Bowdoin College is a small liberal arts school located near the coast in Brunswick, Maine. With ~1800 students and a 9% admissions rate, Bowdoin is just about the definition of an extremely competitive liberal arts school. Founded in 1784, Bowdoin is historic, beautiful, and small.
Did we mention small? Bowdoin is located in Brunswick, ME, an almost equally small town about half an hour north of Portland. Bowdoin is a great option for students looking for a close-knit school located in the beautiful countryside of New England.
Bowdoin has one supplemental essay that asks you to examine and reflect upon a poem written by one of their past presidents. You’ll be asked to select a line/section from the poem that resonates with you and explain why that specific line speaks to you. You’ll want to read the poem and think it over a little bit before diving right in.
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?
You’ll want to select a line that is important to you and can be used to connect you to Bowdoin. Think for a little while about which section can be best used to tie you to the school--don’t pick the one that you like the most, or the one that sounds easiest. When you feel like you’ve settled on something, click on your favorite little bubble and get ready to fill up the text box below.
BRAINSTORMING
You should think about this essay in separate parts. Start by finding a story related to the line you chose--pick out a tale that connects you, the poem, and Bowdoin. You want a story that shows off some admirable traits that would reflect well to the admissions committee. Follow
That being said, don’t choose something that’s too much: you always want these stories to seem natural, not forced. You want your tale to illustrate how you care about their values, how you align with their school. Don’t write a story all about how you need to live in a big city--maybe instead craft a tale that shows your interest in small-town life. Read through our blog if you need help brainstorming: we have a number of pieces that might give some inspiration.
STORY
If you’re writing about ‘to count Nature a familiar acquaintance…’ you can think about the time last summer when you house-sat for your grandfather while he was abroad. Write about how you had first dreaded those two weeks, how scared you were of spending so much time with only his cats for company.
Tell the reader how you were scared by the sounds of the nearby forest, how every loud snap of a twig set you on edge. Write about how as the days passed you settled into a rhythm, reading books and doing chores during the day and walking through the town at night. Tell your reader how sad you were to go home, how you can’t wait to spend more time in the old cabin.
BOWDOIN AND YOU
Once you’ve gotten some of your story, think about how it connects to Bowdoin--how can your tale illustrate your fit there. Try to find beliefs and themes that Bowdoin values that can be woven into your narrative.
You could talk about how they’re looking forward to spending some more meditative time at Bowdoin after your experiences at that house. You could write about how they’re drawn to the silent and still places in the world. Try to parallel your love for the environment world to Bowdoin’s commitment to nature.
Be sure to focus on the Bowdoin part of this essay: many students make the mistake of writing too much about themselves and not enough about the school. You want the reader to finish the essay and know why you should be at Bowdoin and not Tufts, why you fit at Bowdoin over Amherst or Bates. Include specific, detailed information about the school to do this.
You could write about their passion for hiking, and how you’ve read through the Bowdoin College Trail Guide to plan out future adventures. Talk about the trail you’re most excited to complete, how you can’t wait to see the view from the Harpswell Cliffs Trail. You can write about how they’ve actually watched Nature Moments, and how it inspired you to take action in your own life.
CONCLUSION
Tie up your essay by reminding the reader how your goals and values match with Bowdoin. Use your narrative to connect to the poem and Bowdoin, and remember to focus in on the school with some specific information that shows your fit. Your conclusion should be relatively short: try to keep this at or under 50 words.
You want this essay to be absolutely flawless, as its the only supplemental essay they’re asking for. This is your one--Bowdoin-sclusive--chance to shine! Make sure you get it right. If you’re having trouble with something, or have a particular question you want to ask, feel free to contact us. Otherwise, plan this essay out and get it done.
Contact us here if you need help with the college application process.