<p>so i recently visited bowdoin… but the weather was crappy. i became really interested in bowdoin after researching it and hearing about it from other people, but when i went it didnt seem to exciting, and the students didnt look too happy either… i cant decide if it just seemed this way because the weather put a damper on things or not. any other opinions from either other visitors and students who attend bowdoin??</p>
<p>As someone who goes to Maine often (yes, in the winter too) the weather isn’t that bad. If I am not mistaken, the College has an underground tunnel system around the quad so that students don’t have to walk to classes outside. I think the only truly terrible month would be February. Also, it depends where you are from…if you are from Florida or CA, you might have a problem!</p>
<p>I recently committed to go to Bowdoin as a recruited athlete… I enjoyed my visit and I spent an overnight withe tennis team. They all loved the school and the atmosphere was a perfect one for me. Yes the weather was very sporadic but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.</p>
<p>Hatshepsut: Did you say tunnel???!!! I’ve been here for 3 months and I haven’t discovered one yet. I wish there were tunnels, though. I’d hate it if I have to wade through the snow in winter.</p>
<p>Good place . . . a lot of happy people . . .lots of sweaters.</p>
<p>FWIW – I don’t put a lot of stock in ratings – Bowdoin consistently shows up among the Princeton Review’s “Happiest Students” list: [Sign</a> In](<a href=“Colleges with the Happiest Students | The Princeton Review”>Colleges with the Happiest Students | The Princeton Review) </p>
<p>A better measure: 98% of freshmen return for their sophomore year, which is just about the highest of any school and is a pretty strong indication of student happiness.</p>
<p>Re: the weather – yep, it snows. But in Maine they both know how to deal with it and DO deal with it. Walks are shoveled, unlike here in Cincinnati where people don’t bother to shovel their walks because they know in a few days the snow will melt. So whenever it snows, we’re stumbling over patches of ice and slush. And if you’re living in Maine, you’re going to invest in a good pair of boots and a warm coat. I’d rather have it a few degrees colder, the snow making things brighter, the walks clear, and me wearing good boots because I didn’t once again think, “I should spend that money for the twenty days a year I’m going to need them in Cinci?”</p>
<p>False. I am a sophomore at Bowdoin College and there are no underground tunnels. I’m not sure where you got that idea from. The library basement links to hubbard hall, a building seven feet away… thats the closest to a “tunnel” you’ll get.</p>
<p>As for the “happiness” portion: Bowdoin gives an incredible amount to financial aid to its students - making it hard to transfer out especially when money for transfers is so slim and rarely handed out. Twelve people that I know personally from our year transferred out, and there were more that didn’t because of money, others that applied, and currently twelve students are on leaves of absences because they didn’t like being back. Considering that we are a class of 490 - those are pretty significant figures - and those are only the ones I’ve heard of. “Happiness” is misleading.</p>
<p>That said, you’ll get an amazing education and have amazing professors. Social scene not so hot.</p>
<p>There is a network of tunnels connecting the buildings at Bowdoin. They are tunnels for the steam pipes but the tunnels are not walkable or accessible to students.</p>
<p>… what is the point of sharing that information with a prospective student</p>
<p>Because there are in fact tunnels at Bowdoin, contrary to what you said . .</p>
<p>Don’t be persuaded by the whining of one, or small number of, disgruntled individual(s). Sadly, they exist on every campus. Virtually every ranking and scrap of information relevant to Bowdoin paints it as a fantastic college and is seen overwhelmingly so by both current students and graduates. Is it utopia? Of course not, but neither is any other college/university. However, you can be sure that it’s a privilege to attend Bowdoin or any other top LAC (I only wish I did). There are few colleges that do more to accommodate their students - academically, socially, athletically, etc. - perhaps too a fault. But, despite all that, some will complain regardless. Unwarranted criticisms of a great college like Bowdoin are really quite distasteful and, in my opinion, speak more of the complainer than it does of the College.</p>
<p>I actually find the perspective of disgruntled students to be some of the most valuable info available on these boards. I’d just like enough detail that I understand why they’re disgruntled.</p>
<p>The New England LAC with the underground tunnel system is Barnard.</p>
<p>if you didn’t attend Bowdoin or another top LAC, then you shouldn’t judge my comments. Bowdoin is a great school and nobody is undermining that, but I go there and I have many friends here and know a lot about the school through my involvement in clubs and with people - not you, and as somebody who works in the registrar I know who is sending transfer transcripts where.</p>
<p>Barnard is neither a LAC nor in New England…</p>
<p>Absolutely not in NE - but It was listed as a top LAC on College Confidential so I assumed. Sorry.</p>
<p>My high school has an underground tunnel. Trust me, they are quite overrated.</p>
<p>PS - Barnard is not in NE and it is definately a LAC … with a research U literally across the street and quite accessable</p>
<p>Ignore lovestosmile, this person is a ■■■■■/spammer</p>
<p>Hy. I have just been admitted early to Bowdoin an your conversation is a bit upsetting! Being an international student, I could not go visit the campus so I was a little apprehensive about ‘how it really is’…</p>