YourCollegeProfile.com • Become a fan of YourCollegeProfile.com on Facebook

Access Security Profile!

Bowdoin College Profile

Brunswick, Maine

Bowdoin College Campus Profile

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin College is a small private liberal arts and sciences institution located in the residential community of Brunswick Maine. The footprint of the site is split into 3 geographical spaces, one being the northern edge of the campus administrative facilities off Bath Road, the second being the athletic facilities on the southern edge of the campus off Longfellow Ave, and finally the academic, and residential villages in the middle of the campus. The Bowdoin campus map separates the college into a north, and south side with academic, and residential quads linking both sides of the campus together. The school also has several large grassy, and tree lined areas to the east of the academic buildings in the middle of campus. Bowdoin is unique because it has a small suburban school feel to it, while still being large in regard to student activities. The campus is small, but it feels larger than the observed geographical footprint.

The college has a large footprint of approximately 205 acres of park like property within the southeastern area of Maine. The physical layout observes numerous historic academic buildings, along with several new campus life facilities shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 118 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between the academic quads, the freshman houses off Maine Street, the upperclassmen housing quad, and several student life facilities including the new Buck Fitness Center due to the time of day. The green areas around the main quad behind Memorial Hall also gets busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were very clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. Bowdoin students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The college also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the college describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Bowdoin College has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Sciences educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The College is home to relatively small campus population of approximately 823 male, and 887 female full time students. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 12% of students are from Maine; the other students are from 50 states, and 30 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 68% of students are white, 12% Asian Americans, 6% are Black, and 9% are Hispanic.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Bowdoin College has a large educational system for a small private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Bowdoin College guarantees on campus housing for all four years through a lottery system. Students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students receive housing. The school has started upgrading housing resources for all students through it’s capital improvement initiatives. Bowdoin College also has several newly renovated “College Houses” on Maine Street for freshman students including Burnett, Howell, Helmreich, and Quinby House. Freshman student houses can also be found within the upperclassman quad facilities including “The Bricks” (Ladd & Baxter Houses)

The school’s main upperclassman housing population can be found within the “Quad & Towers“ residence halls including the 16-story Coles Tower, and the new residence quad buildings including Osher & West Halls. Additional on campus upperclassman housing facilities can be found off Pine Street within the Pine Street apartments. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Off Campus Housing

Bowdoin has been described as a small private college within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Bowdoin’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows almost every student to have housing within walking distance to college facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other college housing demands. The college itself has 92% of it’s student population living on campus which reduces the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find resources within the Brunswick Apartments off Maine Street. Information about available off campus housing resources can be found on the quick links page.

Campus Life

The Bowdoin College campus environment provides students with an outstanding social, and educational atmosphere due to it’s level of commitment to student life and activities. The college has an above average number of student activities for a small school including football, soccer, ice hockey and tennis to name a few. Bowdoin also has several student performing arts, and student multi-purpose centers to listen to local music, comedy, theatre productions, or student poets. The college understands that developing excellent student facilities year round helps students navigate the winter season because the first thing you learn at Bowdoin during freshman orientation is to love the State of Maine. New students participate in several team leadership activities during their first weeks at the school including hiking, canoeing, and shore activities to help them embrace the outdoor culture. Students that aren’t inclined to enjoy the great outdoors usually participate in several community workshops within the Town of Brunswick.

The local area of Brunswick Maine can be considered a suburban coastal community because it’s relatively close to the state’s largest city (Portland) about 20 minutes away, and several coastal communities including Freeport. The Town of Brunswick can also be considered a small college town with several retail and restaurant resources within 5 minutes of the college. These local facilities have improved campus life for Bowdoin students because they are close to the school, and they can be accessed by foot or by driving a short distance. Bowdoin also has a school shuttle links to the Portland, and Brunswick area every 30 minutes. The “ Shuttle” is vital to students who don’t have cars, or don’t want to shovel out their cars to go to town. The shuttle also makes trips to several shopping, retail, and entertainment resources including movie theatres and ski areas on the weekends. And finally, the campus is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community, and campus groups during the entire year. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, windows, and light poles. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, athletics, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Bowdoin students went as far as hanging banners outside residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

Bowdoin also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment borders several park like areas with trees and bushes that are situated overlooking the campus which gives students a great way to get away to enjoy Maine’s natural environment. College students at Bowdoin also have the luxury of enjoying Casco Bay within Maine’s beautiful shoreline, which is located within minutes of the suburban campus for students who enjoy nature & wildlife activities.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Bowdoin has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops, outdoor leadership activities, and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 109 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 27 intramural sports activities. Bowdoin also has 28 NCAA teams for men, and for women. The school also has several reasonably large athletic facilities including a new turf muti-purpose field for students to enjoy.

Student life on campus at Bowdoin can be considered very active due to several notable venues including the Buck Fitness Center, Ryan Field, Sargent Gymnasium (40 Foot Rock Wall) Watson Hockey Arena, Morrell Basketball Gymnasium, Farley Field House, and Schwartz Outdoor Leadership Center, which are the main student recreational, and athletic centers on campus. The college also has a student run performing arts venue within Studzinski Hall, and a visual arts center with the Pierce Art Library. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to develop social relationships by experiencing school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums together.

Public Transportation

Bowdoin College students use the Brunswick/Portland shuttle System for a small fee to access reliable bus transportation for students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The college has a very large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads. In formation about this service can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Regional Public Transportation Resources: Student transportation to the City of Portland Maine can be found within the student shuttle that links with the airport, and regional train service for Amtrak. Additional airport facilities can be found within Manchester New Hampshire’s airport, which is approximately 90 minutes away by car. The State of Maine also has several highway networks that links students to several northeast states including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York within Route 95. This major highway system connects the entire east coast from Florida, to Maine. Major hotel & restaurants, as well as retail shopping centers can be found along this highway.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. The town of Brunswick enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Maine also receives a large amount of snow due to it’s geographical relationship with the Canadian border, the state also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well.

Community Profile

The Town of Brunswick has been described as a suburban coastal community that has grown around it’s local college with students, and local residents enjoying the college town landscape. The area has also been described as a family centered residential community within striking distance to the City of Portland. The town also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Bowdoin College. Brunswick has become favorable to students over the years because the area has gone through a re-investment stage with the old buildings being converted into new restaurant and retail spaces. The downtown area has also become popular with local residents because it offers a local pedestrian walkway on Maine Street , which links students, and local residents to a several restaurants and local shops within the northern edge of town.

The community has a small college town feel to it when you are walking or driving to neighborhood eateries on Maine & Station Streets on the northern edge of town. Residents and students also enjoy several social & retail destinations within distance of the campus including the Freeport Shopping Outlets (Huge LL Bean Store), and the Maine shoreline itself with several seafood restaurants along Harraseeket Road.

The drive from Bowdoin to the above-mentioned meeting places is approximately 10 minutes. The town itself is located within the southwestern area of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and local highway networks including Routes 125 & 136, as well as Routes 1 & 9. Brunswick also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including the Maine Turnpike (Interstate 95), and Interstate 295. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus.

The following demographics for the Town of Brunswick describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 21,172 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Bowdoin College has strong relationships with the town because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services, legal programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% residents are male, 52% are female. 94% of residents are white, 2% are African American, 2% is Hispanic or Latino, and 2% is Asian. The median age of population is 35 years old. 77% of residents are 18 years old or over, 69% age 21 and over, and finally 15% of town residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Brunswick is also interesting. 93% of all housing units within the township are occupied. 36% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 64% of units are owner-occupied. 7% of total available housing was vacant.

Bowdoin College Quick Links

Brunswick/Freeport Area Hotel Quick Links

Brunswick Comfort Inn
199 Pleasant Street
Brunswick ME 04011
Marriott / Fairfield Inn
36 Old Portland Road
Brunswick ME 04011
Hampton Inn Bath/Brunswick
140 Commercial Street
Bath ME 04530

Portland Maine Area Hotels approximately 20 minutes away from Bowdoin

Portland Harbor Hotel
468 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101
Eastland Park Hotel
157 High Street
Portland, ME 04101
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Portland
65 Commerical Street
Portland, ME 04101
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel
363 Mall Road
South Portland, ME 04106

Lewiston/Auburn Maine Area Hotels approx: 30 minutes away from Bowdoin

Ramada Conference Center
490 Pleasant Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
Residence Inn Auburn
670 Turner Street
Auburn ME 04330
Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch
14 Great Falls Plaza
Auburn ME 04210

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Brunswick/Freeport Maine. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found off Interstate 95 & 295 in Portland, and Interstate 295 in Lewiston/Auburn Maine.

Brunswick Restaurants

Freeport Restaurants

Comments!

Login to comment on this profile.


There are no comments to display.

Take action now!