Bowdoin College Top Questions

Bowdoin is a very white-bread community but is making all efforts to diversify - there is absolutely more diversity than there was even a couple years ago. No student should feel out of place at Bowdoin if they make the effort - As long as you're willing to put yourself out there, and be active socially, you'll have a great time.

I have friends that are diverse racially, religiously, sexually and socio-economically. I don't think many students would feel out of place at Bowdoin, to be frank. Students are generally pretty laid-back. Some wear sweatpants to class and others wear a sun dress, but nobody really cares. Sometimes people find certain groups more attractive to their social needs whether it be the people in the play, the people who sing A Capella or athletes. In general though, people of all kinds interact with each other. Most people at Bowdoin are wealthy, but speaking as a less wealthy student at bowdoin, I feel comfortable here. Whereas at my high school I felt that I was made inferior to all of the other students who had more money then myself.

Bowdoin students are usually pretty open-minded and willing to discuss issues. Regular dinner conversations can turn pretty heated, though people are usually respectful about it. Discrimination isn't tolerated, so any student who's not willing to be tolerant would probably feel out of place there. Different types of students do interact, though sometimes international students clump together a bit and speak their own languages. No financial background is prevalent, really- it's a total mixture. You can never tell who's rich and who's not, because talking about money too much is a little taboo. The only really defining characteristic of Bowdoin students is a tendency to be Democrats or leftists rather than Republicans or rightists.

Fairly diverse, but it could always be more so. Much more diverse than Maine. Walking through the union, you'd see sweatpants, funky earrings and haircuts, pearls, and ugg boots. You'd see carrharts, knitted sweaters, polo shirts, and hoodies. Most students are financially well-off, but a significant number are on some level of aid, with a good number on significant aid. It varies, but it doesn't matter. Everyone sees past that, I think.

In terms of race/sexual orientation/socioeconomic class etc. everyone has a place at Bowdoin. Unfortunately it seems like, at least racially, minority students seem to group together. I wish that there was more mixing in this respect, but generally, everyone is accepted. The only kind of student that might not feel comfortable at Bowdoin would be someone who likest to be anonymous, especially in class. People here like to participate and speak up. Not that we don't have shy people here! It's just that Bowdoin is a great place to "come out of your shell" so to speak. Most people here are pretty liberal, but we do have a College Republicans club. There is definitely a huge private/prep school population here, but generally, people don't make a big deal about what background they're from. We certainly don't talk about money very much, at least not in a pretentious or hurtful way. And people definitely don't brag about wanting to be a millionaire after Bowdoin. Instead, we share our visions of a future filled with non-profit, environmentally friendly, world saving work.

Bowdoin is a preppy school. About half of the student body went to private school and many of them are from prep schools. Most students are from the New England area. There is not a whole lot of diversity up in small town Maine, so coming to Bowdoin as a minority may be difficult.

Not much w. relations...Wear to class: LL Bean boots, sweatshirt jeans. Diff't students interact. Black kids, and then a bunch of tables of sports bowdoin sports teams.. Financial:well off. Students from: Maine or Mass. Some political awareness, not a ton, predominantly left. NOt much talk of future jobs. Most kids expect to do well, but right now they're focused on learning and having a good time.

Everyone and anyone can find a niche, but there is a prevalence of well-off preppy kids.

I think that the Bowdoin student body is very diverse. Bowdoin was among the first of colleges to admit African-Americans, and they maintain a consistent commitment to all different types of diversity.

For the most part, the varying groups have their own bounds, but the lines dividing are open enough to allow the welcoming of others in. Like any social situation, the students do hang out with the people they have the most in common with, but there are no barriers to these groups. People are welcome to enter and exit as they please. Clothes? Ranges on the student. Most very warm. Financial background is very prevalent, standard broke college students. Political leanings are relatively equalled out and not too highly charged on campus. And no, they don't.