<p>Ostensibly, this a thread for questions. We have a few current Bowdoin students here. Ask away.</p>
<p>What distinguishes Bowdoin from other LACs? What are the best parts about Bowdoin?</p>
<p>Although we cannot list them all, some nuances do exist between Bowdoin and other LACs.</p>
<p>In general, Bowdoin has much happier students. In fact, Princeton Review ranks us as having the 8th (we may be slightly off) happiest students of all the colleges and universities in the US.</p>
<p>Bowdoin has a much more open environment, both politically and socially. The school is neither overly liberal or overly conservative. All campus groups and organizations have an equal voice.</p>
<p>The College is very diverse. Bowdoin could have easily accepted the top students to fill its freshman class, but instead it attempts to build the best class holistically. </p>
<p>As we’re sure you know, Bowdoin’s dining services are unsurpassed by any other top LAC. We’re ranked #2 nationally, after Wheaton College (though we have been first for a number of past years). </p>
<p>And lastly, Randy Nichols, campus legend and head of security.</p>
<p>Do you know anything about studying music composition at Bowdoin? I did a lot of composing throughout high school, and I plan to continue through college and beyond.</p>
<p>What’s ethnic diverity really like at Bowdoin? I hear cliques are kind of common and the school can appear to be WASPY? Any truth to these statments?</p>
<p>randy nichols sucks when compared to officer chris from middlebury. like…i’ve always wondered why bowdoin people are so obsessed with randy. he’s really not that cool.</p>
<p>but yeah leprechaunAL gets everything else spot on. bowdoin has historically had more successful/prominent alumni. i see that in a decrease for some reason and don’t know why… midd definitely caught up.</p>
<p>cliques can form anywhere. amherst/bowdoin are small so you’ll “notice” the jock culture more but it’s really throughout the LACs</p>
<p>bowdoin and amherst have a more personal touch than bigger schools like midd</p>
<p>composition is pretty awesome at bowdoin you’ll want to get in contact with Professor Shende who does the composition track of the music major</p>
<p>We know that Bowdoin is amazing … students say it, Princeton Review agrees, etc. So do you (the current students on this thread) mind pointing out the less-than-perfect aspects of the school?</p>
<p>What dorms are the best? Why? And do people generally bring cars?</p>
<p>I did my overnight at West (it was recently built- on the west side of campus- and, as all the kids I hung out with were quick to say, the college is still waiting on some rich dude to donate a big chunk of change to have his/her name attached to it) and it was pretty baller</p>
<p>i don’t think first years are allowed to bring cars</p>
<p>Freshmen were allowed to bring cars this year, but will not be allowed to have them on campus next year.</p>
<p>Bowdoin has 8 freshmen dorms (West, Osher, Appleton, Coleman, Hyde, Maine, Moore, and Winthrop). All of the dorms, except for West and Osher, have quads which are composed of two double rooms and a common room. West and Osher have doubles which have one two-person bedroom and a common room that is slightly smaller than the common rooms in the quads. Having lived in West, I can tell you that the doubles are great. These two buildings are slightly separated from the rest of the freshmen housing, but the distance is hardly noticeable. Plus, West and Osher are closer to Thorne Dining Hall than any other freshmen dorm. Students from other colleges have described Bowdoin’s freshmen housing as palatial in comparison to their own, and the school ranks 8th on Princeton Review’s list of best dorms. We’re kind of spoiled here.</p>
<p>As far as the Officer Chris from Middlebury comment goes, I’m not so sure that’s accurate. Randy used to work for the Maine State Police, nearly died during a high-speed chase, single-handedly apprehended two bank robbers, and was held at gunpoint by a drug dealer. He can also divide by zero.</p>
<p>What schools were you deciding between (before choosing Bowdoin)?</p>
<p>Before choosing Bowdoin, I was deciding between Johns Hopkins and the BC Honors program. Bowdoin was far ahead of the other two schools, however, so it wasn’t much of a decision.</p>
<p>This is sort specific, but just incase there is a Bowdoin student who is into visual arts…</p>
<p>What sort of facilities does Bowdoin offer for the visual arts? Specifically with sculpture and wheel thrown pottery?</p>
<p>I just visited the campus for the first time yesterday, and I love Bowdoin! The students seem very nice and active. I am hoping to be a Government major, but I was also wondering about political activism on campus. Do students tend to lean left or right? Are the political groups on campus very active?</p>
<p>Government is the most popular major at Bowdoin. Kids here are into politics. College Democrats is very active, and college Republicans are…less so. Student body definitely leans left, but there are a fair number of Repubs and a probably larger number of libertarians.</p>
<p>Is there a graphic design program at Bowdoin, e.g. photoshop/illustrator/indesign?</p>
<p>See through the mirrors. Bowdoin advertises as being super liberal and open but its actually incredibly conservative with a culture that is athlete dominant. I’m transferring to a NYC school since my time here has simply been an utter disapoint.</p>
<p>Not true Zeke…I feel sorry that your time here has been a disappointment, but you’re not being fair.</p>
<p>Tzar can you elaborate? please share your perspective.</p>
<p>First of all, I have to say that I can’t disagree with Zeke63’s comments more. I’ve never had a single moment at Bowdoin where it is like what he discribes. The only reason that the ratio concerning athletes at Bowdoin is so high is that the number usually includes people who play an intramural game a few times a year. I guess technically I would be an athlete at Bowdoin, but that’s just because I played a few intramural soccer games last year with a group of people from my dorm…</p>
<p>However, this brings me to my main point. I have heard every stereotype about Bowdoin from the people that go here. Some people say it is overbearingly conservative. Some people say that everyone is so incredibly liberal that it drives them crazy. I’ve heard people talk about how everyone at Bowdoin is hipster and artsy. I’ve also heard that everyone is a preppy athlete. The truth: there is no average Bowdoin student. I know athletes who are more hipster and liberal than anyone I’ve ever met. That being said, I know people who meet every stereotype of being an ultra-liberal, but are actually staunchly conservative.</p>
<p>Zeke63, I’m sorry your experience has gone the way it has. However, I’ve been to a lot of different colleges and universities. Unless you are planning on transferring to a place that is considered a “hippie school,” you’re going to be disappointed. Even for a college campus, Bowdoin is a pretty liberal place. I wish you the best, and, as much as I love Bowdoin, I do realize that there is no place where everyone is going to be happy.</p>