<p>Hello all!
I know this forum is not that active, not nearly as active as when I was a senior in high school. I thought that I would pop back to answer any questions that you might have about Bowdoin (we’re on spring break now) as the acceptances start coming in!
Feel free to ask in this thread or via PM (if you feel more comfortable that way). I’m happy to answer questions about academics, the social scene, Brunswick, community, etc.
<p>Thanks for the offer, Sara. I’d like to know if you’re happy you chose Bowdoin. What are the best things about the school? Does the relatively small size seem limiting after a year or two or empowering? And if you have a campus job, how easy is it to get one? Finally, have you been involved at any research opportunities at the school? Thanks in advance for your insights.</p>
<p>Hope I’m not butting in! My DS is a freshman. He got a work study job doing research in a lab within about two weeks of being on campus. I don’t know if that’s unusual or typical. </p>
<p>For me, the clear answer to the best part of Bowdoin is my academic life. I’ve had an unbelievable time in my major department, but also in other departments. The professors do a tremendous job of presenting engaging, challenging material and really support interest in their subjects. I find that I always have more to do for my classes, and my professors push me to my full potential. They also have been very supportive in finding other opportunities - outside research (REUs), scholarships, and conferences. They’re also kind and understanding. I haven’t had to ask for too many extensions, but they have always been granted and my professors ask if I am okay. I also love the opportunity to take classes outside my major, like art history and archaeology. Bowdoin students really dive into upper level classes outside their major, which I love!</p>
<p>Other great things about Bowdoin: location (Maine is amazing!), community, Brunswick, non-competitive atmosphere</p>
<p>I’m not sure I can really answer the question about small size - I was looking for a small school because I wanted close relationships with my professors. It has been a great experience.</p>
<p>It’s very easy to get a campus job. Students on financial aid are placed through a job placement service. I was placed in a dining operation, and I stayed for over a year. However, I left after I got better jobs. I work for the department I major in, I work for the Bowdoin tutoring center, and I work as a desk monitor. The first two jobs are slightly harder to get, but you should be able to get academic jobs by the time you are a sophomore/junior. </p>
<p>I was involved in interdisciplinary research last summer. Most summer research is in the sciences. There are many grants for domestic students to fund summer internships/research. I’m not doing research at Bowdoin this summer, but I will be doing research at another campus. It’s easy to get support/info about doing research at Bowdoin or elsewhere.</p>
<p>Hope this answers your questions! Feel free to ask follow-ups/more questions.</p>
<p>JoBenny: that’s a pretty great job for a first-year! Lab jobs are harder to get as a first year, unless you do Bowdoin Science Experience.</p>
<p>@sara12…Do you have any info on summer storage options? We expect to pick the boy up in May but would love to not have to bring home the mini-fridge, mincrowave, tv, heaviest winter clothes, skates etc home. Is it just about me calling around to local storage places to get summer rates? Is there anywhere on campus to rent space? Thanks!</p>
<p>There should be something that goes in the Orbit Digest of community members who let students store their belongings with them, or at least there was my first year here! There’s also storage in Fort Andross. I don’t know too much about storage since I store my belongings with my host family.</p>
<p>Good to know. Will definitely keep our eyes open for that in the coming weeks. Thanks @sara12!</p>
<p>@sara12 what’s the drinking situation in Bowdoin? How do the police deal with underage drinking? Do the methods of Bowdoin Police and State Police differ? Is it true that there is no ‘hard liquor’ allowed in Bowdoin (so does that mean you can only drink beer…?) </p>
<p>My son describes the college security as “very chill”. I interpret that as…as long as you’re not acting like a jerk, and don’t appear to be out of control, acting out in an inappropriate way, or causing a disturbance for others, they pretty much leave you alone. He said they crack down pretty hard on open container and there is a school-wide ban on hard liquor. (Does it exist? Of course. Just don’t get caught.) </p>
<p>@keepingitlight what does “crack down pretty hard on open container” mean? Sorry I didn’t grow up in America :p</p>
<p>@jihoonyangg. Open container = if you’re out in public or walking on campus with an open beer can/bottle the campus security will give you a hard time and you can get written up. Not 100% about the process, but after a certain # of write-ups the school can move forward with disciplinary action/probation etc. I think the general attitude at Bowdoin is like at most colleges. They know drinking is happening. They want to keep you safe. Don’t get out of control. Don’t disrespect others, or property and the school won’t go out of their way to give you a hard time. </p>
<p>Hello, could you tell anything about Visual Arts at Bowdoin? There are a lot of faculty for such a small school, is it a popular major? Are artists visible and integrated in the community? Do a lot of students double major? Are the facilities as nice as the website suggests?</p>
<p>I have no experience in the visual arts department! If you visit campus, I’m sure that you could talk to visual arts students/professors. Sorry that I can’t help - I have taken courses in a number of departments, but not art! I have a few friends/acquaintances who are minoring/majoring in visual arts - they seem happy with the professors and course offerings, but I haven’t talked to them much about the major.</p>
<p>My son is on a science track so I don’t know a whole lot about the art program either…but I’m sure in your research you’ve read about the museum on campus…which to my understanding is open to the public and pretty widely regarded in the area of Brunswick and beyond. From the constant invites my son gets to exhibitions, traveling collections (they had a wonderful Prendergast show this past fall during parents weekend that was beautiful) student showcases and the like, I’d say it’s a small but very vibrant community. </p>
<p><a href=“Museum of Art | Bowdoin College”>https://www.bowdoin.edu/art-museum/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bowdoin.edu/visual-arts/calendar/index.shtml”>http://www.bowdoin.edu/visual-arts/calendar/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>[The</a> Bowdoin art museum is one of the finest college-based art museum’s in the country](<a href=“The 20 Best College Art Museums | Complex”>The 20 Best College Art Museums | Complex).</p>
<p>anyone know much about the psych department at Bowdoin? And how much does ED2 help compared to RD in terms of admissions. My sense is the ED2 chances are not as high as ED1, but the ED1 pool is probably more heavily loaded with athletes, legacies, perfect students who get their apps done over the summer etc, so once that is taken into account, ED1 and ED2 boost from admissions is about the same?</p>
<p>ED2 (at any school) tends to attract Ivy rejects, meaning the competition is often stronger than during ED1. Also, if a school ended up admitting more than expected during ED1, they may cut more during ED2 in order to ensure there are many available spots for RD applicants. ED1 is probably a better idea.</p>