Harder to get into than Williams? - Page 2

torasee · 10-22-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Actually, it was the other way around: it was USNews that lent credence to Bowdoin's admissions numbers after it decided to become SAT-optional.

Not exactly - Bowdoin was SAT optional long before USNWR started ranking colleges . .

johnwesley · 10-22-2009, 10:13 AM

^^^it doesn't matter. The USNews rankings came along just in time to certify Bowdoin's four to five year surge in applications -- from people who, in no way, shape or form, could have gotten into Williams.

torasee · 10-22-2009, 06:34 PM

USNWR rankings came into existence 14 or so years after Bowdoin went SAT optional so what you're saying is not correct . . ..

Linde · 10-22-2009, 08:10 PM

My H graduated from Bowdoin in the mid-70's. No SATs required. No US News rankings.

johnwesley · 10-23-2009, 05:41 AM

you're absolutely right. my bad. a check of older editions of USNews show that apparently, Bowdoin did not break the top ten in the National Liberal Arts College category until 1990 when without explanation, it jumped from #13 to #4. My recollection was that Bowdoin had always been in the top ten, but, I was wrong.