Visit Report by Papa Chicken (Member since March 25 2005 with 1788 posts) Visit Date - June 2006
Visit to Bowdoin College in June 2006 by Papa Chicken (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2006)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes - best info session moderator out of ~20 visits Campus Tour:
Yes - best tour guide out of ~20 visits
Bowdoin College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
I was truly impressed
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent Dormitories: 5 - Excellent -
some new freshman dorms that look palatial
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
....but a wee bit small
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
bustling
Campus Visit Notes for Bowdoin College:
Visit Description:
Bowdoin was our 2nd stop on the Bates-Bowdoin-Colby circuit… a mere 30 minute drive to the coast from Bates. First impression driving into the town were positive, in that it seemed much more lively than Lewiston, probably because there were more people & tourists there, and the main street (abutting campus in one corner) is populated by nice shops and restaurants, something that seemed absent at Bates. So, good start. Parked on the street next to the main quad & walked through campus to the admissions house. Other parts of the campus are surrounded by fairly nice housing, some of Victorian architecture, including a number of former frat houses now serving as dorms. Seemed like Bowdoin had lots going on at the time, and people were coming through campus & to-&-fro town….this town-campus integration appealed much more to DS. Eclectic assortment of colonial to modern buildings….very historic feel. Campus was very well maintained…..little things like curbs were in good shape, pathways well manicured, fresh painting, etc. We had a bit of time, so we headed over to the gym to track down a coach….as we were studying the campus map & wondering where we were, a gentleman who described himself as class of 63 or so, came to our aid….very nice gesture to help some strangers out, & I was impressed (he must have been waiting for us!) That welcoming attitude typified all the people we met. Had a quick lunch in one of the dining halls….learned later that Bowdoin prides itself on food quality, being highly ranked by the Princeton reports in this category. Lots of construction going on, including a new music hall, with mocked-up model displayed in the admissions building. Took the tour, led by a student from North Carolina, followed by an info session. Our tour guide was very articulate, and forthcoming about the pros and the cons of Bowdoin & why she thought the place was unique to her. [“Common good” is a big theme for Bowdoin, in part responsible for the strong town relations they hold.] DS doesn’t particularly like to sit through info sessions, as we’ve been to so many now…..and the admissions leader accommodated for this apparently common malady (that is, info session saturation) by a greater emphasis on subjective topics, rather than repeating admissions statistics and the like. It was probably the best info session I’ve been to in the dozen plus I’ve seen thus far. One lasting piece of advice he gave, which DS & I will remember (and this may seem obvious)….notice who the college chooses to expose you to during campus visits…..it’s the college’s choice & they represent who the college believes can expose you to the best of the college. We sensed a certain creative confidence from all we heard from and talked with that was very appealing. Bottom line: Bowdoin moves to the top of the list, even though its not that big student body-wise, it feels bigger due to the campus-town interaction, and the people seem very vibrant & open.
