<p>I know that Bowdoin has a great reputation with graduate schools but I am getting very annoyed that no one I speak to has heard of it. The blank stare you get from the other person is getting to me. Help I need coping strategies!!!</p>
<p>Just think to yourself "these people have no idea what they are missing". Among the academic community and among people with "intellectual" professions, Bowdoin has an excellent reputation as well.</p>
<p>National liberal arts colleges don't have teams in March Madness or football teams that play in the Rose Bowl. </p>
<p>They also have a relatively small number of alumni as compared to large universities.</p>
<p>However, if you look at the impact many graduates of these institutions have in education, business, scientific research, government, law, non-profits, etc., it's considerable. </p>
<p>Don't worry about it, be proud.</p>
<p>SP135 I dont know where you are from because here in Boston people congratulate me when I tell them I am going to Bowdoin, and just about everyone has at least heard of it.</p>
<p>SR135-I get the same thing down here in Central Jersey. Just ignore them and don't feel obligated to impress people with the college you are attending. If they only recognize half of the Ivies and schools with big name sports teams, its their fault, not yours. Though, if they make remarks like "I thought you would go to a good school" etc., feel free to set them straight.</p>
<p>Well, for most people (from the point of view of an intl) the top schools in the USA are the ivies + Amherst and Williams. When I tell people I am admitted to Bowdoin, the common reply is "Where the hell is that?" and it takes a while to convince them in the history and academic reputation. I think it shouldn't bother you at all thta most people haven't heard of it. If you feel it is a great choice for you just stick with it.</p>
<p>:) We live in New England and many people I know have not heard of Bowdoin and/or don't know where it is. I have wondered about this myself, until I came to the realization that most people are just not interested, not informed and generally don't care about such things. </p>
<p>I can tell you this - if Bowdoin has admitted you then you are in an elite and very fortunate group of people. Our daughter is a Horatio Alger National Scholar. She was just in D.C. for the awards ceremony. While there she met Oprah Winfrey, and many such luminaries. All of them knew about Bowdoin and were very impressed that our daughter was admitted. What I am saying is that the more you know the greater chance you know about Bowdoin and are impressed with it. Since Bowdoin is a small LAC it is not out there promoting itself like other places, but it does not have to. Take a look at the long list of famous and influential alums some time. The alum network is very tight and very broad. </p>
<p>You know, you could be wearing a diamond necklace under your t-shirt and people would not know it or even recognize it if they saw it, but you know ;)</p>
<p>nice diamond necklace allegory, dad</p>
<p>i totally understand what you're saying. i'm going to bowdoin nexy yr and my friend and i were joking about how no one has heard of our schools. [shes going to claremont mckenna, an excellent LAC in CA]. but thats what happens when you go to a small LAC. honestly, no one has even heard of williams, and that's ranked as #1. but when i do come acorss someone who's heard of bowdoin, they're really impressed. so don't worry too much.</p>
<p>When I meet someone who went to an elite LAC, I think, "Here's a person who is smart, and COULD have gone to a school which is a household name, but he/she must be non-show-offy, and confident enough of himself/herself that such bolstering of the ego wasn't necessary." When I meet someone who went to Harvard undergrad, I think, "Here's someone who must be really smart, and was a master at the admissions game, but who for whatever reason felt a need to go for the place with the biggest name/hype/prestige and a great education, as opposed to just a great education."</p>
<p>It would be interesting for people to tell what the a priori assumptions they have about meeting people from certain colleges.</p>
<p>That's really not true. Within the professional community, Bowdoin is very highly regarded. </p>
<p>And honestly, who cares what other people think? Bowdoin students get a first-class education without the super, competitive atmosphere of Swat or Williams or Amherst.</p>
<p>hey sling123 - welcome to the forum. I see you've made 2 well thought out and constructive posts. I hope to see more of you here.</p>
<p>your sense of entitlement is astouding. how privileged, insulated and clueless you must be if you feel that there are only 4 elite liberal arts colleges in america.</p>
<p>why don't you spend less time thinking about "elitism" and more time thinking about the opportunities given to you in life and being grateful for them... that, for example, you can spend time this morning writing about "prestige" rather than working to earn money to help your parents out with tuition, ect... you said, "depending where" but more improtantly, it depends on "who"... and in america, 98% of people would love to have the chance to use some of the resources that bowdoin has... if they knew what it has to offer. in terms of education and resources, bowdoin and any of the top lacs are "elite" and i'm looking forward to applying this fall.</p>
<p>I live like 25 minutes away from Bowdoin. Bowdoin is really well respected in its surrounding area. I know that doesn't mean much, but for me saying "Oh, I'm going to Bowdoin next year," would really impress anyone in my town. When you come to Bowdoin, you'll definitely feel this when you are outside the campus sporting your Bowdoin sweatshirts. For example, we have a bunch of Bowdoin students who go to our church. They're always called "the <em>Bowdoin</em> students," like they are something special. But, actually, there is a sort of not-so-friendly attitude from the real Mainers. All of Maine's private colleges (Bates, Bowdoin, Colby) are mostly people from Mass. (or out of state). Mainers, the real ones, hate everyone from out of state, especially people from Mass. But Brunswick is one of the most wealthy and yuppy towns in Maine, so I don't think you'll run into too many hard-core hicks. But, yeah, you shouldn't really care about that stuff too much. You'll get a great education and if you are planning on going to grad. school, a Bowdoin degree will certainly help you out.</p>
<p>Well, I think Bowdoin has much to be proud of including it's rankings as a top LAC! Whether it is an "elite LAC" ( is that limited to the top four LACS in your mind Sling?)perhaps is a personal judgement. Maybe Bowdoin could use a little PR to at least be known a bit more in the Northeast. I started this thread because it does annoy me that so many educated people who should know about its reputation do not. I also get the "it is so cold" there stuff but it isn't colder than McGill and people have heard of and respect them. Probably a function of being a small LAC. I have heard much more about Middlebury who apparently is out ranked by Bowdoin in several instances.</p>
<p>sling123-i wasn't going to waste my time responding to your post, but honestly why would you even write something like that here? are you bitter about something?</p>
<p>bowdoin probably does offer a good education in some concentrations. knowing a friend at bowdoin... it just doesnt cut it in terms of prestige because when you apply for an internship at a prestigious company (more than 1 mind you) and in the drop down menu for college that you attend doesnt have bowdoin listed... thats gotta be pretty frustrating. and like it or not prestige matters when you leave college at least for your first job if you want to do something competitive. </p>
<p>if you want the time of your life then you skip college and do what you are passionate about. if you want a job you get that college degree and use it as a stepping stone. obviously not all of us get the flattest stone to step on..so pick your steps wisely.</p>
<p>Puh-lease. AWS aren't well known either. In fact, they probably have about the same amount of name recognition as Bowdoin.</p>
<p>The most well-known LACs are Wellesley, Vassar, and Colgate.</p>
<p>If you attend a top LAC, you may have to be a bit more savvy when constructing your job applications than your HYP peers. However, getting a job/internship from an "unknown" LAC is very doable.</p>
<p>well when you pay 40k to be here.. you kinda wish you didnt have to be more savvy.. it just seems more logical to make life easier for yourself rather than creating unneeded difficulties. </p>
<p>and trust me as a junior from one of the "AWS" schools with a junior friend at bowdoin who is applying for internships there is a huge gap between prestige. you dont have to take my words for it...just wait until your junior year and dont ask daddy to pull some strings and you will know how my friend feels.</p>
<p>Maybe your friend has other problems qualifying. What is he or she trying to accomplish? What field are they interested in? I'm sure you would have a problem applying if HYP kids apply........It is all relative!</p>