It looks like it’s a housing option for upperclass students (and probably not used by the majority of students).
“Students can also choose to live in Georgetown’s new apartment-style residence hall at 55 H Street NW, which includes free shuttle-bus transportation to the Main campus.”
In any case, housing options are worth considering on all campuses. Vassar’s housing system is different from Williams. At Williams, first-year students live in dedicated dorms while at Vassar first-years are assigned to dorms that house first-years, sophs, and juniors. Students usually stay in the same dorms all three years. Seniors generally move to the townhouses on campus that have kitchens. Williams sophomores, juniors, and most seniors, live in dorms of various sizes with some seniors living in college-owned co-op houses and a small percentage of seniors living off-campus. I’m not as familiar with Swarthmore and Bowdoin’s housing, but most students live in college-owned housing all four years.
Yes, that’s the new (and apparently very nice) dorm used in the CALL program; I guess they also make rooms available to students outside the CALL—probably those doing internships on the Hill—but they would not assign a student to 55H who didn’t want to be there.
Note that the Portland, Maine metro area population is 556,000 people, while the Poughkeepsie, NY metro area population is 697,000. I know … metro areas are huge, but city limits are often deceptive. Portland, ME city limit is 68,000. Poughkeepsie City and Town population is 74,000.
In other words, not only is Poughkeepsie larger than Portland, any way you slice it, it is also a $20 ride on the Metro North (bunches of commuter trains every day) from NYC.
Bowdoin is a GREAT school. New Brunswick (pop. 17,000) is a cute little town. But no question that Vassar is more urban, both in its immediate environment, and in its access to a true global city.
i’m waiting for the official packages from both georgetown and vassar (i’ve spoken with financial aid advisors from both and they’ve told me the amount of aid i would receive but not the loans/work study/etc) i’ll update the thread when i have them officially. williams is paying for my health insurance and i believe bowdoin is as well. im currently on medicare so i would need to look into the details.
First-Gen-Who-Went-to-a-New England College, here. I think all of your SLACs will have some kind of alternative subculture. Remember that most of these kids have been chosen - after climbing over all the academic competition - for their ability to project self-awareness, friendliness, and empathy regardless of how rich thy are. In short, go with your gut. There are no bad choices here.
Congratulations on all your great choices. Bowdoin Bearing will give you an extra night before accepted students day to meet students and get to know the other accepted students who are being flown in. You’ll probably meet a bunch at the airport as well, they do a great job handling travel reservations and quickly changed flights when I had some concerns.
As far as Bowdoin being remote, beside it being in a cute town with nice restaurants, one block from the train station and 30 minutes from Portland, there are endless travel opportunities. First, the Outing Club which will take you away from civilization starting with your Orientation Trip (lot’s of options and some not outdoors). My son is a 1st year besides learning to ski, trying out sailing and go on several hikes (day and overnight) he has been to Smith twice, Boston twice, Brown once, Montreal once (MUN Freshman trip) and NYC for a 3 day trip, all trips related to EC or Career Services and all at no cost.
I’m 95% sure S24 will attend Bowdoin, and as proud Central Maine parents, please feel free to hit us up on anything a fellow Polar Bear might need.
“If you are bored in Maine, you are not doing it right.”
Son is interviewing this week for a tour guide position over the summer, I’m starting to think the only way I’ll see him is to visit Maine, not at all unhappy about that.
The MSB, home school for competitive preprofessional clubs like GUSIF and Hilltop Consultants, has enacted a new policy as of last semester. In order to receive university funding, clubs must offer access via a general membership option.
