<p>Most of my sibs attended UC’s (UCLA, UCSD). They are big. They can be very impersonal. But obviously thousands of young people graduate from these institutions every year and go on to happy and productive lives.</p>
<p>I attended an LAC (Reed) and I’m very partial to them. My son applied to just one flagship large University but otherwise to LAC’s and UChicago. For him the flagship U (UMich) was a backup that would have been fine for him – big time everything there, an honors college, a residential college, major sports (and a merit scholarship). The LAC’s he ended up eliminating after his admission were Carleton, Reed, and Williams, basically because he thought he could get at least as good an undergraduate education at UofChicago, plus have access to a wide variety of specialized and advanced courses, plus live in a major league city (referring to sports here, not just the other attractions). He made the most of his opportunities at and in Chicago, and he spent a year abroad as well at London School of Economics.</p>
<p>What I find interesting about this - other than the Bowdoin fans coming out of the woods - is that you have one on the west coast, one in the middle and one in the east. These are vastly different. Berkeley the place is way left on the political scale. Chicago is the great metropolis and is known for its conservative economics program. And Bowdoin is in the land of LLBean. </p>
<p>You mentioned rural high school. If your daughter is outdoorsy, Bowdoin is the obvious choice. If she wants a big change, then either of the others.</p>
<p>In terms of culture, she’ll likely find Bowdoin as east coast preppy as, well, it tends to be. That doesn’t suit everyone. Chicago is more diverse by every measure and the students tend to be more individualistic. There are stereotypes about Cal students but it’s a big school with a big range of people. </p>
<p>Graduation rates at public universities, particularly 4 year rates, tend to be lower because more kids can’t afford school and need to take time off to work or for family reasons. It really doesn’t reflect more than economics.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to balance comfort versus challenge.</p>
<p>Actually, I thought B had about 1400 students, while it has about 1700, so it is closer to average than I thought. Williams and Carleton each have about 2000, I think. At that size, an additional 300 or 400 people can make a difference. And there are LACs with 3000 students.</p>
<p>Bowdoin just feels small to me, I guess. It’s a very nice campus. (Our local HS has about 700 kids. Even Bennington is bigger!)</p>
<p>Since you ask…my son wants to become a Recording/Sound/Audio Engineer, a completely different beast than traditional engineering. The only public school in CA to have a program is Cal State Dominguez Hills. Some Music Colleges/Schools/Conservatories have this major, but you have to audition to get into the school - yikes.</p>
<p>(And Berkeley is considered one of the best schools for music for not being a dedicated music school/conservatory/college. I found that out while I was there.)</p>
<p>My daughter wants to be a veterinarian and should (to improve her chances at vet school admission) attend an undergraduate program at a school that is attached to a Vet school. It’s not a guarantee, but if you look at the stats, more people make it to vet school from those programs than otherwise. It’s not that attending another program will kill your chances…</p>
<p>well, back from bowdoin accepted days with overnight stay. beautiful campus and town- people -students and staff very nice- tried to imagine studying there, not too preppy more like mountain preppy, of course a beautiful day and tried to imagine cooooold, which coming from here was not too hard to do. D loved it and it will be an interesting comparison to uchicago. the parent session was too lopsided with question after question about the chem free dorm where D said the kids were not interested in it and the students there rolled their eyes about it. so at least she knows she does not want that. overall very good inpression. she went to a class (D pointed out there was no texting going on) and talked a long time with the professors in her intended major.berkeley just has too big classes and hassle to get into them. so it’s down to bowdoin and uchicago- there was no others we talked to comparing these- they all were comparing wash u stl, midd, amherst and dartmouth.</p>
<p>I gotta say, applying to Bowdoin *and *Chicago suggests that someone had no idea what they were looking for. They’re both academically excellent and have gorgeous buildings. I can’t think of anything else they have in common.</p>
<p>well, this past weekend went to UChicago- and D has accepted it- cooperative learning, friendly actually happy looking kids, help with internships and preprofessional help, chicago nearby, comfortable feeling, good size. We are excited!</p>
<p>Great choice. At 4,000 students (iirc) there is a great undergraduate focus at UChi that people overlook. Plus you still have access to the grad departments. We knew an undergrad doing research with a world famous paleontologist. The core sounds very challenging, but what a freaking great education. </p>
<p>Thanks for the follow through, so many times you never hear how it all worked out…</p>
It’s a very nice campus. (Our local HS has about 700 kids. Even Bennington is bigger!)</p>