<p>I was recently offered admission at both Bowdoin and Carleton (among others, but these are the only two I'm considering) but I haven't yet been able to decide. I live in Oklahoma and my mom isn't exactly "rollin' in the Benjamins" so I haven't been able to/probably will not be able to visit Bowdoin, but I was able to drive to Carleton this past fall break and loved it.</p>
<p>I'm looking to major in Physics with a possible double major in math and I plan on going to graduate for Physics, but I still want a really well rounded education as an undergrad.</p>
<p>If you could just talk about the schools in general (how well they run, professor accessability, academic rigor, etc.) I would really appreciate it. I need all the input I can get before I make this decision.</p>
<p>P.S. I forgot to add that money isn't really an issue. I was offered basically a full ride at both through need based aid with a $2000/year national merit scholarship at both and a $3000 bowdoin faculty scholarship at bowdoin (probably didn't need to put where it was from).</p>
Having read this, I believe you should definitely go to Carleton. It has one of the strongest math and science programs of any liberal arts college in the country (certainly stronger than Bowdoin’s)… There are statistics out there somewhere demonstrating that Carleton is one of the highest per capita producers of future PhD’s in a scientific field out of every school (college or university) in the country. </p>
<p>Make no mistake, Carleton’s other departments are excellent as well – there really are no truly “weak” programs at a top-10 liberal arts college.</p>
<p>And if you go to Carleton next year, I just might be there with you! (I’m deciding between Carleton and one other school.)</p>
<p>Don’t know anything about Carleton but I do know that all sciences at Bowdoin are very strong - Bowdoin has been known for its strength in pre-med for ever . .</p>
<p>It is true that Biology is strong at Bowdoin and the dominant major for pre-meds at the school. </p>
<p>But in protestthehero91’s areas of interest (Physics and Math), in the Physical Sciences in general and Computer Science as well, Bowdoin’s programs are much smaller. Carleton’s departments yield almost 3 times the number of graduates yearly.</p>
<p>Protest, I remember your posts from earlier. I’m glad you were accepted and I’m glad they met your need on the money issue. When Carleton started not going “need blind” and going “need aware” years ago it was disappointing.</p>
<p>Physics is really strong at Carleton. Do check out the link below:</p>
<p>Math may not be as strong, but is still awfully good. I was a Physics major once upon a time at Carleton and took numerous math courses. I had generally good experiences in the Math dept. They have a place to go for Math help on Calculus that is literally open and well staffed 8am to 5pm or something like that.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that double majoring is not easy or encouraged at Carleton. You must do the comprehensive test or project on both majors. Often doing one your junior year or cramming them both in your senior year. It puts stress on both students and profs.</p>
<p>You’ll get a well rounded education at Carleton. Usually, you can take one liberal arts course along with the Math Science Courses every trimester.</p>
<p>Professors are usually quite accessible. Some non-tenure faculty can get stressed with the teaching and research demands though…they don’t all get tenure. </p>
<p>Any specific questions? Let us know where you end up!</p>
<p>I’m, at this point in time, seriously considering Carleton over Bowdoin, but I have a few specific questions if anyone can answer them.</p>
<p>1) Carleton has an amazing physics department. I’ve been told that by a countless number of people and the statistics back it up, but with so many physics majors in such a small school, how do students fair in getting great research opportunities? It would seem to me that, although Carleton is very well known in physics, Bowdoin’s number of physics majors (roughly half of Carleton’s) would make research opportunities more readily available to them, which is a huge drawing point for grad schools. Is this true, or am I just saying anything I can to find something negative about Carleton?</p>
<p>2) Also, how is Carleton’s alumni network? I’ve heard plenty about Bowdoin’s (“great”, “fantastic”, “almost as good as the ivies”), but not much about Carleton’s.</p>
<p>One consideration in an alumni network is which part of the country you want to end up in. Clearly, the alumni network for Carleton would be strongest in the Midwest, and the opposite would be true for Bowdoin.</p>
<p>For the first, yes, you are just trying to find something bad to say about Carleton.</p>
<p>I think both schools are very strong. You should attend the school that inspires you more. As simple as that.</p>
<p>Carleton has an insanely dedicated bunch of alumni - giving rates are the highest of ANY university or LAC in the country. While the alumni network is largest in the Midwest, there are plenty of bicoastal alums to be found (more than 1/3 of students come from the northeast or west coast). </p>
<p>Last year a new program was initiated connecting graduating seniors to alumni and parents that has been a great success leading to job offers, summer work or internship offers, and even general career advice. </p>
<p>The program’s being copied by a number of other schools now. There was a profile of this in The Chronicle of Higher Education last year when it got started.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of that info. I had no idea Carleton had such an extensive alumni network, but I guess it’s not much of a surprise after everything else I’ve learned about the college.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Carleton is pretty well known as being one of the least competitive/cut-throat of the top ranked LACs. Does Bowdoin have as competitive of an atmosphere as the ivies or other top LACs like Williams or Amherst?</p>
<p>Physics research opportunities both during the school year and the summer are indeed among the best found in any department on campus. The profs are incredibly accommodating offering a ton of 1:1 mentoring.</p>
<p>Just a tiny word here. Amherst and Williams are not cut throat or competitive at all. Well, Williams isn’t, for sure, and I know because DS attends and is a junior. Amherst may well be (LOL – a rival). No, I’m sure Amherst isn’t either.</p>
<p>And neither is Bowdoin. There are many reasons to prefer Carleton, but that isn’t one of them.</p>
<p>^ Doesn’t make much sense. Not to say there have never been any St. Olaf girls on Carleton’s campus, but I’ve never met one.</p>
<p>Carleton and Bowdoin are both great schools, and you couldn’t go wrong choosing either one. But if you’ve already visited Carleton and loved it, what’s holding you back?</p>
<p>A follow-up to post #10 about the Engagement Wanted program in answer to your question re: the strength of Carleton’s alumni network. From today’s Sunday New York Times (for general interest I’ll post this as a separate thread) a discussion of the Carleton alumni based externship program.</p>