Hi guys!
I’ve been extremely lucky to be accepted into both Carleton and Bowdoin class of 2022, but I’m having a hard time choosing between the two. Living in Minnesota, I’ve been able to visit Carleton 4 times already (I live 30 min away), and I’ve honestly fallen in love with the feel and vibe of the school (it feels so homey to me). But after talking to my school counselor this week, I’ve decided that I can’t take Bowdoin completely out of the picture since I am visiting for the first time with Experience Bowdoin. Academically I’m interested in Biology (but I’m unsure if I want to go Pre-med), Chinese, English, and playing music (saxophone). One of the biggest things I talked to with my counselor was how I felt that going to Carleton would be too comfortable for me since I’d be so close to home and family so I’d visit them and my friends too much and not grow as a person. Bowdoin on the other hand would be a bigger risk, but I would grow to be a more independent person and be immersed in East Coast culture (competitive?) which could either be a positive or a negative. Financially Carleton gave my family a better package than Bowdoin and we wouldn’t have to deal with costly airfare from Minnesota to Maine, but Bowdoin also gave extra cash because I was named a Bowdoin Faculty scholar.
Overall, I’m wondering if there is anything extra I should consider before I visit both of these schools for a last time.
Thank you!
I’m guessing that your on-campus visits will be the key to deciding between the two. You’ll want to decide which of the two campuses has “your people.” I left the East Coast in the '70s, where I was raised, to enroll at Carleton because it seemed less preppy and more egalitarian in spirit than the New England colleges. Our daughter is now currently a Carleton student, and that same spirit seems to prevail still. It will mostly be the people with whom you’ll spend your four college years who will sway your choice. Best wishes!
Wait until you have visited. You can’t make a bad decision so stay open to both. My family seems to carry the "try something different for college " gene, so we all excluded anything near home. I married someone whose family did the opposite. All of us were happy.
In the end, what it feels like on camps is most important, so trust your gut.
Both are great. Use your visits to inform the decision. I would also consider the different academic calendars and cost, if there is a notable difference.
If you follow fit, you’ll make the right choice.
Two great choices, but given the financial issue, I think you would be smart to pick Carleton. I also think Carleton has more interesting and quirky people. Do consider Carleton’s trimester system though. It’s pretty intense apparently. I did a trimester at a college once, between semesters, and it was intense. There isn’t room for mistakes. You have to hit the ground running. Have fun deciding!
My D is in exactly the same position of struggling between Carleton and Bowdoin. I would say Carleton is winning slightly- 55% to Bowdoin 45% at this time. She is also on a few waitlists ( Pomona, Yale, Wash I and U Chicago). She is going to the accepted student days at Carleton this week as she has already visited Bowdoin (Experience Bowdoin hit the same weekend). She loves the people she has connected with at Carleton but loves the location and vibe of Bowdoin as well. It’s interesting because her financial aid was better at Bowdoin ( they are very comparable though), the opposite of your situation. She was also named a faculty scholar at Bowdoin. Anyway, I would love to know how Experience Bowdoin goes and what your thoughts are after attending. I will be happy to share my D’s experience at Carleton ( although I know you have been there several times).
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Great choices. Once you have visited Bowdoin, I bet that you’ll know.
The only thing I’ll add is that one reason Carleton appealed to ds1 is that it was close to the Cities, and our thinking was that he could avail himself of all the Cities offer. He ended up going into the Cities exactly three times in four years. I mention this because you might think that you’ll go home a lot, but I bet you wouldn’t.
@RainThorn26558 wondering how the Bowdoin visit went and how you are feeling about the two schools. My D had a great time at Carleton and is heavily leaning that way but hasn’t 100% committed. It is down to Bowdoin and Carleton though having cut Vanderbilt, Emory, and UF. She is on a few waitlists but we’re not counting on those for obvious reasons.
@RainThorn26558 Hi there! I realize this is an older thread, but I’d love to know which school you ended up choosing and why. What tipped the scale for you? I’m planning on applying to both Carleton and Bowdoin class of 2023, so any insight would be much appreciated <3