How would Blacks/Hispanics feel at Bowdoin?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bowdoin College
1

<p>I am coming close to making my final decision! I’ve narrowed my options down to Bowdoin and Swarthmore!! As of right now, I like a lot more of Bowdoin than I do of Swarthmore. Overall, the campus feel that I got at the Bowdoin Experience and after talking with President Mills is that Bowdoin has a lot more to offer ME. Swarthmore, although an AMAZING school, seems too small for my liking. I’m coming from a big school, and although Bowdoin is a little smaller than my high school, Swarthmore seems way too small. The reasons as to why I like Bowdoin go on and on… Quite frankly, I think I’ll be at Bowdoin next year. </p>

<p>Bowdoin, although an amazing school, seems like it isn’t all that INTELLECTUAL. After talking to a very successful senior at Bowdoin, he told me the biggest thing he didn’t like about Bowdoin, is that students aren’t open to having philosophical/intellectual conversations outside of the classroom. Can anyone else give me their insight on this? It seems as if Bowdoin students, while smart, like to party more than they like to discuss intellectual topics (whatever they may be). Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to party at the social houses and Ivies week, but I also want to be able to expand my intellect outside of the classroom with friends at the dining hall or in my dorm. Any comments??</p>

<p>However, the MAIN reason I am writing this post and waiting to make a final decision is based on the social life at Bowdoin. At Swarthmore, students seem much more open and welcoming. This, I thought, made students at Swarthmore a lot more open to diversity/multi-cultural life and very welcoming of all people, no matter what their background, religion, or creed.</p>

<p>As a half Black, half- Hispanic male, I was wondering, how will I and other minority students feel at Bowdoin? Specifically, I’m asking about African Americans and Hispanics? Are the students generally welcoming? Or do they discriminate (to any degree) against Blacks or Hispanics? Please give me ANY insight you may have about this topic also!</p>

<p>After reading the responses from this thread, I think I’ll be able to make my final decision…</p>

<p>THANKS!!!</p>

2

<p>I’m also wondering the same, but as an Asian-American. So basically, how accepting is Bowdoin of minorities, and people of more “diverse” socioeconomic backgrounds?</p>

3

<p>relative to swarthmore, the campus climate at bowdoin is not as intellectual, this is true. while i had many conversations about philosophy and politics outside the classroom, (almost obsessively), and could always find someone just as eager to engage, i will admit that, at least facially if not actually, bowdoin students (generally) are less into extracurricular philosophizing than, say, swarthmore students. this is generally speaking, though. still, if you’re like me, and love that stuff, there are plenty of people at bowdoin who love it, too. (you should seek out the articles about the newly revived pecunian society on campus and maybe reach out to some students there to get their assessment of the campus climate). </p>

<p>i’m white, so i can’t speak to how a student of african, hispanic, or asian descent would feel at bowdoin. i had a very diverse friend group, (socioeconomically, racially, sexually, politically, etc.) but i also know that there are a lot of different bowdoins to experience. it’s a small school but strangely there are many paths through it, some of which bring you into contact with great and diverse people and others that are more narrow, wealthier, and less intellectually prone. </p>

<p>i’ll say this, even though i know there are some bowdoin students who might disagree, but i found living in the chem free dorm the easiest way to meet a vast array of people. i didn’t find it to be stigmatizing at all and some of the most interesting and quirky people at bowdoin choose to live there for their first year. if you don’t live there, i might encourage you to seek out people who do. it typically has a greater proportion of international students, and the students there are just generally more quirky than in the average first-year dorm. </p>

<p>i’ll let others comment on how they felt as an underrepresented minority on campus. </p>

<p>good luck with your decision!</p>

4

<p>Can you please elaborate on your idea that “there are a lot of different bowdoins to experience”? What kinds of Bowdoin Experiences are there? This is interesting given the fact that Bowdoin IS so small.</p>

<p>Also, I was wondering… How do wealthy students attract to each other at Bowdoin? You said that there are “others that are more narrow, wealthier, and less intellectually prone.” I am having trouble understanding this idea. I’ve heard it a few times before…</p>

5

<p>i don’t know how it happened. it just did. people tend to gravitate toward others of similar interests. i don’t think it’s a terribly unusual phenomenon. the problem is that at a small school there is an unwarranted interest in having the entire school think as one. this is never the case, and it’s fairly good to have differing experiences through college. </p>

<p>i mean, there are folks who take their studies seriously, who talk about books on friday nights, who read favorite parts of joyce to each other; there are others who immerse themselves in theater, work on a play with other actors and directors for three months; others play sports for a season and bond through that; others spend every weekend in the wilderness climbing mountains or ice fishing; still others go to as many live music performances as possible, in portland or even boston, or are part of a band. i don’t know. it’s seems natural that how you experience college, however large or small the school, depends on how willing you are to indulge in what makes you enthusiastic. you meet others with similar interests and you become close friends. so whether there seem to be lots of other groups or not detracts very little from your experience. unless of course there aren’t enough people who share your interests. surprisingly, at bowdoin, that was not the case. i say surprisingly because of its size.</p>

6

<p>[Strengthening</a> our intellectual discourse - The Bowdoin Orient](<a href=“http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2010-02-19&section=2&id=5]Strengthening”>http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2010-02-19&section=2&id=5)</p>

<p>That’s an interesting article to read. And like you said, the intellectual discourse is out there. But it’s the students’ job to go out and look for it. </p>

<p>Also, that’s an interesting point you bring up. “Groups” at Bowdoin are created through shared interests, is that what you’re saying? I have OFFICIALLY decided to matriculate at Bowdoin next year (woo hoo '14!) and once I get there I’m hoping that my skin color/Hispanic name won’t have anything to do with limiting me branching out to other people. Hopefully, as great as the Bowdoin community is, no sort of racial profiling will be going on. Rather, I wish that students at Bowdoin believe that communication with a diverse group of people is the true meaning of learning and wisdom. And that reaching out and becoming friends with students of all backgrounds will truly make the “Bowdoin Experience” more enjoyable. </p>

<p>Also, does anyone know of the dating/hook up scene at Bowdoin? Preferably, I’d like a URM male/ANY FEMALE to comment on this. Is interracial dating/hooking up common at Bowdoin? Or is it something that no one does?</p>

7

<p>i only read “reptheburbs” post - i’m a bowdoin grad and LOVE IT! you can find whatever you want there, thinking or partying … on any given night there is so much going on so it can really please anyone thursday nights i worked till dawn at the newspaper while friends were off in a bowling league or at pub night. as for diversity - i am a while girl but think bowdoin does a great job with diversity. my group of friends were as follows: black/white, black, cuban, half-japanese, and one was even blind (which isn’t ethnic diversity, but you get the point) … there are “groups” anywhere and at any school but overall i think bowdoin is extremely inclusive - students are friends with older/younger students and students are even very good friends with their professors. it’s like a family!</p>

8

<p>im African-American and recently visited, and i would say that while the students are predominantly white (obviously), there were also pretty significant representations of minorities there also. i personally didnt feel uncomfortable or racially isolated</p>