Frequently Asked Questions for Transfer Students
Contact Us
- Admissions Office
- 5000 College Station
- Brunswick, ME 04011-8441
- P: (207) 725-3100
- F: (207) 725-3101
- admissions@bowdoin.edu
The Application Process:
What is the application deadline?
Should I apply as a first-year or as a transfer student?
What kind of academic record will the transfer committee be looking for in an applicant?
Do I need to submit my high school transcript?
Can I submit additional recommendations to supplement those which are required?
Faculty at my current institution do not know me well. Can I substitute recommendations?
What essays should I complete?
Can I fax or e-mail my application materials?
The Selection Process:
How competitive is the transfer selection process?
How can I arrange an interview?
When will I know my decision?
Other:
Is financial aid available to transfer students?
How do I receive credit for the courses I’ve taken at my current institution?
Does Bowdoin have Distribution Requirements?
Is housing available for transfer students?
Are meal plans available for transfers?
Are transfer students eligible to compete in athletics at Bowdoin?
Can transfer students become affiliates of the College Houses?
How do I get to Bowdoin’s campus?
The Application Process:
What is the application deadline?
March 1 for Fall transfer.
Should I apply as a first-year or as a transfer student?
First-year students are students who have never matriculated at another college or university; that is, they have not enrolled in a degree-granting program. Any student who has done so must apply as a transfer student. Students who have taken some college-level work while enrolled in secondary school should apply as first-year candidates. These students may use the Common Application with the Bowdoin Supplement and the Transfer Supplement. You do not need to complete the supplemental essay for first-year students. Students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree are normally ineligible for admission to Bowdoin.
What kind of academic record will the transfer committee be looking for in an applicant?
Although Bowdoin sets no cut-off guidelines successful candidates usually submit work of honors quality: “B” work or better, or a GPA of no lower than 3.0.
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Do I need to submit my high school transcript?
Yes, we require both the high school and college transcripts.
Can I submit additional recommendations to supplement those which are required?
Although additional recommendations cannot be submitted in lieu of those required (a special statement from the dean or advisor of the applicant’s current college or university; and two letters of recommendation from current or recent college professors), the applicant may complement these with letters of reference from alternative sources such as high school teachers, counselors, coaches or employers. Such supplemental material is most helpful when it provides new information on you as an applicant.
Faculty at my current institution do not know me well. Can I substitute recommendations?
You may supply an additional letter, but we still require two Faculty letters and a Dean’s Report from your current institution.
What essays should I complete?
The Common Application Transfer Essay as well as a second essay of your choice. Please complete the Bowdoin Transfer supplement.
Can I fax or e-mail my application materials?
Faxed applications are acceptable, but must be followed up immediately with a hard copy of all materials through the mail. The Office of Admissions’ fax number is (207) 725-3101. E-mailed applications are not accepted at this time.
The Selection Process:
How competitive is the transfer selection process?
Due to our high retention rate, Bowdoin is only able to admit a small percentage of those students seeking to transfer. We generally receive between 150-200 transfer applications and admit between 5-20 candidates. We offer a fall transfer program only, no mid-year admission.
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How can I arrange an interview?
On-campus interviews with a member of the admissions staff are welcomed and encouraged for transfer applicants and may be scheduled until January 1 for fall admission. Due to the limited number of available interview appointments, interested candidates are strongly encouraged to schedule an interview as soon as possible. If you are unable to meet with a member of our staff, in some cases an alumni interview may be possible. For more information on scheduling an interview on campus or with an alumni volunteer, please review the Interviews section of our web site: http://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/visit/interviewing.shtml.
When will I know my decision?
Fall transfer applications are reviewed in March and April. Candidates are notified of the admissions decision in late April or early May.
Other:
Is financial aid available to transfer students?
Financial aid is very occasionally available for transfer students, but is often limited by the commitment the College has made to assist already enrolled and incoming first-year students of need. The competition among transfer candidates for financial aid, therefore, is usually quite intense.
All financial aid at Bowdoin (including grants and scholarships available to international transfer students) is based upon financial need. We offer no special scholarships based solely on academic, athletic or artistic achievement. We have no financial aid for international transfer candidates.
How do I receive credit for the courses I’ve taken at my current institution?
Bowdoin typically accepts transfer credit for liberal arts courses in which a grade of C or higher has been received. Further, transfer students should understand that although they may expect an estimate regarding class standing upon transferring, official placement is possible only after updated transcripts have arrived at our Office of the Registrar and have been appraised by the Dean of Academic Affairs and appropriate departments.
Does Bowdoin have Distribution Requirements?
Yes. Transfer matriculants must complete those requirements at Bowdoin. Please see our Academic Requirements information.
Is housing available for transfer students?
Although we are not able to guarantee housing for transfer students, the Admissions Office and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs and Residential Life will assist them in any way we can. Transfer students are placed on a housing waiting list and may be accommodated as openings arise during the year. In addition, transfer students can contact other transfer students through our office in order to seek local housing together. In the event that a transfer student lives off-campus during his or her first semester, it is quite likely that on-campus housing will be available during the second semester or in subsequent academic years, at which point a transfer student will be entitled to the same housing privileges as all already enrolled students of the same standing.
Are meal plans available for transfers?
Our on-campus dining service, rated number two in the nation by the New York Times, and with a variety of meal plans to choose from, is available to any student willing to enjoy it.
Are transfer students eligible to compete in athletics at Bowdoin?
Any student wishing to transfer to Bowdoin who is not currently playing a varsity sport at his or her home institution is eligible to compete in one of Bowdoin’s 29 men’s or women’s varsity sports. Any student currently playing a varsity college sport wishing to transfer and continue play at Bowdoin should contact the Athletic Department at (207) 725-3326 with their inquiries. All students transferring to Bowdoin are eligible to compete in any of our seven club or ten intramural sports.
Can transfer students become affiliates of the College Houses?
All transfer students, upon their matriculation to Bowdoin, are randomly assigned an affiliation (and sometimes a room) in one of our six College Houses. The only exception to this rule is a transfer student who requests an affiliation with the Wellness College House, a voluntary community wherein all activities are kept entirely substance free. College Houses are non-exclusive social, academic, and community organizations that provide a wide variety of entertainment, programming, and services to the campus community as a whole. For more information, consult the Bowdoin viewbook or the Office of Residential Life.
How do I get to Bowdoin’s campus?
Bowdoin’s campus is easily accessible both by car and from several airports. Students may fly to Logan Airport in Boston, MA, and take a bus directly to Brunswick; the bus ride takes a little over two hours. Students may also fly to the International Jetport in Portland, Maine and take a van or limo to campus; this trip takes less than half an hour. We are also an easy commute from the airport in Manchester, NH. For directions, call (207) 725-3101. We are looking forward to your visit!
We hope this information will assist you in considering the transfer process to Bowdoin College. If you would like to arrange an interview, please identify yourself as a transfer student when speaking with our receptionist. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact:
Anne Springer
Associate Dean of Admissions
Transfer Coordinator
5000 College Station
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME 04011
aspring2@bowdoin.edu
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