All of these colleges appealed to different aspects, and I’m truly torn between the three. I am not used to intense winters, being from Kentucky, so I’d just like some outside advice how to approach life at any of these colleges, as well as the overall pros and cons of the three.
These schools may offer more dissimilar weather than you’ve suggested. January mornings in Providence, for example, average closer in temperature to those of Louisville than to Brunswick’s. However, I don’t think you should let weather concerns deter you from any of these colleges.
They all have lovely campuses, with Vassar taking the crown, imo. Bowdoin feels very intimate, V slightly less so and Brown not at all. They are actually very different size schools. Brown gives you more city living close by and more options to leave campus - actually you can’t help but leave campus regularly. Vassar is a train ride from NYC and Bowdoin is in a very small town/rural area. Brown will have much milder weather. All will have lots of artsy, academic “alternative” oriented students.
These are really different schools. All excellent. I think you’d find the student body at Bowdoin to be the most mainstream and Vassar to be the most alternative. Brown is a "city school ". Bowdoin is pretty isolated. My guess is that if you spent a day on each campus and tried to do this with your heart rather than your head, one would feel much more right than the others.
@gardenstategal Bowdoin’s location is hardly isolated. Brunswick is the largest town in Maine (20,000) with something like 70+ restaurants of all different ethnicities and cultures. Portland, the largest city in Maine (Bon Appetit’s Restaurant City of the Year-2018, BTW) is 20 minutes away by car or train, and Boston is a little over 2 hours. Plus, you are right on the Maine coast in a vacation mecca with all sorts of things to do.
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I agree with alum88. Bowdoin is not an isolated location, especially compared to many other NESCAC schools. There are three trains a day going back and forth between Boston and the Bowdoin campus. All three schools are great and all are difficult to get into. I agree that Vassar has the most beautiful campus, but Bowdoin and Brown are also lovely. Focus on culture fit and curriculum strengths.
^I love Bowdoin and I love Maine, and the outdoorsy opportunities and the fact that no nearby city is siphoning energy off the campus are pluses for many students. But not ones who are interested in easy access to a city. Being relatively isolated doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. But you better like the other people at the school who you’re going to be with. If you go to a school like Bowdoin and are not happy with the community there, odds are against building a happy life in Brunswick or Portland (even if you have the car to drive there.) Not necessarily true in a place like Boston or NYC, Philly, or even Providence.
Fwiw, the BBC schools have gotten their share of my family members, all of whom saw their location as a plus. The ones who wanted to spend their free time in cities, however, were not among them. Other schools make that a reasonable option.
Have you visited these schools or is this an entirely theoretical conversation? You will get a great education at all of them, and imo their personalities are the biggest differentiator- and for that you have to go visit.
Also, ime, winters in KY are not so lovely that you will have trouble adapting to colder winters. Kentuckians may have a southern mindset, but the weather is more midwestern than southern!
Brown: fully open curriculum, possible to take all classes pass-fail, R1 research university, Ivy reputation, vibrant small city, very mellow in feel, liberal.
Vassar- minimal curriculum requirements, small classes with attention from professors, close small college community, incredibly gorgeous campus with arboretum, suburban feel and nice immediate surroundings but nearest city of Poughkeepsie is not known for charm, great theatre productions on campus, liberal and artsy feel although all types exist on campus.
Bowdoin- typical distribution requirements, small classes with attention from professors, close small college community, very pretty campus, reputation for having the nation’s best college food, located in a very charming town near the ocean.
All great choices with superb academics. Good luck!
Vassar is in the Hudson Valley so the weather is a bit milder than the New England schools. Brown would be next and of course Bowdoin is the coldest. All three are great schools!