I’m a Carleton grad, and my S25 is starting at Bowdoin next week. He’s not a STEM major, but his college priorities were otherwise the same as your son’s. He’s quirky, not sporty or preppy. I would have LOVED for him to go to Carleton, but he wanted to stay closer to home.
When he was making his final choice this spring, he & I were both concerned about the potential prep school vibe at Bowdoin; here is my thread about it (we found the responses helpful & reassuring). He requested chemical-free housing at Bowdoin (a fairly popular choice, seems like) and he’s vibing with his roommates so far in their group chat. His sense (hope?) is that there would be more of “his people” at Carleton, but there are enough of them at Bowdoin.
I’d recommend that your son reach out to the Bowdoin chemistry department directly & ask if he can Zoom with a professor and a couple of students. Admissions might be able to help you make this connection–my son asked his Bowdoin rep to connect him with a couple of students who shared his interests, and the students emailed him the very next day.
If he’s serious about ED at Bowdoin, could he revisit this fall, to get a better sense of both the chemistry department & the student vibe? Your son might also consider applying to Wesleyan–strong STEM & music programs, and many overlapping applicants with Vassar & Brown. No interview or supplementary essay.
Feel free to DM me in mid-September after my kid has been on campus for a while & can give his early experience of the Bowdoin culture. Good luck!