If you want to apply to Bowdoin College, the regular decision application deadline is January 5 and the application fee costs $65.
Students who submit their applications to Bowdoin College for fall should hear back from Bowdoin College by April 1.
Here is an overiew of some of Bowdoin College's admissions stats.
Bowdoin College 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 80% |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 55% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 33% |
Waitlist | Yes |
These are the application deadlines for Bowdoin College.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Yes | November 15 | December 20 |
Early Decision II | Yes | January 5 | February 15 |
Early Action | No | –– | –– |
Regular Decision | Yes | January 1 | April 1 |
Bowdoin College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 20.
🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 5. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.
The early decision acceptance rate at Bowdoin College is 27%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 9%. Last year, Bowdoin College admitted 263 of the 960 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply to college early in hopes that it will increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it demonstrates that you are very interested in a school.
➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.
Bowdoin College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you're strong.
Wondering what factors are considered by Bowdoin College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
Class Rank | Very Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Talent/Ability | Very Important |
Standardized Test Scores | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Geographical Residence | Considered |
Work Experience | Considered |
First Generation | Considered |
Interview | Considered |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Considered |
State Residency | Considered |
Volunteer Work | Considered |
Make sure to check with Bowdoin College for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Bowdoin College, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Bowdoin College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | ||||
Transcript(S) of College Record | ||||
Standardized Test Scores | ||||
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) | ||||
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 3 | |||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Bowdoin College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.
Out of all students that were admitted, 30% submitted a class rank. At Bowdoin College 80% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 96% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.
At Bowdoin College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | –– |
3.75 and 3.99 | –– |
3.50 and 3.74 | –– |
3.25 and 3.49 | –– |
3.00 and 3.24 | –– |
2.50 and 2.9 | –– |
2.00 and 2.49 | –– |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Bowdoin College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Bowdoin College looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.
Bowdoin College has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 55% of Bowdoin College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 33% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Bowdoin College applicants, you should strive to score between 1330 and 1510 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Bowdoin College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1510 and 25% of scored lower than 1330, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Bowdoin College students scored 770 or higher and 75% of students scored 660 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Bowdoin College students scored 750 or higher, and 75% scored a 660 or higher.
To be most competitive at Bowdoin College, you should strive to earn between 31 and 34 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Bowdoin College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.
A 31 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Bowdoin College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 31.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Bowdoin College.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.
Transfer students can enroll in Bowdoin College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Bowdoin College?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Bowdoin College.
Does Bowdoin College accept transfer credits?
✅ Bowdoin College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Does Bowdoin College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Bowdoin College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Bowdoin College?
❌ No, Bowdoin College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.
What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?
✅ Bowdoin College's acceptance rate is 9%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Bowdoin College?
✅ Bowdoin College's early decision acceptance rate was 27% in 2021.
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Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Bowdoin College? Bowdoin College is a selective institution. The Bowdoin College acceptance rate is 9%. This means that the institution accepts 8 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Bowdoin College is Jan 5.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Bowdoin College is Mar 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
34 and Above
31 to 34
31 and Less
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
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