Hey there! I got accepted into both Bowdoin and Wellesley but I am struggling to decide between both options. I want to pursue a neuroscience major for background. I also don’t mind attending an all women’s school and like the small liberal arts feel both colleges have. I think I am leaning more towards Bowdoin, but I am really afraid that I will make the wrong choice. Any insights or opinions would be greatly appreciated!
There is no wrong choice among these two stellar LACs. Pick the school you prefer, buy a hoodie, and never look back. Congrats!
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At least IMHO there is no wrong choice between these two excellent colleges. This is however assuming that you can afford both options, and that you want to work hard and learn an enormous amount.
I toured Bowdoin twice with a daughter who was looking for a small school (one official tour, one informal “just walk around and look” tour), and way back when I was in university I took two classes at Wellesley College (on exchange). I am reasonably familiar with both schools. I have no idea which one I would recommend (other than both of them).
You might want to look at the course requirements to graduate from each of the two schools. You should look at both general requirements and major-specific requirements.
Probably neither of these nits will matter. However, Wellesley has cross registration options with MIT and I think a few other schools in the area. Bowdoin College is down the street from a very good gelato shop (you might want to try the stracciatella).
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Since we know almost nothing about you (beyond that you’re interested in neuroscience and like both colleges… and that you must have been a strong applicant - congrats!), there isn’t much way to channel what would be the better choice for you! Certainly neither school is objectively better than the other, so the decision is entirely about your preferences.
Sometimes students share their pro and con lists with us. That gives us a jumping off point to say more about factors that might give one school or the other an edge. Have you visited both campuses?
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OP: Hard to accept that one doesn’t have a strong preference between a co-ed and a single sex school.
Why? She’s hardly the first student to have difficulty deciding between a women’s college and a coed one. A person can see the advantages of both, and perhaps wish they could have both experiences, but a choice must be made. I recently conversed with a student who was torn between Smith and Wesleyan, and had good reasons for liking both. It’s not that unusual.
People say the same thing when a student is torn between a LAC and a large flagship - “Surely you must have a clear preference!” Sometimes that’s true, but other times, two possible futures can be appealing in different ways, and letting go of either is hard.
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Both excellent schools. Bowdoin will be a little more collaborative and laid back vs the more ambitious/competitive Wellesley. Neither atmosphere is the wrong choice, but you might prefer one over the other.
I will add support to those who have said that there’s not a wrong choice here. Both colleges are excellent in neuroscience, both support student research, both believe in hands on learning. Since you are leaning toward Bowdoin, I’d say to go with your gut, you will not be making a mistake. You chose well to begin with when you picked these 2 colleges for your applications list.
As one form of information, this site on the best colleges for the study of neuroscience includes both Bowdoin and Wellesley:
Thank you all for your replies! I really appreciate all of your opinions and thoughts. However, I just got off the wait-list to Pomona College which was my top choice! I didn’t put this in my first post because I honestly didn’t think I would get off the wait-list. If the financial aid goes well then I will be going to Pomona, if not Bowdoin will definitely be my second option.
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Fantastic! Good luck with Pomona’s aid — otherwise Bowdoin is equally wonderful.
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How exciting! Pomona is awesome; and when you’re in the mood for a little women’s-college ambiance, you can stroll over to Seal Court at Scripps for Wednesday-afternoon tea. Best of all worlds 
- congrats!!!
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