<p>I don't know where you're getting your numbers regarding Bates but the website "collegeboard.com" shows Bates trailing both Bowdoin and Colby in terms of percentage of students receiving financial aid and its data appears ot be quite precise. Anyway, it's Bowdoin at 43.2%, Colby at 41.2%, and Bates at 37%. Those numbers track the relativr endowments of each school (as should be epected since that's where the dollars for financial aid come from). So, technically speaking, Bates would have a higher precentage of rich kids than either Bowdoin or Colby.</p>
<p>thanks you guys...so I am assuming that financial aid is both need based and merit based...</p>
<p>also on while on the topic of racial diversity at the maine schools, how homogenous is the student population (I realize that Maine is not as diverse as California...but just in a broad scope of things) moreover, while a school may be "diverse" how easily do groups mingle with each other? In my own experiences in the South, I found it extremely upsetting to see racial cliches segregating themselves from other groups...I mean what's the point of having a "diverse" campus when people seem to huddle around those who are "similar" in culture and racial ethnicity...</p>
<p>Financial aid at Bowdoin is need-based.</p>
<p>hello again...just received my AP scores...I got a 5 on AP USH, 4 on Bio and AP English Lang...the scores are decent, but I am kinda worried about the 4s...how badly will they affect my academic profile?...</p>
<p>Your scores are fine. Honestly, I don't think that they will affect your admission whatsoever.</p>
<p>You can't really tell about the fin aid thing until you apply and get your package. My brother got into to Bowdoin and Bates (he didn't apply to Colby). He got the best financial aid package from Bates, actually. Bowdoin wanted too much money. He also go into Hamilton, where he is going, who gave him a reasonable amount of money. All the NESCACs are only need-based. Bates probably does have the most rich kids, but they are down to earth and don't talk about money. You wouldn't even it know they were rich until their families come for family weekend in Land Rovers and Porsches.</p>
<p>so if I am correct...Bates would be considered the more down to earth/liberal college...bowdoin is the most prestigious out of the 3 and Colby is...?</p>
<p>bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>i think i am going to mad! :p</p>
<p>Ok, I am now convinced that Bowdoin is my absolute #1/dream college. So I am really tempted to apply early decision. However, my prime concern is financial aid. I can't afford the tuition b/c my family's income is around 28,000and my parents are totally against loans because they don't want me struggling with bills while in grad school. Because of that, my parents are encouraging me to keep my options open. But I love Bowdoin! What should I do? </p>
<p>Just a side note...
I am aware of the Questbridge program and I am so totally applying but I really doubt I make it b/c of my SAT's and mediocre ec's...</p>
<p>unless you have some other dream school to which you want to apply early decision, your fear about not getting the amount (and type) of financial aid you and your parents think you need makes no sense at all. You'll only know the answer if you apply and the early decision process is the obvious way to find out the answer to that question without limiting your options to apply to other schools.</p>
<p>i don't understand though...b/c if I apply and I do get accepted I am binded to go to that school...in that sense, it is an awesome prospect...but the downside is that I may end up with more loans than grants which would suck if I knew I would get a better financial aid package from a UC being an in state applicant</p>
<p>I believe that Bowdoin will release you from the ED commitment if you deem the financial aid package to be insufficient. There was a woman who posted about such an experience last year and Bowdoin released her from her commitment. (Her situation may be different from yours; her parents had accummulated quite a bit of money but were not willing to spend it on their daughter's education.) But her experience was enlightening - she really did not have any sense of how much money her parents had accummulated (aside from their annual income) and what it meant in terms of her eligibility for financial aid. You should make sure that you have a full understanding of both your parents income and their assets before you make assumptions about your eligibility for financial aid.</p>
<p>I see...well I am pretty informative about our financial state given that I help my parents file their taxes each year...thanks for the info!</p>
<p>That's good that you know what you are dealing with. A lot of high school students are pretty clueless as to how much money their parents make and how much they have in the way of assets. </p>
<p>Loans tend to be a small part of the typical Bowdoin financial aid package. Here's a link that provides the breakdown between grants and loans in the typical package (I think that the data is for stdents who entered Bowdoin in the fall of 2005):</p>
<p>thank you!!! :)</p>