This is a juicy choice. I think these are relative peers. Davidson’s academics are not as well known as the other three, but somehow they hang around the top 10 of USNews, so they must be doing several things right.
Here are my impressions of each school. Some of this will be “Captain Obvious” stuff, but even rhetorical info can help inform your idea of how well a school fits you:
Carleton
Lots of work. Quite the intellectual vibe.
Cold winters – at least as cold as Bowdoin and probably colder.
45 minutes or so from the Twin Cities
Probably the top LAC, in terms of academic strength, in the Midwest.
Bowdoin
Old school prestige.
Very good academics and support.
Maine playground surroundings.
Flat campus.
Emory
The lone U in this quartet – more course and major options, but larger classes.
Much warner winters, and hotter/more humid summers, than the MN and ME schools.
Atlanta offers a lot to do.
Also strong academics.
Davidson
Rural(ish), but like Carleton, an easy drive away from a city.
Also warmer than MN and ME
Happy vibe
Unlike the other three, has some D1 sports programs
Said to have strong academics, but not yet the academic rep of the other three. (but that ranking will help in that regard)
If you are serious about CS, I would scout these schools’ course catalogs to see what they offer. If it’s History, they’re all going to be solid.
@stevestar888 Do you have a choice between Emory College and Oxford College? The Oxford thing is not for everyone. You go to a school for two years at a remote college 40 miles out and then move to the Emory College campus for your junior year. If Emory College, that would be my choice and it’s a very good experience going to school in a different region.
I do have the choice. Although I like the smaller classes/liberal arts-y feel, you’re about it not being for everyone. not sure how i’d feel changing schools after 2 years.
If you did Oxford for two years you’d get the LAC experience and then finish up at the U (Emory), for a sort of hybrid education. Moving might be a pain in the rear, but you’ll likely move at least once during your four years anyway. (albeit not 40 miles or however far it is from Ox to Em)
My apologies on Davidson. I was working from memory and very much in error. I still consider Bowdoin and Carleton slightly higher caliber but completely take back my comment about “in another league altogether.”
you’re right… ox + em would be a mishmash of the best of both worlds but I still think I’d miss the traditional LAC experience of Carleton / Bowdoin / Davidson
Well the more you read, the clearer it should become. You can take heart in the fact that you really can’t make a wrong choice – they’re all really good schools with plenty going for them.
If you feel you’ve made the right choice, chances are it will become the right choice. Such is the importance of positivity in life.
@stevestar888 Your visit to Emory will be a deciding factor here. Despite an Atlanta address, Emory is suburban and pretty insulated and enclosed and a community to itself. You will see when you get there. If you still aren’t feeling it, then you will know it soon and decide among your three LAC choices. I agree that you really can’t go wrong here, but that still doesn’t make this any easier.
I can add to this discussion that Carleton has a terrific CS program, absolutely top drawer for a LAC.
The bottom line is that you are going to get an excellent undergraduate education at all 4. So where do you want to live the next 4 years, and what do you like to do outside of class? Maine v. Minnesota v. Atlanta v. NC all offer much different environments, climates and opportunities for fun and recreation.
If you loved Bowdoin, and are satisfied with the academics in your areas of interest, send in your acceptance and go ahead and enjoy you last free summer in your life!
I am a Bowdoin graduate (it’s been a long time, but I keep fairly up to date; just had a reunion, and everyone was saying “how did I ever get in here”?). Every school you list is fabulous, and you’re lucky to have so many choices. But Bowdoin is special in its alumni dedication. It inspires tremendous giving (that’s how I was able to go there–my family was poor) and loyalty. It has a terrific endowment. I perceive (there is no doubt bias here) that the students are a tad more down-to-earth than at Amherst. The food is amazing, and so are the dorms. You can go abroad if things start feeling small. You will be taught by full professors (as at several of your other choices). The weather is…Maine. You have to be able to like or ignore cold weather. I don’t love winter weather, but it’s part of life in the Northeast. The seacoast feeling is lovely, and Brunswick is a pretty and friendly town. Portland is close, Boston not too far. I guarantee Minnesota is harsher, weather-wise. I have visited Emory. It is quite dissimilar than the LACs you mention. It’s a university, with all that affords–more people, courses, bureaucracy, choices…but I suspect if you do well at any of these schools, grad acceptances would be forthcoming. You need to decide if the southern, northern, or midwestern vibes are strong enough to sway you. Go U Bears!
I’d add that LACs in general excel at inspiring alumni loyalty. 9 of the top 10 schools for alumni giving are LACs, including all three of OP’s LAC options. The average alumni giving rates for 2013-14 and 2014-15:
63% Princeton
58.6% Thomas Aquinas
55.8% Williams 55.7% Bowdoin
52% Davidson
51.7% Wellesley
50.9% Middlebury 49.8% Carleton
48.9% Washington & Lee
47.9% Amherst
@stevestar888, congrats on your outstanding achievements. In consideration of your biggest concern of need- and/or merit-based financial aids (FA) in attending college, you probably go to Emory due to the merit based money. Need based FA will be throughly reevaluated by college you attend every year. It seems that you will very likely get less and less FA in your sophomore and beyond due to the substantial increased incomes of your family as stated by your Mom in another discussion. Good luck!
@stevestar888, just went through your old posts. Indeed, Amherst has already sensed the signficant increased incomes of your family in 2017. This is probably why Amherst asked your parents 2017 tax return, which is not necessary/mandatory for 2018-2019, but is definitely for 2019-2020.
Alright. From
A- Amherst
B- Bowdoin
C- Carleton
D- Davidson
E- Emory
(I’m a true test taker!)
I am Bowdoin College class of 2022. Many thanks to everyone. The decision was hard (I had the information on Davidson’s website ready but just couldn’t press the submit button) but I hope it all works out.
