<p>I have not had a chance to visit Bowdoin yet, but I do feel like it would be an absolutely perfect fit for me in every possible way. I know it’s extraordinarily competitive and my only advantage is that I’m from Texas (“geographical diversity”), but other than that I have approximately a 0% chance of getting in. It’s very depressing.
If anyone has ANY insight, ideas, suggestions, on what Bowdoin College admissions officers want to see, please let me know.
stats:
30 ACT (31M, 31R, 27S, 29E) I’m retaking it and hoping for a 31 or 32.
I’ve been told my essay is strong and shows my character/personality well.
I have good ECs, great volunteer/community service, I had an internship this past summer in my field of interest, started a fundraiser, etc.
3.8 UW 4.3 W gpa, 6 APs, the rest honors classes, upward trend from freshman-junior year. </p>
<p>It has every single thing I want in a college and I have yet to read a negative review or comment about it, and in the videos the students all seem so happy. (no greek scene, happiest people, good profs, no impossible workload or grade deflation, small classes, great food, remarkable reputation, attractive guys, preppy but not too preppy, diverse, outdoorsy, beautiful location, I could go on and on.)</p>
<p>PLEASE please please help me if you have any knowledge on how to gain admission to Bowdoin College, I really feel like this is the only fit for me as I am an incredibly picky person (not proud of it) and have trouble finding things I truly love.
Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>Laurenjo, you shouldn’t be this pessimistic about your chances. The way I see it, Bowdoin is a reach for you but I would never go as far as to say that you have ‘approximately a 0% chance of getting in.’ I would suggest taking the SAT if you know you can achieve a good score (even though it is optional, it would add to your application especially if you can get around 2100 and above). Also work on your recs. I feel that I got in because I had amazing recs. You say you have done an internship in the area you are passionate about. Maybe get your supervisor to write you a personalized recommendation. Also try and arrange for an interview. If you think Bowdoin is THE absolute one place for you, make sure the College knows this when reviewing your application. In the end, going that extra mile in showing your passion( I know this must sound cliched but it is true nonetheless) for a particular school always help. Applying ED might also be a good idea if you are positive there is no other College for you that comes close to Bowdoin</p>
<p>It is definitely a reach for you. My daughter had a 3.93 UW average, a 4.03 weighted, and an ACT Composite of 33 (perfect 36 on Math and perfect 36 on English). She was from California (geographic diversity) she was on a nationally ranked Crew Team for 3 years, and was being recruited at Penn for their Crew Team. She had done a month long study abroad program in France where she lived with a French family and spoke only French, and a month long in Cambodia and Laos doing community service work in remote villages that are not on most maps, sleeping on the floor of the tribal elder’s home. She was waitlisted at Bowdoin. Apply to Bowdoin if you love it, but also look at other schools like Bates and Colby which are similar schools but easier to get into. My daughter ended up at Colby, and is very glad she did not get into Bowdoin.</p>
<p>I agree with GDMACK. Bates and Colby are also wonderful schools that can provide you with everything you are looking for in Bowdoin. Also give serious thought to these institutions(maybe visit them when you go visiting Bowdoin). Of course, if you still feel there is no place you’d rather be than Bowdoin, then by all means, go for it. Your enthusiasm for attending this particular school will translate through to make you a good candidate. From my own personal experience, and from following the Bowdoin acceptances thread his year, I feel that many times Bowdoin chooses kids who it knows would be a good fit and would flourish in, and add something to, the particular environment unique to Bowdoin. Maybe that is why applicants with perfect GPAs and SAT scores and brilliant ECs are waitlisted or rejected. I know someone who got in this year, with nowhere near a steller academic record(to her credit, she was an international from a very diverse background, spoke four languages, had good EC’s and applied ED but was no where near some of the kids that got rejected both through the ED and RD rounds). I wish you the best of luck :)</p>