Interesting that this thread is continuing. Two great schools, both of which S wants to apply to. Ironically according to net price calcs run on our lowish income, Bowdoin’s financial aid would be better than Vassar’s!! Less money up front and…no loans. I suspect that our financial figures fall differently in the applicant pools, with Bowdoin simply having fewer low income kids applying, and Vassar having a whole lot of middle and lower middle income applicants?
On the other hand, speaking in general about campus cultures and wealthy, the vibe is different at a school where only a fraction of students are on Pell grants, versus a quarter of the student population. More marked at other schools perhaps. Vassar and Bowdoin actually seem much more alike than different from our short visits.
I agree with previous comments that Maine is a harder sell than Poughkeepsie. Even tho they might only end up going once or twice a semester, being able to get to NYC on the commuter metro from P’town makes it seem more cosmopolitan, even though Bowdoin’s town feels just as (or more) cosmopolitan.