Chance and Choice: Bowdoin vs. Colgate

<p>I am planning on applying ED to either Colgate or Bowdoin. I cannot decide which school to choose because I love them both so much.
I am a white male from a small (220 student) public High School in Vermont. It is crazy competitive...I'm probably not even in the top 25% (school doesn't rank), we have kids applying to all the top schools in the country. </p>

<p>I intend on studying Neuroscience and Spanish and hopefully go further into the science of language. </p>

<p>I have an average of around 89.3
My first quarter grades this year are averaged out to a 92.5
AP's are only offered for Juniors and Seniors: AP Environmental (4), (the following are being taken now) AP Bio, AP Physics and AP Spanish Language
SAT's (not where I'd like them to be): M: 690, CR: 610, W:570 (1870 Total)</p>

<p>I have been Tri-Varsity since my Sophomore Year:
Soccer: 3 years, one state championship
Hockey: 3 years, two-time state finalists
Tennis: 4 years, two-time state champions, last years finalist</p>

<p>I attended Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy and Summer@Brown: Neuroscience in Health and Disease
I worked one summer as a dishwasher, 5-6 days a week for 8 hours a day
I volunteer as a leader at my Church's Youth Group
I am apart of Students Help Achieve Philanthropic Excellence (SHAPE)</p>

<p>I have great recommendations. Two solid supplement essays. My personal essay is about language and will turn out great.
Any feedback?</p>

<p>I’d say your chances look good though they look better for colgate, but if you had the choice I’d say neither. Job placement at Liberal Arts Colleges is typically pretty hard, especially with non-science/technical degrees. If you’re really set on those two, then go for it! Sometimes it’s all about the college experience IMO! But if you’re not totally set, I’d recommend looking into bigger schools! There is definitely going to be tons more resources for linguistics. UCLA and UTexas comes to mind, especially with their proximity to the border with Mexico and higher language diversity, and by the same logic McGill in Quebec sounds great with their francophone surroundings. Your stats would be great at these 3 schools as well. I’m no expert though, but it’s always good to keep job placement and research activity in mind! And all 3 are much cheaper than Colgate and Bowdoin. Bonus!</p>

<p>Might also look at Holy Cross(don’t need to be religious) very good school with nice campus 1 hour from Boston. Holy Cross has great science program with new$70 million building. HC also offers deveral internships and UMass Medical school is in same city of Worcester. Holy Cross has one of the best alumni networks and probably is better in sciences than Colgate. Both Bowdoin and HC are SAT optional.</p>

<p>thanks you guys!
I have checked out a couple of those schools, but I think I’m sticking with those two…for now at least haha (hopefully I won’t have to worry about more applications come December).</p>

<p>I’ve heard that applying to Bowdoin ED would just be a waist of my Early Decision Option. Do you think that’s true.</p>

<p>I’d go Bowdoin if I were you!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1232794-final-chance-thread-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1232794-final-chance-thread-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Presumably you have visited both Bowdoin and Colgate and met with students, faculty and administrators, and have toured their facilities. What did you learn about them in terms of your priorities and the scope of their offerings that impressed you? In particular what did you see in their science offerings?</p>

<p>From what I know, these are terrific schools with many unique characteristics- a cut above. Best of luck with your applications!</p>