You've submitted your application! What's next?

First, check your spam folder. The email comes from admissions@bowdoin.edu and has the subject line, “Application Received. Here’s what comes next.”

Be sure to check all the email addresses you may have. If you discover the email went to an address that you do not wish to use for correspondence with Bowdoin, login to your Application Portal and change it on the My Profile tab.

Also see the FAQ “When will I get access to my Application Portal.”

If you still can’t find your Application Portal login email, please email admissions@bowdoin.edu with your name and birthdate so we can check your email address send a password reset.

The Bowdoin Application Portal is your own place to view the status of your application and more. For example:

• View your application checklist (what’s been submitted and what’s still needed), including recommendations, transcripts, school report, ED agreement, English language testing, etc.
• View your financial aid checklist (if you intend to apply for aid)
• View your test-optional choice (whether you’re using your test scores or not)
• View submitted scores (AP, SAT, ACT, English language proficiency scores)
• Self-report your test scores
• Submit the optional video response
• View your preferred name, your address, and other contact information

Your Bowdoin Application Portal is also the place where we’ll release your admission decision, so it’s important that you login before that time.

Make sure you’re using the correct email address. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the “Forgot Your Password?” link on the login page. If you’re still having difficulty, send an email to admissions@bowdoin.edu and let us know you need your password reset. We’ll confirm your email address and send you a password reset email.

Applications submitted between August and mid-October:
If you submit an application to Bowdoin through the Common App or Coalition between August 1 and mid-October, you won’t receive an email with access to your Application Portal until mid-October. Don’t worry—this is normal! We’ll send you an email when your Application Portal is ready. 

Applications submitted after mid-October:
Once you submit your application to Bowdoin through Common App or Coalition, you will receive an email from Bowdoin approximately 24-48 hours later with information about how to login.

Login to your Bowdoin Application Portal to find your current checklist of application materials. That will show you which materials have been received and which are still missing. If you or your counselor recently sent materials, note that it can take 3-5 business days for them to appear on your checklist. Please check back frequently.

We will send you email reminders if we are missing any of your application materials. It is not necessary for all materials to be submitted by the application deadline for you application to be reviewed, but please submit them as soon as possible.

Quarter1/Trimester1 Transcripts
We understand that there may be a delay for Quarter 1/Trimester 1 transcripts due to COVID and altered school schedules. If your school is unable to provide an official Q1/Trimester 1 transcript we will accept progress reports or progress comments from teachers that are provided by a school official (i.e. counselor, etc). Please be in touch with the admissions officer assigned to your school region if you have any questions or concerns.

Midyear Transcripts
Mid-year grades are typically sent to us by school guidance offices in late-January through early-March. Please ask your counselor to submit the transcript when it becomes available. We will add it to your file when it is received.

Early Decision agreements must have three signatures: student, parent or guardian, and school counselor. It won’t be marked as complete until all three signatures are present. If you applied through the Common App, you can login there to see which signatures are missing.

Rest assured your application will not be adversely affected if your Early Decision Agreement is not submitted until after the deadline. Please submit it as soon as possible.

For application materials that are not being submitted automatically with your application, these options are available:

• Recommendations, transcripts, grades, and school reports must be submitted by a school official. They may be emailed to admissions@bowdoin.edu or uploaded directly to your application via Slate.org if your school is a member.
• Self-reported test scores may be submitted through your Bowdoin Application Portal.
• For additional materials you wish to be considered as part of your application, you may email them to admissions@bowdoin.edu.

Bowdoin requires three recommendations:

1. A counselor recommendation
   
   
2. A teacher recommendation. This evaluation should be completed by a teacher who has taught applicant either junior or senior year in an academic core subject (English, math, lab sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages) that appears on their official high school transcript.
   
   
3. An “other” recommendation. The “other” recommendation may be a second teacher evaluation (who has taught the student in any subject area) or a recommendation from a clergy, coach, community-based organization counselor, employer, peer, or community member who can speak to the applicant's contributions to the wider community or share insights not otherwise captured in the application.

Whether you submit two teacher recommendations or one teacher and one other recommendation, the “other recommendation” will be marked as complete on your checklist. It does not matter to your application how they are categorized on your checklist.

The “other” recommendation provides an alternative to sending two teacher evaluations. However, you may still choose to submit two teacher recommendations if you prefer. Otherwise, your other recommendation may be from a clergy, coach, community-based organization counselor, employer, peer, or community member who can speak to the applicant's contributions to the wider community or share insights not otherwise captured in the application.

Because Bowdoin is test optional (and has been for more than 50 years!), test scores are redacted from your application. If you did choose to have your test scores considered, they will be made available to the Admissions Committee during the review process.

First, login to you Bowdoin Application Portal and review your current choices. If you do wish to change it, email admissions@bowdoin.edu. Your test-optional choices cannot be changed after the application deadline.

Yes, Bowdoin accepts self-reported test scores.

We select students who will join a community in which they will live and work with integrity and fairness. As part of our application review, we may choose to verify the information provided on applications or supplemental materials. Inaccurate or fabricated information may lead to a range of actions, including revocation of an admission offer.

• You may self-report ACT and SAT test scores through your Bowdoin Application Portal on the Profile tab.
• You may have your scores submitted directly through the testing service to Bowdoin.
• You may have your counselor or school official submit your test scores through Slate.org or by emailing them to admissions@bowdoin.edu.

To change your application round, email admissions@bowdoin.edu. Please let us know as soon as possible, some late round changes may not be possible.

We require students whose first language is not English to submit EPT results. Please see our International Students page for more information about accepted tests and minimum scores.

We will waive the requirement for applicants who have been taught exclusively in English for four years of high school or secondary school. We will not waive the requirement based on a SAT Critical Reading score, SAT Subject Test result, or AP Exam result. You may request an EPT waiver by completing the EPT Waiver Request form in your Application Portal. Please note that processing your waiver request may take up to 14 days.

Please see the International Students webpage for a list of tests we accept and required scores.

You may have your scores submitted directly from the testing agency. Or, you or your school counselor may email your test score report to eptwaiver@bowdoin.edu. Score reports must show the student’s name. Please note that we cannot access or use a link to the TOEFL report.

The link to submit a video response is in your Bowdoin Application Portal on your checklist. You must submit your application first before you can submit the video response. (Please note: if you submit your application before mid-October, you’ll need to wait until you have access to your Application Portal in late October before you can submit the video response.)

You have two opportunities to complete the video response. Your video response may not be deleted. For much more information, go to our Optional Video Response webpage.

Find answers to everything you need to know on the Optional Video Response webpage.

Early Decision I decisions are released in mid-December

Early Decision II decisions are released by mid-February

Regular Decisions are released by mid-April

All admissions decisions are released into your Bowdoin Application Portal. We will send you an email a few days prior to decision release to let you know the exact date and time you will receive the decision in your Portal.

Your application has been rolled over to the Regular Decision round. It will be reviewed again. Many applications with the defer decision are admitted in the Regular Decision round. If you wish to submit a letter of continued interest, you may email it to admissions@bowdoin.edu.

International applicants may complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) rather than the CSS Profile. The best way to submit this document is to scan the file and send it via our secure File Upload. You may also send it to us by fax at 207-725-3864 or by regular mail to the address below. Please complete this document and submit it to us at your earliest convenience.

We will waive the CSS Profile requirement when we receive your completed ISFAA.  

Bowdoin College
Office of Student Aid
5300 College Station
Brunswick, Maine 04011
sao@bowdoin.edu 

For all questions related to financial aid, please visit the Student Aid website or email sao@bowdoin.edu. Please also review your Financial Aid checklist in your Application Portal.