Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College, a liberal arts school on the coast of Maine, has produced luminary alumni like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Franklin Pierce. This rich history has shaped its current and traditional academic vision of a well-rounded education. New students are required to take a writing seminar, and at least one full-credit course in each of five subjects: mathematical, computational, or statistical reasoning; inquiry in the natural sciences; difference, power, and inequity; international perspectives; and visual and performing arts. Sophomores can then choose their majors from a wide variety of over 40 subjects, ranging from traditional fields such as history, physics, and English to modern focuses such as Digital and Computational Studies. Bowdoin encourages academic exploration so that students have the time to take courses outside their main areas of study. Small classes and a low student-faculty ratio reflect one of Bowdoin’s greatest strengths: excellent, dedicated professors who foster thoughtful discussion and provide personalized support. “I’m really grateful to go to a liberal arts college where I can get so much more attention from professors...they are only here to teach and they love it.” As another explains, Bowdoin offers “amazing professors who are passionate and smart and who care deeply about their students.

The Bowdoin community is known for its camaraderie. “Bowdoin’s student body is small enough that walking on campus means saying ‘hi’ to a lot of familiar faces.” The “Bowdoin hello,” a longstanding tradition by which students greet each other enthusiastically on campus, represents the sense of unity and friendliness often observed. “One thing I love about Bowdoin, and that drew me to the school in my college search, was the supportive and collaborative atmosphere.” This community spirit is reflected in students’ support for school athletics, which has a strong presence on campus. Varsity football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey games are routinely filled with groups of Bowdoin “Polar Bears” excitedly cheering in support of their teams. Students also suggest that their peers “care very strongly about forming community and bridging connections.” Many describe their classmates as academically competitive in general, yet extremely supportive. “I appreciate the community here, as people want others to succeed with them and are more than willing to offer help to get you where you want to be.” The helpfulness of fellow students is frequently cited as a significant factor in the school’s academic success. “I feel I can grow more as a student with collaborative peers rather than [with] peers who are trying to compete with me.”

Bowdoin’s architecturally distinct New England campus stands out whether it is dotted with Maine’s celebrated foliage in autumn or dusted with snow in winter. The natural surroundings are a great draw; some students have come to love the outdoors through the Bowdoin Outing Club (BOC), a student organization that hosts over 150 events each year. “I came here without ANY experience in the outdoors at all...but now I’ve done whitewater canoeing/rafting, mountain biking, skiing, backpacking, etc.!” First-year and second-year students are required to live on campus and most choose to stay until they graduate. As there is no Greek life at Bowdoin, the many clubs and extracurricular activities, which include environmental advocacy, sports, and the student newspaper, are central to life at the college. “Most students are involved in multiple on-campus activities—I don’t know anyone who doesn’t do several other things outside of classes.” Students can also be found perusing the renowned Bowdoin College Museum of Art, which houses over 20,000 artworks in its collection.

Bowdoin has a Career Exploration and Development (CXD) office to support students as they “Explore, Experience, and Pursue” career opportunities around the world. The office is “helpful for students looking for internships, jobs, or advice.” Students are encouraged to engage with their career planning early on during the Explore portion of the model so they can examine their academic path and form strong partnerships with both CXD and peer advisors. Further career development takes place at the various employer events, workshops, and fairs that the office holds throughout the year, as well as during the two-week intensive Sophomore Bootcamp that takes place during winter break. Additionally, the Bowdoin Career Advisory Network (BCAN) of alumni and parents provides connections to internships and guidance, as well as funding for grants for students taking unpaid internships. The school itself offers “generous fellowships, especially for summer jobs,” and “if you want an internship or a paid summer research job, all the steps are there for you.” As one student sums up their quest to maximize career development opportunities, “Rarely have I ever heard anyone say, ‘No, that's not possible.’” According to Payscale.com, Bowdoin graduates report a median starting salary of $74,000, and 52 percent say that they derive a high level of meaning from their jobs.