<p>Throughout the course of my life, I feel like my ability to fit in has slowly deteriorated. I don't know if this has to do with stress or a sense of insecurity but it is one of my main concerns for college. I want to go to a college where I can fit in, but obviously each different person can't fit into one specific college.
Because of this, I'd like to ask about the social AND academic life of Bowdoin. Ranked #1 for best food and #8 for happiest students, Bowdoin has definitely hooked me in. I also think it would be a good idea to focus on my undergraduate studies and still have time to decide what I actually want to do for my masters.
For the social life in this college, do you believe that there is a place for everyone?
For the academic life in this college, how do you feel about the strength of the chemistry/preveterinary departments?</p>
<p>In addition, I haven't yet visited Bowdoin but I'm thinking of applying for the Explore Bowdoin program. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on it?
Thanks so much.</p>
<p>ask this in the Bowdoin forum here on cc.</p>
<p>As much as I like Bowdoin, it’s a mistake to fall in love with a school based on it’s paper stats. Sometimes that’s all you have to go on, but given how difficult it is to get in to Bowdoin, and we have no idea if you’re even in the ballpark, you need to get in your head that you have found a model school, but there are others like it that may work as well. Since Bowdoin is a NESCAC, the obvious comparables would be Middlebury, Colby, Bates, Hamilton, and maybe Connecticut. Any of the NESCACs might work, but it’s doubtful you’d like all of them, few would.</p>
<p>When you’re in the world of elite acceptance rates, it’s best to have a list of schools you find acceptable.</p>
<p>Alumni tend to speak highly about the Bowdoin experience. If you are okay with living in a remote location for four years, Bowdoin is a good school with a nice campus in a beautiful part of the country. If you’d rather a more exciting four year experience, you may want to consider schools closer to cities. BC is a comparable that is closer to Boston with a bit more to do on the weekends, if that concerns you. There are some other LACs that are closer to major metro areas that might offer more in terms of excitement. </p>
<p>Brunswick, Maine is not a remote location. It’s a town of 20,000 and the biggest city in Maine is half an hour away. @informative Also there’s a train on campus that runs straight to and from Boston twice daily. Considering Bowdoin was just ranked #1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review, I’d say its level of excitement is just fine. OP, apply to explore bowdoin. You need to come to conclusions about the school yourself because what strangers may tell you may be the exact opposite of how you’ll feel yourself! Good luck.</p>
<p>I am unbiased, since I don’t know much about Bowdoin, but I agree that Brunswick is not “remote.” It’s a wonderful location.</p>
<p>Middlebury is remote - Bowdoin is 30 minutes from a decent airport and great small city. And Freeport, 10 minutes away, is pretty good too with a 24 hour LL Bean.</p>