| hi sophie,
i didn't drink 3 out of my 4 years at bowdoin and then, in my senior year, only occasionally. i was part of the chem-free housing for all my years there, and i thought it was great. i had late night conversations about books, politics, identity, and philosophy. i would take classes with hallmates and we would have slow food lunches and talk for hours trying to unpack the ideas presented in class. i say this only to describe a bowdoin that was very much my experience, but which is rarely touted specifically.
there is drinking, but one of the things i found about bowdoin is that no one pressured me to drink. i was on an athletic team for two years and even then the other members respected my decision at parties. i think there's usually only pressure to drink when someone feels insecure that they're drinking. at bowdoin, there are enough people who drink and enough people who don't to make everyone feel secure in their decision.
the academics are equal to haverford or any top LAC for that matter. haverford is a bit smaller, but not enough to make a difference in your decision. there are many shy people at bowdoin, but, then again, in my experience, it's a bookish place. try to get your son or daughter to stay in the chem-free dorm when he or she goes to visit. OR just don't stay in a dorm. sometimes the experience of staying in a dorm (especially for shy students) can be very different and not representative of what can exist as a first year at bowdoin. i visited the campus but never stayed in a dorm. i was too shy.
nevertheless, bowdoin was a great place. despite my being shy, i met a lot of people my first year. it's like any college in that some people might feel a little alienated their first year, but unlike most colleges, the deans, proctors, and upperclassmen are aware of experiences like that. they help out, and encourage shy students to join groups, or take certain classes. it's an uncommon level of community.
i would describe the population at bowdoin as bookish. other friends would describe their experiences at the college as variously preppy, outdoorsy, crunchy, sports-oriented, pre-professional, whimsical, political, apathetic. it all depends on one's community while there. bowdoin is strange in that it's small but can accommodate a number of different experiences, which i think is its strength.
i hope this helped! |