What is your overall opinion of this school?
Everyone wants to be here. Everyone cares about Bowdoin.
What are the academics like at your school?
Overall I’ve had great classes and great professors. The material is interesting an the professors engaging. I like having small classes that limit the amount of lecture time (discussion is the norm in most of my classes). My professors know my name (sounds trivial, but it’s really helpful) and it’s easy to cultivate relationships with them. The workload varies by class, professor and how much effort you intend to put into it. It’s certainly not easy. I do spend a significant amount of time studying, researching, writing, and doing labs etc but not to the exclusion of other activities. It's all about learning; it's all about discussion; it's all about enriching your mind with students and professors alike, inside and outside of class. It's a lot of work, but for the most part we enjoy it.
Describe the students at your school.
For me, the people are what make Bowdoin what it is. Everyone really wants to be here. Everyone really cares about life on campus. Students, professors, the dining service staff, our housekeeper, the president Barry Mills (affectionately know as B Mills), the head of security (he broadcasts a show on our local radio station) etc. We’re all a little nerdy, outdoorsy, preppy, high achieving, motivated, very social, and ready for some excitement and adventure.
The dating scene is decent. I think the male population is pretty attractive even if they do have some maturing to do. Relationships tend to fall into one extreme or another. They are either casual hook-ups or serious long term things. I think that’s pretty standard for college. Sometimes the selection can feel limited, but let’s be honest, it’s like that anywhere.
For the most part students are friendly and laid back. When I was visiting schools I did what I called the “smile test” on the campus tours. This sounds so silly but I would smile at students walking by the tour group. If the students smiled back, they passed the test. Bowdoin definitely passed. There’s a tradition called the “Bowdoin Hello”. Anytime you’re walking along a path and it’s just you and another person, you smile and say hello. Again, sounds silly, but it makes all the difference in creating the feeling like you belong. It’s the type of place where I can be waiting in line for coffee at the café and start having a conversation about anything and everything with the people waiting beside me, whether t’s a student or a professor. You can wear sweatpants and a polo to class. You can wear your running spandex. You can look like you're going to a business interview. It all works at Bowdoin.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
So many things to do ALL THE TIME. I like the outing club, going to plays, the pub. I live in a social house (kind of like a fraternity/sorority except way more fun and without the hazing and excessive amounts of drinking).
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
Smart, hardworking, friendly, down to earth, outdoorsy, preppy, crazy for going to school in maine.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
Here’s your chance: Say anything about your college!