I’ve been considering applying to Bowdoin ED2, I love the school, but I’m worried that my grades in math and science are going to hurt my application.
I have around a 3.75-3.9 GPA according to online calculators, as a number it’s a 93. Weighted my GPA is like a 4.15 or so. The thing is I have really good grades in English and history which are my intended majors but mediocre at best grades in science and math. For example, I ended AP Lit with a 97 and I have a 98 in AP Euro currently, but my AP Calc and AP Bio averages are 84 and 86.
I have pretty strong extracurriculars, I run my school’s television show, which is really big in the community. I was also selected for a paid filmmaking position where I made short films that highlighted my local community - the program ending up winning an award. I also have a lot of English extracurriculars and I’m a really strong writer.
I want to go to Bowdoin because its English courses seem AMAZING. I need to take Women in the 18th Century, and The Real Life of Literature or else I might DIE (hyperbole, I swear).
Finally, my aunt is a pretty big alumnus, she was a polar bear of the year a couple of years ago and she’s worked in admissions in the past, though I’m not sure if it was for Bowdoin.
I’m worried about applying ED2 because I don’t want to throw away my shot at other small LACs, Bowdoin is so selective and if I don’t have a chance, I’ll probably end up EDing to a LAC with a slightly bigger acceptance rate.
Please tell me if I’m wasting my time chasing this dream. Do I have a chance? Is it big enough to take the leap?
Do you go to private school or public? I think there might be a better shot coming from public. The stats in our SCOIR for admission to Bowdoin are always tippy top - 4.4 weighted GPA and above and 1560 SAT and above.
So if Bowdoin is your favorite remaining option, I would definitely at least apply to Bowdoin under the circumstances you described.
And if Bowdoin is you favorite remaining option, I would not apply anywhere else ED2. I think if you are worried about what will happen if you don’t get into Bowdoin, the best solution to that is to make sure you have a robust list of RD applications where you know your grades are competitive. I would not strategically pick some different ED2 school when it is not actually your remaining favorite.
So should you ED2 Bowdoin? If it is definitely your remaining favorite and would be comfortably affordable, then sure. Might work out, might not, but if you have a solid RD plan you will still be in good shape if it doesn’t work.
To the extent the connection with your aunt is legacy, I believe Bowdoin has not officially stepped away from the practice as has, say, its fellow NESCAC college, Wesleyan. That said, if the Bowdoin Orient is any indication, and I expect that it is, then there is increasing pressure from within at Bowdoin to end it. Not sure what to do with that, but there it is.
Also, at other institutions with which I have more familiarity, an aunt would not count for legacy purposes. But if she’s a big money donor, or some kind of famous luminary, then it might not matter what definition of legacy they maintain and apply. Not sure Polar Bear of the Year will cut it on that score, though.
I have no idea what your chances are. I think particularly at small highly selective LACs those are hard things to peg and predict.
The one bit of good news I have is that your interests can be developed just as well at any number of other LACs. English literature is a LAC specialty and many of them are really good at it. Not to take anything away from Bowdoin, but it’s not as if you are on here telling us you love foreign language and really want to go to Middlebury or want to study film at a small school and want to attend Wesleyan. English? I’m sure Bowdoin’s department is strong, but there are many others, I’m sure, that go toe to toe with Bowdoin on that score.
So if it’s really just about your academic interests, relax and don’t overly focus on Bowdoin. Take your shot at ED2 if you want to, but I myself might aim a smidge less selective and use my ED2 slot for better odds. How far down in selectivity would depend, in part, on whether you have strong test scores, even at the TO schools. It’s another data point, and if you have them and submit them, it helps. That’s how I’d play it. Just one opinion.
If you are considering college applications strategically, then an ED II choice commonly would offer somewhat less challenging admissions overall than an ED I choice. If you applied ED I anywhere, then you may want to consider this relationship.
In terms of academics, Bowdoin’s offerings in literature do not seem to surpass those of similar colleges. Moreover, with further research, you may find literature offerings at less selective colleges that you prefer to those of Bowdoin. Nonetheless, Bowdoin offers a notably strong history program. However, the same can be said of schools such as, say, Kenyon and Bates.