Chances for admission to Bowdoin!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bowdoin College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone could give me a sense of where I stand right now in terms of my chances for admission to Bowdoin. I am currently a junior.</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Caucasian
School: private, 180 students, rigorous
No GPA or rank, but I am among the top 3 students in my class of 55
Courseload: I have gotten all “As” (no A+ awarded)
APs by the end of my senior year: French Language, Environmental Science, Music Theory, Biology, Calculus, Physics
In my senior year, I hope to conduct two independent studies, in Green Architecture and in Cognition Studies/Subconsciousness.</p>

<p>SAT: 1910 (Will take the ACT, and hopefully bring this up – if not, I guess I don’t need to send them?)</p>

<p>ECs:
Nonacademic in-school:
Founder and editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, (10, 11)
Executive coordinator for the all-school sustainable vegetable garden, (11)
Peer mentoring, French tutor (9, 10, 11)
Peer leader for the Outdoor Education program, (11); led several outdoor trips through Appalachia with 60+ middle school students
High School Forum, elected class representative, (9, 10, 11)
Tenor and piano accompanist, High School chorus, (9, 10, 11)</p>

<p>Interscholastic Sports
Varsity Tennis, No. 3 Singles (9), No.2 Singles (10, 11)</p>

<p>Community Involvement
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 50+ hours of community service, (9, 10, 11)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Academic Activities
Intensive journalism course, Summer@Brown Pre-college program, (Summer 2010)
Rassias Language Immersion program through Dartmouth College; family stay, intensive French language and literature course (Summer 2009)
Piano student, Peabody Preparatory Institute through John Hopkins University, (5-11)</p>

<p>Employment
Started a photography exhibition business, collect and showcase work from student photographers (10, 11)
Office manager and assistant to the Director of Education at religious school, (8, 9, 10, 11) – attended the school, had a B’nai mitzvah with my twin brother and was confirmed in May 2010, a culmination ceremony for 12 years of Judaic studies classes every Sunday and Wednesday</p>

<p>Awards:
Very prestigious award from my synagogue for academic and community leadership
Prestigious scholarship for community service and green initiatives
6 achievement awards for piano through Peabody Preparatory Institute</p>

<p>Recs:
I won’t read them, but I think they’ll be strong. Teachers really appreciate my passion for learning, my incredibly strong work ethic, my curious and ambitious nature, and sense of maturity. They also value my leadership in classroom discussion, and engagement and effort to motivate the community and spark others to action.</p>

<p>Essay:
I love to write. It is one of my passions. Hopefully, my essay will really show who I am. As far as topics, not a clue yet…</p>

<p>Interview: I will this year
Visit: I will this year</p>

<p>Primary academic interests right now: Foreign language, biology, environmental science, creative writing, neuroscience</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I think they’ll love you. Great ECs.</p>

3

<p>Thank you @lookingforward. Any advice when I visit/apply?</p>

4

<p>I’ll pm you- in a few days.</p>

5

<p>@looking forward – thank you for your messages. I appreciate your help!</p>

6

<p>applied rd to bowdoin. international student from zimbabwe.</p>

7

<p>@lovinlife: I can’t comment on your chances at Bowdoin, but I can give you the following pieces of advice as a parent of a senior who just visited there last week. They only give interviews until December for the following year’s incoming class, so if you want an interview make sure you sign up for one on their website. My son applied RD, and expected to be contacted like he was for Tufts, Brown, and Dartmouth for an interview. Even though we went for a visit, they were not able to schedule an interview for him, although he did briefly get to meet with an admissions rep. I think an interview can only help you, as long as you present well, so I hope this doesn’t hurt his chances. The rep on the info tour was ambiguous at best, saying that interviews are only for the benefit of the student to find out more about Bowdoin, but then again, it shows initiative and interest for their school… </p>

<p>As far as test scores, you obviously know that you should get your test scores up to be more desirable for Bowdoin, but I’m sure you’re planning on retaking them. Good luck to you. If they stay in the same range you may not want to submit them. The rep on the info tour said that Bowdoin was a test optional school, and that they really meant it, that it doesn’t hurt you to not submit, and that “they were so confident in their admissions screening process that they don’t need to look at standardized tests.” That said, she clearly stated that if you submit them, they will look at them, and use the data as part of the admissions process. </p>

<p>Who knows, they said this year they will have over 6000 applications for under 500 spots. It’s a lottery at best, even if you’re a great kid with great scores and great grades, and great EC’s. My last piece of advice is not to have your heart set on any 1 particular school. I’m sure you’ll get in somewhere perfect for you. Good luck to you!</p>