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I know the obvious answer already. The academics. Does anyone know how these schools came to be powerful academically? It is winter almost all the time up there!! With only 11% in state at Bates and Colby, I fail to see the huge draw.

Trivia:
Also, on a totally unrelated topic. What was Duke called before it was named Duke?

By B18c1cx (B18c1cx) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 12:18 am: Edit

bump

By Cookie (Cookie) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 07:39 am: Edit

Trinty College

By B18c1cx (B18c1cx) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 04:28 pm: Edit

really?.....does any1 know about these maine liberal art schools?

By Pisces (Pisces) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 05:31 pm: Edit

All three are highly selective, small, liberal arts colleges. For me, they are far enough from home to be away but close enough so i can go home for a long weekend if i want to. They are also very focused on undergrad programs and research since they are not huge universities. All their funding goes to the undergrads, which cannot be said for the ivies and other top universities. I think they are a great alternative for competitive intelligent students who either cant get into ivies, or dont want the huge overwhelming size. They are all really beautiful too. Middlebury is another similar situation- a little farther away and a little more competitive than Bowdoin. It also has excellent academics- especially for language. Ok, this is just my opinion- what does everyone else think?

By B18c1cx (B18c1cx) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 07:52 pm: Edit

Pisces, doesn't that go for (almost) all liberal art schools? I was sort of wondering how these small liberal art schools came to be so academically powerful-- Great profs, academically estute applicants, etc. Does anyone know why a small school in maine which has extremely long winters and a small population would draw all of these posotives? It is very interesting to me.

By B18c1cx (B18c1cx) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:02 am: Edit

bump: c'mon liberal arts enthusiasts!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:45 am: Edit

They are all terrific schools. I have currently have a client who graduated from Bates and she's very impressive.

My daughter won't consider them because a) none have access to high-level ballet and b) Maine is too cold for this SoCal hothouse flower...Massachusetts is daunting enough.

I'd be happy if any of the three _were_ in her bullseye.

By Ctmom (Ctmom) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 08:05 am: Edit

My son applied to Bates and Bowdoin because of : size (small, intimate feel - close relationships w/profs); academics (again, small classes-discussion oriented, hands-on); many opportunities (everybody seems to be involved in some part of campus life); no frats; great sports opportunities for everyone (brand new facilities); 3-4 hours from home; friendly campus - everyone seemed happy there, eager to promote the school; beautiful campus (Bowdoin has a great property on the coast of Maine for coastal studies); healthy environment and really not 'out in the middle of nowhere'...Portland is a short bus ride, Boston a bit longer. IMO Bowdoin has a nicer town attached to it, but Bates is gorgeous...but you do have to like winter!!

By Nyguy (Nyguy) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 11:31 am: Edit

I applied to them as Ivy league safeties simply because they tend to have smart kids, but fewer snobs. Its an environment id happier in than a traditional ivy league safety such as Hamilton or Colgate which are loaded with rich kids who arent smart enough to go to cornell

By Pisces (Pisces) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 03:26 pm: Edit

I wouldnt exactly consider any of them safeties. Maybe Colby could be a pretty sure thing. But with the stats you posted on another board, it's not like you'd be a rarity at any of the schools. As far as becoming such strong schools- maybe it has something to do with NESCAC (i think that's what it's called.) It's similar to how the ivy league was formed. There are tons of great universities in the northeast, but fewer small schools with similar academics to those three- Amherst, Williams, Smith maybe...

By Drmike (Drmike) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 04:29 pm: Edit

Why study in Maine? Let me offer a few comments from a Dad who did his undergrad in Southern California in the '60's. One very good reason is that there is lots of time to study, with less distraction from beaches. On a more serious side, I am a strong advocate of liberal arts colleges for undergrad. One very important factor is that they attract faculty who are passionate about undergrad teaching. In a major research university, undergrad teaching does nothing for a professors career. It is all about "scholarly work" (publishing and research grants). Grad students are favorites of the profs because they further this work, and can also teach the undergrads. Having been there and done that, I encouraged liberal arts schools for my kids. My son is at Dartmouth, which is the Ivy most focused on undergrad. He didn't apply to any other Ivy's. Daughter just got admitted to Bates (along with Colgate, Bucknell, Skidmore & waitlisted at Middlebury and Bowdoin). I think for many students the intimacy, commitment to undergrad teaching, and environment of the smaller liberal arts school can be a winner. Also, my Dartmouth son just commented "Dad, if I had a 3.8 at Bates I would be eligible to apply for law school scholarships that I can't with a 3.6 from Dartmouth. Also, Yale law doesn't take any more students from Dartmouth than it does from Bates"

By Bowdoin13 (Bowdoin13) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 07:04 pm: Edit

I'm going to Bowdoin College next year and I chose it over the Ivies for a number of reasons. First off, the climate doesn't really matter as I'm going to be studying inside all the time anyway. Also, as I'm hoping to go to Law School after undergraduate school, a liberal arts education seems like the best way to go. Bowdoin probably has the strongest program of any of the elite lib. arts collegs that prepares you for law school.

By Bowdoin13 (Bowdoin13) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 07:08 pm: Edit

I forgot to mention, in response to B18c1cx's question, that Bowdoin became well known over 200 years ago when it was first founded. Nathaniel Hawthore, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the Arctic explorer with last name Perry all are graduates of Bowdoin. A few U.S. presidents have also graduated from Bowdoin along with countless U.S. Senators, Supreme Court Justices, and other notable people.