Academics
Bowdoin College is a small college in Brunswick, Maine, with faculty who are “passionate about their research and distributing their knowledge to hardworking students.” Professors here “are absolutely fantastic” and “teach every class—[no teaching assistants].” They are “brilliant at leading discussions and pushing students to think deeper and, delightfully, stranger [in order] to consider new possibilities off of well-worn paths.” Bowdoin’s undergraduates also love the “small class sizes and the level of intimacy” they have access to with faculty members. This isn’t a school for slackers. Says one student: “I soon learned that in order to do well here, you must give all your time and effort. There is no grade inflation at this institution.” Students sum up their academics as “highly demanding but also highly rewarding.” Bowdoin provides lots of hands-on opportunities, especially in environmental science, with instructors taking advantage of the college’s coastal location. Other immersive courses that some describe as “engaging and challenging in the best possible way” include United Nations and Supreme Court simulations. Although students at Bowdoin “like to stay busy,” they are never bored.
