I’ve been accepted to both schools, and from my tours (last spring) I remember loving both. Obviously, with the situation right now touring again isn’t possible. I was just wondering how people would compare the two schools, especially as it relates to culture & the students.
In considered the students of these schools in an academic sense, you will note the striking similarity in their SAT score profiles (with Reed placing slightly higher in EBRW and Bowdoin placing slightly higher in math).
Reed disproportionately produces future PhDs.
Bowdoin graduates its students, within four years, at a high rate, a problem area for Reed: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/highest-grad-rate.
Bowdoin offers a broader curriculum, and includes extensive course listings in interesting areas such as geosciences. For core academic areas such as math, biology, English literature, economics (https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html) and international studies, Reed would be top-notch, however.
Bowdoin offers extensive athletic facilities.
Reed’s campus tends to be underrated aesthetically, and may be more appealing for some than Bowdoin’s.
Reed’s current admission yield, only 17%, could represent a source of concern.
Other distinctions might depend on your particular academic interests if you care to state them.
Two really different schools! Reed’s student body is probably more quirky, life of the mind whereas Bowdoin’s is more mainstream and sporty.
The locations are quite different as well. For me, it’d be Bowdoin in a heartbeat, but I am not the Reed “type”. If you were the latter, Bowdoin might feel really stifling.
What made you apply to these two colleges? What did
You like about them both? What do you want to study? What do they offer that looks kind of cool ( in case you change your mind about a major)? When you compiled your mental list of colleges you hoped to be admitted to which one was higher up that list and why?
Congratulations, great choices.
I think I’d like to major in something in the International Relations/Government/PolySci field, likely meaning I’ll be heading on to grad school, either for a JD, PHD, or something of the like. Not that into sports— I wouldn’t really miss them at Reed. I’m pretty confident that whichever I choose will be great academically, just not sure which “type” I am/ which I should pick.
@Jon234 When I compiled the list of colleges, I really had 3 #1 choices— Bowdoin, Reed, and Pitzer. I didn’t get in to Pitzer, but Bowdoin and Reed are essentially tied in my mind.
To me, Bowdoin conjures the image of a more classic Northeast liberal arts college, while Reed gives me the idea of a more counterculture-y West Coast one
I agree that these schools are so different. My perceptions:
Bowdoin students are more mainstream, different political views are tolerated. There is more drinking than drug use.
Reed students are more quirky, probably more introverted on the whole. Social justice warrior vibe, less tolerant of moderate or conservative viewpoints. Drug use common.
For your intended major I would choose Bowdoin. You say grad school might be in your future…while I understand a JD coupled with any of your potential majors, what type of job might you be interested in that would require a PhD?
@will123 Oh my. I doubt any student would be happy at both Reed and Bowdoin. Polar opposites when it comes to the types of kids on campus. I’m not sure how you came up with your list. I would think anyone who has done any research could choose between Bowdoin and Reed in about 15 minutes.
I’m sure both will get you where you want to go academically but choosing where you fit is the issue. Do you know any kids who go to one of these schools? Anyone from your high school? Or just read the entries in the Fiske Guide. Right away, you’re going to see a big difference in campus culture.
So the question is are you counterculture-y or not?
If you think of your choices as falling along a continuum of college names that might be familiar to you — something like Williams → Bowdoin → Hamilton → Wesleyan → Vassar → Pitzer → Reed — consider which end of the spectrum seems more appealing to you. Along these lines, in the same way that I could see Williams and Vassar landing on the same list for certain students, I could see Bowdoin and Reed as well, so I’m less inclined to view your choices as opposites than other posters.
Personally, I think there’s more to be gained living on a campus that accommodates many different points of view. If you’re in a bubble where everyone agrees with everything you say and think how do you grow, how does your thinking evolve, how do you learn to be tolerant?
I agree. I think my primary concerns with each school are essentially as follows
Bowdoin:
- Is it overly rigid? (Meaning e.g. “this is the way it’s always been done” / hallowed halls type vibe)
- Is the social scene dominated by athletics?
- Could the environment be unwelcoming to non-prep school kids?
Reed: - Is it too much of a bubble?
- Is it so counterculture-y that it could be unwelcoming to those who aren’t really that counterculture?
See if the schools can out you in touch with someone on a similar academic path.
Based on my perceptions, if you aren’t counterculture and/or SJW, Reed would not be a good fit.
You could make two separate posts and ask the above questions: the questions about each school in the school’s CC section.
Reed is in a large-ish city, with an airport. That puts it at a huge advantage in my book. I wouldn’t worry about a “bubble” – Reed is in a city of 700,000.
But you will live, eat & study with students at your school seven days a week.
In my view, campus culture should be a very significant factor when considering LACs.
The time comes quickly when your college years are behind you, so I’d pick the school that you think is best aligned with your long-term plans.
Agree if one has long term plans in mind.
Often students select LACs in order to explore.
My S, who graduated from a midwest public HS with 70% free and reduced lunch students, and wasn’t big into sports, loved his time at Bowdoin. He made wonderful friends and had a fabulous academic experience.
There were wealthy new england prep school types, but a lot of other types as well.
A lot of those prep school kids are nice kids you know.
Toss a coin heads Reed, tails Bowdoin, see how happy you are with the result.