Bowdoin is a very small private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. The school is known for its standout academic programs and its tightknit community. People that go to Bowdoin absolutely love Bowdoin. It was the first school to adopt a test-optional policy, but it is incredibly difficult to get into. The acceptance rate for the class of 2024 was 9.2%.
Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to submit:
How did you first learn about Bowdoin? (Limit 140 characters.)
This super short question is, we think, solely for the marketing team at Bowdoin. You will not be judged based on how you found the school, so it truly doesn’t matter if it was from a Google search or your crazy Aunt Linda. Bowdoin wants to be thoughtful about how they allocate their marketing budget, so just tell them how you came across the school in two short sentences.
Onto their actual supplement:
Generations of students have found connection and meaning in Bowdoin's “The Offer of the College,” written in 1906 by Bowdoin President William DeWitt Hyde.
To be at home in all lands and all ages;
to count Nature a familiar acquaintance,
and Art an intimate friend;
to gain a standard for the appreciation of others' work
and the criticism of your own;
to carry the keys of the world's library in your pocket,
and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake;
to make hosts of friends...who are to be leaders in all walks of life;
to lose yourself in generous enthusiasms and cooperate with others for common ends –
this is the offer of the college for the best four years of your life.
Which line from the Offer resonates most with you? The Offer represents Bowdoin’s values. Please reflect on the line you selected and how it has meaning to you. (Limit 250 words)
Choosing a line that resonates with you is mandatory (you’ll select it on the common app website), but the 250 words that accompany your choice are optional. We are not considering the written portion as optional, and neither should you. Bowdoin is asking you one question, and you better answer if you want to be taken seriously.
The best way to approach this prompt is to read The Offer out loud multiple times. There will be lines that you will skip over without much feeling, and there will be lines that speak to you. Repeat this process until you have one or two lines that you connect with in some meaningful way.
Your goal is to find a way to write a story that is inspired by the line that you choose. You are not writing about the line or trying to translate the line into modern-day meaning. By telling a story, you’ll pick up where the line left off and connect the meaning of the line to a story about yourself.
This is best explained with examples, so here we go. We worked with a student (she got into Bowdoin last year but chose to attend another school) and she felt connected to the second line about nature. She spent a lot of time outdoors, did her best thinking there, and felt most like herself outside of the confines of four walls. Her story was about an experience in nature, not her general feelings on the topic of the outdoors. If you’re an aspiring author, the line about criticism of your work might remind you of the countless rounds of edits you go through with your writing. Keep in mind that this prompt is best approached through a micro-story or experience that speaks to who you are. If this question feels intimidating, it’s probably because you’re trying to think too big.
One last editing tip: when you’re rereading, immediately delete anything that gives off a book report vibe. Drop the reader right into the scene and use details to make them feel like they’re witnessing the chain of events first hand, while you connect the dots between yourself and your line of choice.
Before you rush to hit submit, expand the “Additional Application Information” section on the Common App website. You’ll be given three options:
Video Response: We only suggest this option for students who have demonstrated an interest in video making and editing throughout the course of their high school career.
Art Supplement: If you’re an artist, and you plan to continue making art in college, you should submit your portfolio.
Additional Information: This is the option that most TKG students choose, and we like to think of it as a shorter version of your common app essay. Go back to basics here and think about the list of qualities you want to show Bowdoin, but read over everything that has been submitted thus far to make sure that you’re avoiding redundancy. Bowdoin students are quirky and authentic, so don’t be afraid to take risks. We love telling small stories here, perhaps about a routine that kept you on track during quarantine or a short play you wrote starring your pets. There is no word limit, but we suggest keeping it to one page.
Once again for those in the back, there is no such thing as an optional supplement for a school with an acceptance rate below 10%. Start early and finish strong.
If you’re stumped and want help crafting creative essays, contact us here.