<p>Hi - this is indeed an exciting time, and you obviously have some good taste in schools. My son’s search was very similar to yours. Your question got my attention because we spent so much time dwelling on this stuff. Our family just went through this whole process for admission in fall 2012, and I am watching these threads now because I am writing an article about the process for academically strong students shooting for LACs. </p>
<p>Anyway, here are my two cents which you can take or ignore. </p>
<p>Bowdoin and the other top-tier LACs like Williams, Amherst, and Pomona that you are no doubt considering occupy a rather rarified seller’s market; meaning they do not have to put out much effort to attract the applicants that they prefer. It’s not you, it’s them. Well its their admissions staff, who have way more than enough overachiever applicants, letting them shape the class to their exact specifications. Bowdoin, as lovely a place as it is, is not the only show in town when it comes to LACs. If you have not done so, visit campus and talk to alumni (especially alumni who aren’t out there actively recruiting). Many alumni are very fond of their days there, but quite often we found that was more often because it was like being at a resort in some ways, than any deep intellectual engagement (which is to be sure present in some depts but not really their calling card). Just saying, and we like Bowdoin! </p>
<p>If you are really set on Bowdoin, then you have helped yourself by applying early decision. As I recall, my son’s offer packet said that somewhere around 65% or so of their acceptances were on early decision apps. Subtract 5-10% for seats reserved for, uh, “development” purposes. All that seems a bit shameful to me, and knowing what I know now, that little bit of data is something that they should be required to print in neon letters on the front of every gorgeous expensive view book that goes out the door. I think you will find the same situation at Pomona, Haverford, probably Swarthmore, and the like. </p>
<p>Geographic Reach. If at all possible, try to widen your net beyond New England. There is a lot of variation out there and you will benefit by having a bit wider geographic reach. We are in SoCal, which is the land of giant state universities, so we had to get used to the idea that nearly everything worth looking at in your category meant going a couple of time zones east. </p>
<p>Don’t Buy the Hype. By the way, I’m not accusing you of this, but understand that many smart students with decent grades and numbers are lulled into thinking that they are a shoo-in for Bowdoin (and add U Chicago, Haverford, Dartmouth, even W&L and Davidson among others to that list). It turns out that most are being led on a bit by admissions. Remember that admitted classes in LACs are tiny. Look at the admissions data with a cold eye, and even if you are very special and exceptional, assume that you are not just for purposes of this exercise. Depending on how large your HS is, your Family Connection account can be a really good source of raw data about the success of your peers from prior classes. Take that information seriously. If your HS is in Greece then you need some help comparing apples to apples, but once you get that help, it your numbers are not in the pack or at the top of the pack of the accepts from your high school or one that is comparable, then treat the college as a “reach.” Also, take the word of your counselor seriously if you have one.</p>
<p>They aren’t Fungible. Also, know why you are considering a particular school or category of schools. Colleges are not fungible. You already get the distinction between LACs and big unis. But LACs fall into many categories too. Bates is not a safety but it attracts a different profile of student than Bowdoin so it is not interchangeable. It’s just in Maine like Bowdoin. Same for Colby. I agree with the above commenters on that. Strictly on numbers, you may have a shot getting into Bates. But Bates is drastically different from Bowdoin both on-campus and in terms of the school’s relations with the surrounding community. </p>
<p>Town-Gown Relations are Important. Before you send off that app to any school, but particularly a small college in a small college town, page through a few back issues of the campus paper, and pay attention to articles “decrying the disconnect” or calling for “town halls” and “days of healing” and such to mend town-gown relationships. Note the crime reports, esp, property crimes and assaults. Some places, college and townsfolk get along OK or great (I’d count Bowdoin in that list, and even W&L). Others, yeeesh, not so much (see Bates and Swarthmore, for rather stark examples). </p>
<p>What is the Institution’s Passion (Besides getting your Tuition)? Pay attention to what the schools lead with in their view books and websites. Ignore the photos of autumn leaves and tall spires (everywhere east of Nevada can muster that). You will discover that there are some differences that are more apparent “between the lines.” The view book will often unintentionally betray that focus. Questions to ask: What do the faculty and administration seem distracted with or focused on? Is it diversity and political action? (see Hampshire, Wesleyan, Skidmore) Is it hooking kids up with research opportunities? Med School? (Tufts) Is it a focus on so-called “Leadership” (Claremont McKenna and perhaps Davidson)? Is it high grad school and professional school placement numbers? You’ll live there for four years so the institution’s focus (or obsession in some cases) needs to be at least consistent with your own.</p>
<p>Through all the effort my son put into the search, we finally came around to the conclusion that teaching (i.e., not a TA lecturing 500 people), access to faculty (meaning you aren’t vying with 500 other members of the same section for that one research position), likelihood of getting into a desired grad/professional program, interactive classes and access to substantial merit money were the most important factors for us. That cut the list down nicely.</p>
<p>Brand Names. Brand names are cool on admissions day, and you parents will dig having the decal on the minivan. After the first week, that wears off for you and you have to be happy and engaged for four years. That you are considering LACs for an econ degree tells me that you must value teaching and perhaps are aware that LACs value teaching undergrads over chasing research grants. In my opinion, you are aiming the right way. But I have to agree wholeheartedly with tk21769 just above here. Really look at the CTCL schools. That they aren’t brand names to you or your friends will at first be unsettling. Stick with it for a bit. You will soon realize something far more important: These aren’t sad backwaters; quite the opposite. Most of these schools are serious about the success of their students, and that includes emphasizing teaching by experts in the field. These schools also do not act as if they are doing you a favor by taking your app fee and reading your app. Many have high placement numbers in grad and professional programs. Why are you considering undergrad anyway? Go where you’ll be distinguished, engaged and stimulated. You will be surprised at the attention the recruiter will pay to your file. Some have substantial merit money to throw your way. Hard to get that from some better-known colleges. tk’s list of the upper tier CTCL schools is a good list. Add Rhodes in Memphis and Denison in Ohio. Look at Eckerd College, which is an up and coming school basically in the middle of Tampa Bay. lf you have a deep-seated academic drive, at least look into Reed College - the kids there are in a different intellectual league altogether, but since Reed refuses to play with USNWR, the published admissions numbers are misleading. Not really a safety school, but they’ll consider your file. For non-CTCL schools consider Carleton College in Minnesota. Also worth a look is Claremont McKenna in California (if you can handle their weird “leadership” fetish). Davidson has gotten a lot of press mostly because of sports, but it has enabled them to boost their numbers and they are getting a rep as a place for hard workers. Worth a look to widen your list.</p>
<p>OK to aim high but arm yourself with meaningful information. Good luck.</p>