I know it fairly well and would put W&M in the “match” / “target” bucket as well. From the priorities the OP’s son lists, I think W&M would be a very good fit, culturally (as would the other schools on the list!).
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Stat wise it’s definitely a match. To add, it’s highly slanted female with a 37% acceptance rate for males and 32% for females, given the last CDS. Another strong point toward OP’s benefit.
I sort of hope you can talk your child out of ED - or at least get them to visit more schools b4. He sounds like he can fit many places beyond Bowdoin (or Carleton).
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Agree with this—my unhooked S25 had similar GPA, 1510 SAT, & much weaker ECs. He applied RD to 8 LACs with sub-20% acceptance rates & got into 4, including Bowdoin & Vassar. He was also admitted to Oberlin & Olaf with $30+k merit. Your list looks great overall.
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Both schools are excellent! Your list is great. My older son applied to Bowdoin ED2 (1510, similar other stats) and was deferred and then accepted RD and is attending. He was also accepted at Carleton RD (which was need aware at the time and he only did online demonstrated interest) and at a bunch of other NESCAC schools (but rejected ED1 at Middlebury). He is a biochemistry major and math minor and very, very happy at a Bowdoin. He is now a junior and has a high GPA etc. He is not a recruited athlete or playing an instrument in the orchestra. Just a regular kid who dabbles in a few interests.
My younger son will also be attending Bowdoin in the fall and has different interests (more political science). He applied RD to Bowdoin. On paper he had higher stats 1580, NMS, etc. Also a regular kid and not a recruited athlete or orchestra kid.
The point being that the kids were both accepted RD so while nerve wracking -applying to a bunch of similar schools in RD may work out just fine and they can make the decision later rather than earlier. His thoughts may change as he goes through this process.
My sons both did all of the optionals at Bowdoin: toured in person, interview, video, supplemental essay. They also had safety schools they were very happy to attend. We were also full pay but not from Maine.
It is a wonderful school. It just happens to be closer to home than Carleton. Equally Carleton is an excellent school as you already know. And so are many others!
Good luck with the process. Buckle in-it is a roller coaster!
Finally, I highly recommend you read some of the Niceunparticularman posts (if you haven’t already) as they were very helpful about the college process.
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Thank you!
This is very encouraging. I’d just heard so much about how many “average excellent” students these schools get and that many therefore have to get rejected. We’re happy to hear that his chances might be better than expected. So great that you kids had such great results.
Good advice about Pitt!
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So glad to hear that your older son is very happy at Bowdoin and that both sons were able to get in RD. I really do kind of hope my kid decides to skip ED.
Yes, I got some great input from Niceunparticularman in response to my post last fall. This community is full of generous and wise people. I’m grateful.
Great to know! Thank you.
Do you have any suggestions for places beyond Bowdoin? (Not that I want to complicate things too much by adding more schools to the list).
He had a really good visit to W&M and got to sit in on a Poli Sci class that he found very interesting. I could see him there. Students there seemed happy and intellectually engaged.
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Are you on the wrong thread ?
I don’t see anyone who is average in any way being described on this thread.
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Such great results! That’s fantastic! It’s so nice to hear about positive outcomes and makes me feel optimistic.
Thank you for this! A welcome correction.
I’ve definitely gotten the sense that Olaf is becoming more widely known. The president, Susan Singer, was a bio prof at Carleton and is a lovely person. Nice to know there’s less of an invisible wall between the two Northfield colleges now.
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That makes a lot of sense!
This is helpful to know! Thank you!
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I’d just heard that “average excellent” phrase used a lot on CC to describe kids with high stats but maybe who haven’t started their own non-profits or written a novel or performed at Carnegie Hall or something! 
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Great! A couple of additional comments, my kids applied to 12 or fewer schools. FWIW, my older son has a diverse group of nice supportive friends. One of Bowdoin’s reputations is of a very supportive alumni network and my son is already experiencing this.
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Please - few have done that. More than a few say but let’s be real.
Your kid is a stud. There is no average there.
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So much useful input here! Thank you!! Very interesting about the socio-economic diversity.
He says he doesn’t want to do any sort of engineering–I think because he likes so many different areas of study and thinks the requirements for an engineering degree might make it hard for him to pursue a more well-rounded undergrad experience. I also think he doesn’t like the idea of leaving a campus and friends he’ll (hopefully) come to love in order to the the"2" following the “3”.
I do think he’ll have good LoRs (one from his wonderful AP chem teacher who loved him) and one from his AP Lang teacher) and essays.
Others have recommended Kalamazoo, and it has been on the list, but we haven’t visited. It feels harder to get to (two flights), and DS feels that it’s too small. But maybe he should still apply.
Big congrats to your son! And I’m so glad to hear that he sensed he could find his people there. Thanks for sharing the thread. Very helpful. Sounds like our kids have some things in common. Mine was way into Magic the Gathering for many years–not D&D as much, but it’s a close cousin.
Great idea about setting up a Zoom with current students and a prof. I’ll encourage DS to pursue this.
We did visit Wesleyan last summer. Should have gone during the school year. DS was blah about Middletown, and the tour was lackluster. I’d thought it could be a great fit for him, but he has rejected it.
I’d love to hear how your son’s early experience of Bowdoin is! I hope he totally loves it!
I probably wouldn’t be the one to match Bowdoin or Carleton - interestingly my FB profile picture was taken at Bowdoin (which I didn’t think was that nice but the pic was ok) -
I might look at the PhD feeder list:
I like Kalamazoo - which is right by Carleton in the rank - I like the open curriculum and big merit - so it’s not Bowdoin or close - but if you wanted a safety.
Wooster is a safety with mentored research - on niche, they describe the kids as well rounded, upbeat and smart; friendly, outgoing and helpful to each other; and unique
Occidental might be another - the students are described as Passionate, with a lot of commitments; Involved; and Always wants to be doing more. Rhodes might be another safety worth a look - but not sure it’s the fit.
If you look at those with the highest chem rankings - through various rankings - maybe Haverford (a near like school difficulty wise), K also pops on top chem programs - mentioned above…a big safety with merit. Davidson students say - Involved, dedicated, and conscientious.
Grinnell didn’t see a fit.
Others might be best to give though.
I think given the major - grad school is likely - and I’d focus on fit more than anything.
He’ll have options…unless he EDs…then he’ll have one option 
I think maybe a safety LAC would be warranted - just in case and you don’t want a Pitt or UMN - but I’m confident you’ll be good with the list as is.
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@Exploring1 , your list is fine. Your kid is awesome. And the demographics support the idea that some of the mania of the last few years may be abating.
I think the only thing you need to think through is why ED. If Bowdoin and Carleton are the top 2 choices, there could be a benefit to ED, especially as a FP family. If your son is truly undecided, waiting could help, hence RD.
I think that the decision about playing the ED card is a big one. For the last several years, the CCs at my kids BS have encouraged ED for kids with a preference. If in his heart of hearts, he’ll feel like he wanted to see what happened at other schools, you might want to hold off.
But if Bowdoin and Carleton are truly top choiices and tied for #1, I’d try to work that out before Nov. 1.
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