It's time to rethink college tours
Traditional campus tours feel impersonal and can leave you with more questions than answers. You’re just a face in the crowd following a scripted tour led by a random guide. Is this really the best way to make one of the biggest decisions of your life?
SchoolScoops is the smarter, more personal way to tour colleges
Private and personalized tours
With traditional tours you’re just a number in a big group, making it hard to ask the questions that matter most. With SchoolScoops 1-on-1 tours and video chats you can ask all the questions that are important to you.
Choose your own guide
On a typical college tour, the school assigns you a guide. SchoolScoops lets you pick a guide who matches your academic interests, hobbies, and personality. You'll get authentic insights and advice from someone who truly gets you.
No scripts, just scoops
Traditional campus tours are essentially a sales pitch—the guide works for the school and their job is to show you the highlights. SchoolScoops guides don’t work for their school, so there’s no sales pitch—just genuine advice to determine if the school is a good fit.
Find the school for you
Choosing where to go to college is a major decision and a huge investment. SchoolScoops 1-on-1 tours and video chats go beyond the basics to help you make a well-informed college decision.
Can't make it to campus?
Connect with a student of your choice for personalized advice and insider insights during a 1-on-1 video chat
Book a video chat
What customers are saying
Get to know Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College is a top-ranked private liberal arts college known for academic excellence across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, grounded in a strong commitment to intellectual exploration, community engagement, and the Common Good.
Overview
Bowdoin College, founded in 1794, is a private liberal arts college located in Brunswick, Maine. It offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and the Common Good.
Size
Bowdoin College has a total enrollment of approximately 2,000 students, all of whom are undergraduates, creating a close-knit and highly collaborative academic community.
Acceptance rate
Bowdoin College has an acceptance rate of around 9%, making it one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the country. Among admitted students who submitted test scores, half scored between 1430–1530 on the SAT or 33–35 on the ACT, though Bowdoin has been test-optional for over 50 years.
Cost
For the 2024 academic year, Bowdoin College’s undergraduate tuition is approximately $66,000, with total costs including housing and meals exceeding $80,000. However, Bowdoin meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and about 50% of students receive financial aid, with an average need-based award of over $60,000.
Ranking
According to U.S. News & World Report, Bowdoin College is ranked #6 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Rankings are based on widely recognized measures of academic quality, including graduation rates, faculty resources, and student outcomes.
Academics
Bowdoin College offers more than 40 majors and minors across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, fostering close academic mentorship and personalized learning.
Traditions
Bowdoin College’s most cherished traditions include Ivies Weekend, a spring festival with concerts and celebrations; the annual Polar Bear Dip, where students plunge into the icy Atlantic Ocean; and the Bowdoin-Colby-Bates Day, highlighting one of the oldest athletic rivalries in the nation.
Campus landmarks
Bowdoin College’s most iconic landmarks include the historic Massachusetts Hall, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, the Hubbard Hall library, the Walker Art Building with its stunning murals, and the beautiful coastal Brunswick campus green, all reflecting Bowdoin’s rich history and scenic New England charm.
Student body
Over 90% of Bowdoin College students come from outside Maine, with the student body representing nearly all 50 states and more than 30 countries, reflecting Bowdoin’s strong commitment to geographic and cultural diversity.
Become a SchoolScoops guide
In college? Earn $40/hour hosting 1-on-1 campus tours and video chats with future students.
Become a guideYour Bowdoin College questions, answered
How many majors does Bowdoin offer?
Approximately 40+ majors and 50+ minors span the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
How selective is admissions to Bowdoin?
For the Class of 2028, Bowdoin admitted 7.1% of applicants, reflecting its high selectivity.
Does Bowdoin guarantee housing?
Yes—most students (about 90%) live on campus, and all first-year students are required to do so.
What is Bowdoin’s athletic teams’ name?
Bowdoin's intercollegiate teams are called the Polar Bears, competing in NCAA Division III and the NESCAC.
How many varsity sports does Bowdoin offer?
Bowdoin fields 30 varsity teams—14 men's, 16 women's—in sports such as ice hockey, field hockey, sailing, and more.
What are Bowdoin’s signature academic programs?
Known for strong offerings in government/legal studies, economics, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary research.
What’s the residential life like?
Students live in College Houses or residential halls, fostering community life; fraternities were eliminated and replaced by this inclusive system.
How do you take a tour of Bowdoin College?
You can register for a tour through the Bowdoin admissions website. Visit options include a 90‑minute program with an information session and a 60‑minute student‑led tour, or you can choose just the campus tour. Advance registration is required to secure a spot.
Does Bowdoin offer private campus tours?
Yes, through SchoolScoops, you can book a private campus tour led by a student guide of your choice.
Interested in other schools?
SchoolScoops also offers tours and video chats at many other schools
Search schools