Hello,
I was recently accepted at Carleton College as a member of the class of 2020 and was waitlisted at Bowdoin. However, this morning, I received notification that I was accepted off of Bowdoin's waitlist, which leads to my current predicament - should I stay with Carleton, or should I choose Bowdoin?
I am in need of financial aid. Carleton gave me 40,000 (which includes 33,000 grant and 7000 combined work study and loans), and Bowdoin gave 34,000 (grant only).
Sorry, aciddently posted without finishing.
Anyway, I am also a prospective science student, currently signed up for chemistry at Carleton and biochem at Bowdoin.
I have had a chance to visit Carleton at an admitted student day, and really enjoyed it - very nice people. However, I have also read up a lot about Bowdoin, and can come to the conclusion that they are very nice as well. Perhaps the difference is that Carleton is a little more quirky and Bowdoin is a little more preppy.
I would greatly appreciate any insight on my situation. Thanks!
OP you have two excellent choices – congratulations! Either way you will have great educational opportunities. Carleton is stronger in sciences and has a reputation for high rate of eventual STEM PhDs. Then again there is something to be said for being one in a tight-knit department where faculty are eager to mentor their relatively fewer majors. You can’t go wrong either way, and ultimately it will be what you make of it.
Your perception about student body is probably true. Does it matter much to you? They are probably more similar than they are different. How about geography? Again, how much does it matter to you?
As for money, the grant aid is almost the same, with only a $1,000 difference, offset perhaps by the work study (did they really not give you work study at Bowdoin?) However, you might want to factor in travel expenses.
Please do come back and post your decision.
momcinco, thanks for your response! I love the point you make between Carleton’s science reputation and Bowdoins tight-knit community of science majors and professors…that’s something I’ll definitely need to think about.
The difference in the student body doesn’t really matter to me if what I think is true. However, it would start to matter to me if the preppy feel at Bowdoin equated arrogance or stuck up-ness. But from what I’ve read, Bowdoin is rather relaxed, so I don’t really have to worry about this stuff. And geography does matter, but both Carleton and Bowdoin are rather far from me, so…
I made a small mistake - Bowdoin did give me work study (Yay!). Still not a big enough difference in prices to skew anything, though.
This is going to be a tough decision to make. Any other thoughts from anybody reading this post would be greatly appreciated. But ultimately, I know it will always be my choice.
I will let you know of my decision tomorrow.
Although the typical variety of college ranking services usually show Carleton as similar to Bowdoin, I am not so sure that is true. Maybe if you are 100% sure that you will go to a PhD program and make academia your lifelong pursit… but if you were to change path and look to go into the business world, Bowdoin is just so much better known and respected… maybe its also a function of Geography and sure in Minnesota Carleton will be better known but in the northeast & mid-Atlantic Bowdoin is just miles ahead in reputation. Apart from reputation, you are correct to see Bowdoin as more preppy… it is and is also much more sports focused.
These schools are more similar than different, and I would take issue with the claim that in “the business world, Bowdoin is just so much better known and respected”. The truth is that outside the northeast, most people know little or nothing about Bowdoin, and outside the midwest, most people know little or nothing about Carleton. I doubt very much that either school is on the radar of the investment banking, hedge fund or venture capital communities. If the cost is about the same (sounds like it is), try to determine which location and student body are more appealing, and go with your gut. You’ll get a great education at either institution.
I do not agree with the above comment, “but if you were to change path and look to go into the business world, Bowdoin is just so much better known and respected.” Carleton is stronger in the sciences, which should matter even for those science majors who do not end up going for PhDs. I think the OP’s comments about quirky vs. preppy are probably pretty accurate, as far as generalizations go. Maybe the biggest factor is whether one location is preferable, despite both being far for OP. Bottom line is that both are great schools and peers in terms of general reputation.
@Regulus7 I see your point. I’m assuming even if I did want to pursue academia, Bowdoin would be a pretty nice choice (and I’m sure Carleton is a nice option for non-academia things too, but maybe with less prestige as you suggest). Anyway, thanks for your comment. I’m still open to other thoughts too, if anyone is willing to share them with me 
On CC, everyone knows these are tippy top schools. In the real world, for whichever you choose, you’ll develop a way of explaining it to interviewers and colleagues because people will not have heard of it. Not everywhere or everyone, but more than you’d expect for schools of this caliber. This shouldn’t factor into your decision. You can’t go wrong. Students at both are friendly, so if you’re the quirky one at Bowdoin or the ultra prep at Carleton, you’ll still be part of the social fabric. Everyone I know who went to either of them loved their time there.
@CodyChesnutt @Sunny66 @gardenstategal Thanks for your comments! I suppose my decision will be made when one college starts to stick out more than the other (or until I am made to flip a coin, whichever comes first), as it seems that both will be great places for me to grow academically and socially. Until then, I will monitor this thread if anyone else comments.
I would strongly disagree with @Regulus7’s comment that " in the business world Bowdoin is so much better known an respected." Joe the Plumber has probably not heard of either school. Neither have many in the business community (that’s a very vast and diverse community). However, for those who know something about higher education or liberal arts colleges, both are seen as top flight schools of very comparable quality or reputation. I would disagree that Carleton has less prestige, and for someone interested in the lab sciences, Carleton arguably has a stronger reputation and track record. However, as others have said, both are excellent schools and you should attend the one where you feel the fit will be best.
Two great schools. Carleton is very strong academically and well known in grad school circles. Bowdoin is similar. Bowdoin does very well in Wall Street/investment banking. Go with how you feel.
@Mintwood @MaroonDaddy Thanks for your comments. I happened to get an extension on the date I have to give Bowdoin my answer, so I will post my decision sometime tomorrow. Until then, it seems like all comments are saying to go with my gut on this. I’ll see where my gut takes me later today and tomorrow.
I agree they are pretty similar. I just moved out of MN after 30 years, and had a kid accepted at Carleton. Also have visited Bowdoin, and my nephew went there. Just me personally, I’d rather spend 4 years in Maine than MN.
Carleton does have more of a science/math reputation, but even there the social sciences and humanities are a majority presence on campus. The school settings are different with the Arboretum adjoining Carleton + big city just down the road two personal big pluses for me.
But you’re you, not me, not any of us - I’d add my voice to the chorus telling you to go where you feel you’d be happiest and most likely to thrive.
Hello again,
A big thanks to everyone who helped me come to this decision. After talking it over with my college counselor, parents, and a teacher, and after having a big internal struggle as to where to go, I finally made a choice.
I will be attending Bowdoin.
Congratulations on making your choice. Now go order that Bowdin t-shirt and never look back!
Thanks for coming back to let us know! Enjoy it. The town is great, by the way.