Hi again, everyone. Thanks to everyone who replied to my last thread. Your suggestions were very helpful, and I’ve added many of the colleges to my list.
I’ve been touring campuses recently, and I fell in love with Bowdoin.
I realize how insanely hard it is to get in. Based on my stats and extracurriculars, I believe I have a fair chance, though I know it’s a crapshoot and plenty of qualified applicants get rejected every year, so I’m not betting on it by any means.
Even so, I’m thinking ahead and just wondering if Bowdoin is a conservative-friendly campus. I consider myself a moderate conservative and love discussing issues from both sides. I just don’t want to be at a college that only amplifies and tolerates one ideology. I want to actually be able to have robust discussions with people, and have friends across the political spectrum. I’d like a college environment that practices what it preaches about critical thinking and civil discourse.
How’s Bowdoin in this regard? I’m aware the majority of the student body will be liberal, like at 99% of colleges campuses. But some campuses are, of course, more inclusive of different viewpoints than others. Bowdoin seems to have a decent rating on FIRE and I know it does have a Conservatives group on campus, just wondering if anyone here has had any direct experiences to share. Thank you in advance!
Conservatives will find others with similar beliefs, and Bowdoin students are highly tolerant. IMO you will find more students who are relatively fiscally/economically conservative/moderate as compared to social conservatives. There are plenty of future bankers and consultants among the students.
First and foremost Bowdoin is an accepting and friendly campus. Bowdoin College Conservatives was founded last year to fill the void left by the lack of a Bowdoin Rebuplican Club. One of the purposes of the club is to engage in respectful discussions with between students with differing opinions. Bowdoin College Conservatives and Bowdoin Democrats jointly moderated the final debate this year for Maine’s open Senate seat.
Bowdoin also has a debate society that has brought in a wide range of speakers including some from AEI and FIRE. I’m also aware of several Bowdoin students who participated in Hudson Institutes Summer Fellows program.
Bowdoin College is fine for students with moderate to right leaning political opinions. There are schools for conservatives to avoid if they prefer a welcoming, non-confrontational atmosphere, but Bowdoin College is not among those extreme schools.