Chance me ED Bowdoin 2023. Getting Nervous

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bowdoin College
1

Hey guys. I’m a white, male senior that goes to a very competitive and difficult high school (the top public school in California) which is why my GPA is not that high.

I visited Bowdoin this summer and loved it. I had an interview there and I think it went pretty well, though it’s always hard to judge.

Potential major: History

Objective:
SAT I (Superscored breakdown): 1530 superscored (780 Math, 750 Reading & Writing) best sitting: 1510
SAT II: 800 French Language, 790 US History,
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.85 (is gonna drop soon to around an 3.82
Weighted GPA (Out of 5.0): 4.2

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA
AP (place score in parenthesis): French (5), APUSH (5), AP World (5), Lang (5), Psych (5),
Senior Year AP Course Load: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Physics 1, AP Art History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar,
AP French Scholar(school specific award)

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
EDU Inter French Camp Quebec
ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute at Georgetown (This sort of counts as leadership training, training meant to help young people emerge as political leaders in their community) I had some pretty unique experiences, including hearing Edward Snowden speak to us Via Skype
Interned over the summer at the University San Diego Legal Clinics (eventually want to become a lawyer)
Played Piano with the Quebec Conservatory of Music
Soccer (almost 12 years but chose not to play varsity)
Piano (Almost 13 years, awards are mainly regional Guild and CM stuff)
1 yr speech and debate
1 year of Model UN

Essays: Pretty good so far. I would count myself as a pretty good, introspective writer. Mainly about how I can speak 5 languages and how that has/can help me. (I promise the essays sound much better)

Teacher Recommendation:
English and US/Psych Teachers: Both should be pretty good.
Letter of Rec from piano teacher (who is also a college professor): should be great as she has known me for over 10 years
Counselor Rec: Pretty average tbh.
Other
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: Competitive top public school
Ethnicity: Not a minority
Gender: Male
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Can speak 5 languages, triple citizen, multicultural, first generation American etc.

I know my EC’s are not fantastic but I would back myself as a pretty good writer and I think I will write a very good essay.
Thanks guys! Pls don’t be afraid to give me bad news…

2

I think you have a decent shot. Your essays will really matter!

3

I wouldn’t count on it. Did you apply ED? I think you are a better candidate for Midd. Your grades are really going to hurt you. Good luck, but I’d give you less than 50%

4

@OldbatesieDoc Why do you say his grades will hurt him? 3.85 UW (and even 3.82) is competitive. And the rest look good too. No one can count on admission to Bowdoin, but he’s competitive for ED.

5

Just don’t agree.

6

I went to the ACLU summer institute too! I am also applying to Bowdoin, hopefully I’ll see you on campus:)

7

@OldbatesieDoc okay, that’s fine but based on what? That puts his GPA above the average for students accepted in all rounds of admission and ED likely is lower than the RD average. If above average, why would that not be competitive?

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It’s hard for strangers on the internet to judge gpas, because schools are not created equal with regard to grade inflation or deflation. Admissions officers tend to know at which schools an A is really an A, and at which schools a 3.7 which to CC folk looks like trash, is really a stellar stat.
That being said, the OP with his SAT 1 and 2 scores, AP scores and language profiency would appear to be an applicant who is going to get a very serious look. Add to that the slight edge males get at Bowdoin, and the fact he is not east coast, and he has a very legitimate shot. Triple citizen will play well too. Bowdoin likes to see a strong first quarter grade report for ED applicants, so keep that in mind.

9

Is being a first-generation college student an advantage when applying to Bowdoin? @wisteria100 @gardenstategal

10

It can help for sure if you meet other criteria as well.

11

I agree that he has a whole bunch of things going for him…being male, west coast, triple citizen, five languages, first generation. SATs are good, AP scores good. ED will help. I think he has a better than average chance.

12

@wisteria100 can you comment based on experience on your note that Bowdoin likes strong 1st Qtr Grades? I’m assuming you are also referencing the midterm marks between 1st Semester, for HS on the Semester system? Do SAT 2s really matter at Bowdoin, say vs or compared to AP scores of 4 and 5, which validate rigor and are 3X the length and twice as challenging?

13

@bigfandave My reference to first quarter grades being important at Bowdoin ED, comes from what one of their admissions people said about the ED process, as well as what our school gc said. Anecdotally, a cc poster whose child with stellar stats who got deferred ED said that a couple B’s on the first quarter report was the likely culprit. As for SAT 2’s vs APs, I have no knowledge as to what they prefer.

14

I think you’re a great applicant. If you really see the school as a good fit I would go ED. Good luck!
One point of clarification-- First generation to go to college is a huge factor at Bowdoin; I don’t think first generation American (if parents went to college) will give you nearly as much of a boost.

15

To your point @wisteria100 they are requested in their app.