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Admissions

When you're ready, you're ready.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ admits students through Early Decision, Regular Decision, QuestBridge Match, and Transfer application rounds. We can't wait to meet you!

First things first:

We believe that if you give smart, kind, young people access to one of the best educations on earth, they will use it to create good in the world. We admit students of uncommon promise, and uncommon character. We look for bright minds who want to work together.

Whether you're just starting your application, have one thing left to do, or a few more questions about ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, we're here to answer your questions.

Fee Waivers Dates & Deadlines

 

So, you're applying to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾: What's required and what's optional? We'll break it all down for you in three minutes.

Let's get started:

A step-by-step guide to your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ application

Expand for more details

After you've hit submit on your application:

Look for an email with your Application Portal credentials. This is the place where you can monitor your application checklist, submit additional materials. Have a question? Chances are you'll find an answer on our page. 

Special information for:

Early Decision

A binding application program designed for students who believe that ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ is their top choice.

International students

Information for students with an international passport or hailing from outside the US.

Undocumented/DACA

We welcome all undergraduate applicants regardless of citizenship status. 

QuestBridge

Each year we enroll a number of students from QuestBridge, a nonprofit organization that matches high-achieving, underserved students with opportunities in higher education. 

Transfer

Information for students hoping to transfer their enrollment from another college or university.

US Military Veterans

We welcomes applications from former members of the United States Armed Forces.

Homeschooled Students

Information for homeschooled applicants and families.

Special Students

Special students are those whose education has been interrupted and who have a serious commitment to resuming their education on a part-time basis in a demanding liberal arts curriculum.

Student Athletes

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ is part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Student-athletes applying to NESCAC institutions should be aware that specific guidelines have been agreed to by all eleven members regarding all candidates for admissions. .

What are we looking for in your application?

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ seeks students who are bright and engaged inside and outside the classroom, and who demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to take intellectual risks.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ is also a community of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. For each entering class, we are interested in students who respect different views, opinions, and backgrounds, and who welcome the challenges associated with such diversity.

Factors

Of the credentials ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ evaluates, a student's overall academic record is by far the most important.

Although ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ does not require a prescribed high school program or number of courses, the typical entering first-year student will have had four years each of English, foreign language, mathematics, and social science and three to four years of laboratory sciences.

Everyone who applies to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ is evaluated individually. Admissions officers pay special attention to:

  • Academic (grade) success
  • Level of course challenge
  • Counselor and teacher recommendations
  • Writing samples
  • Overall academic potential
  • School and community involvement
  • Character and personality

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Application FAQs

What applications do you accept? +

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ accepts both the and the . All applications are treated equally, regardless of source. We also partner with , a nonprofit organization that matches high-achieving, low-income students with opportunities in higher education.

Can I change my application round? How do I do that?+

To change your application round, please email admissions@bowdoin.edu and let us know the new round you wish to apply to. Please let us know as soon as possible, some late round changes may not be possible.

How do I get an application fee waiver? +

Your application fee will be automatically waived within the Common Application and Coalition Application if you are applying for financial aid and/or first-generation-to-college student (neither parent graduated from a four-year college or university).

You do not need to request a waiver prior to applying as the fee waiver happens automatically. Learn more about our fee waiver policy.

Does ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ offer merit-based scholarships?+

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College does not offer special scholarships based solely on academic, athletic, or artistic achievement. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ meets every admitted student's full demonstrated need with on-campus work expectation, grants, and other resources that families may use to help pay their share of college costs.

Will applying for aid impact my chances for admission? +

No. Our admission process is need blind, which means that admissions does not consider family finances in their selection criteria. There are a few exceptions. Waitlisted and transfer students may be admitted under a need-aware policy. This means that admissions may consider family finances before making an admission decision.

Is ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ need blind for international students? +

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College is need blind for international students. That means your family's ability to pay is not a factor or barrier to admission. If you require financial assistance to attend college, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ will work closely with you and your family to ensure your financial aid meets your need.

Applicants who indicate they will apply for financial aid will be automatically granted an application fee waiver. If admitted, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ will meet your full calculated need using scholarships (not loans), which never have to be paid back.

 

Can I get a CSS Profile Fee waiver? Do you accept the ISFAA?+

Domestic students whose parents’ total income is below $100,000 will automatically receive a fee waiver.

If submitting the CSS Profile will cause extreme financial hardship, international students may complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) rather than the CSS Profile. The best way to submit this document is to scan the file and send it via our secure File Upload. You may also send it to us by fax at 207-725-3864 or by regular mail to the address below. Please complete this document and submit it to us at your earliest convenience. Learn more on the Student Aid international students page

We'll waive the CSS Profile requrement when we receive your completed ISFAA.

What are the application and material deadlines? +

Early Decision 1: November 15
Early Decision 2: January 6
Regular Decision: January 6
Transfer: March 3
The application itself is subject to the application deadline. Additional materials (items that are not automatically submitted with your application) are accepted after the deadline. Check your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Application Portal to view your checklist of application materials received.

How do I submit application materials?+

Counselors may submit application materials for a student through or through partner organizations such as Common App, Coalition, Naviance, Parchment, SCOIR, and other electronic services.

Materials may also be emailed to appmaterials@bowdoin.edu—please be sure to provide the student's full name and name of their high school.

Materials may also be submitted by fax to 207-725-3101 or mailed to:

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Admissions
5000 College Station
Brunswick, ME 04011

Have you received my application materials (recs, transcript, scores, etc.)? +

Login to your to find your current checklist of application materials. That will show you which materials have been received and which are still missing. If you or your counselor recently sent materials, note that it can take 3-5 business days for them to appear on your checklist. Please check back frequently.

We will send you email reminders if we are missing any of your application materials. It is not necessary for all materials to be submitted by the application deadline for you application to be reviewed, but please submit them as soon as possible.

How do I send additional application materials? +

Self-reported test scores may be submitted through your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Application Portal. For additional materials you wish to be considered as part of your application, you may email them to appmaterials@bowdoin.edu.

How do I add required materials to my application? +

There are several options for submitting materials: Electronically: We receive materials through a multitude of electronic services, including but not limited to: Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, SCOIR and Slate.org Email: appmaterials@bowdoin.edu Fax: 207-725-3101 Mail: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Office of Admissions, 5000 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011 Recommendations, transcripts, grades, and school reports must be submitted by a school official.

How many recommendations are required, and from whom? +

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ requires three recommendations:

A counselor recommendation. This evaluation should be completed by a high school counselor or principal.
A teacher recommendation. This evaluation should be completed by a teacher who has taught applicant either junior or senior year in an academic core subject (English, math, lab sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages) that appears on their official high school transcript.
An “other” recommendation. The “other” recommendation may be a second teacher evaluation (who has taught the student in any subject area) or a recommendation from a clergy, coach, community-based organization counselor, employer, peer, or community member who can speak to the applicant's contributions to the wider community or share insights not otherwise captured in the application.

What is a Secondary School Report? +

The Secondary School Report (SSR) contains information concerning a candidate's school offerings and environment. Here is a blank form if needed. This is different from a transcript or high school report with a student's grades.

Should I complete an interview? +

A personal interview is strongly encouraged but is not required for admission. The interview will give you a chance to talk informally about your academic interests, major activities, and future goals. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾. A candidate’s chances for admission are not diminished because of the lack of an interview, but the interviewer’s impressions of a candidate’s potential can often be helpful to the Admissions Committee. Interviews are available on-campus or virtually with an admissions staff member or a trained ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ senior. Virtual interviews are also available with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ alumni, and are also considered official ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Admissions intereviews.

Do I need to submit English Proficiency Testing? +

English proficiency tests are optional for all international students; we will review your scores if you choose to include them with your application. You may submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET) or Cambridge English Assessment (CEA). Because English Proficiency Tests are optional, we no longer offer Duolingo coupon codes. Please note that we do not offer English as a Second Language courses at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ so all incoming students are expected to be highly proficient in spoken and written English at a college level. Please see our international student page for more details.

How should I decide whether to submit test scores? +

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ has been test optionalsince 1969. Our test-optional policy allows applicants to decide for themselves whether or not their SAT or ACT results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential. For candidates electing to submit them, test scores will be reviewed along with other indicators of academic ability. Applicants have the option to select some test types and not others for review (for example, a student might choose to use their SAT scores, but not their ACT). Applicants have until the application deadline to change their test optional choice their scores.

Should I apply as a first-year or a transfer student? +

If you have matriculated at another college or university; that is, if you have enrolled in a degree-granting program, then you should apply as a transfer student. However, if you have taken some college-level work while enrolled in secondary school then you should apply as a first-year candidate. If you are a veteran or active member of the US military, please contact our veteran liaison for more information and to discuss your options. Students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree are ineligible for admission to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾.

When will you release decisions? How will I find out? +

Early Decision I decisions are released in mid-December

Early Decision II decisions are released by early February

Regular Decisions are released in mid-March

All admissions decisions are released into your . We will send you an email a few days prior to decision release to let you know the exact date and time you will receive the decision in your Portal.

For more FAQs, visit our .