takes potshots at Haverford and Bryn Mawr these days. Sad actually. Bates, Bowdoin and Colby have always been known as “the Maine colleges”.</p>
<p>Bates is need-blind, Bowdoin is not.</p>
<p>Looking at the founding and early history of the 3 schools, Bowdoin has more of a “upper class” feel to it. Bates has been co-ed from the beginning, if I remember it correctly.</p>
<p>i meant academically</p>
<p>well, Bowdoin IS need-blind for the large majority of applicants, i.e., all North-American residents who apply for admission as a first-year. It isn’t, as many aren’t, for internationals and transfers… and off the waitlist. </p>
<p>But honestly, it makes sense that whether or not they admit it, most colleges must consider financial need when going to the waitlist, since by then, they likely have used up their budgeted aid. To not look at need in May or June or even July, with “summer melt”, would seem to be fiscally irresponsible. Nice, but no way to balance a budget.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is need-blind for everyone except internationals and wait-listers</p>
<p>Bates is needblind for NO one</p>
<p>One very basic thing that affects rankings is relative wealth as measured by per-student endowment. Bowdoin is significantly wealthier than both Colby and Bates by that measuring stick. Relative wealth drives basic things like availability of financial aid, faculty/student ratio, quality of facilities, etc. Conversely, Amherst and Williams are both significantly wealthier than Bowdion, which has a lot to do with why they are ranked 1 and 2 by USNWR . . . Of course, wealth is not the end-all and the be-all in assessing the quality of a school but it does provide solid evidence of the likely availability of resources.</p>