Ask a Student
Patrick Bloniasz
Hometown: Brookline, New Hampshire
Major: Mathematics and Neuroscience
Minor: Philosophy
Campus involvement: Chamber Choir, America Counts Tutor, Researcher, Tour Guide, Student Admissions Volunteer Organization, Programming Chair for MacMillan House, BowdoinCollegeTEDx, Summer Health Class Trainer/Instructor, Club Basketball, and various McKeen Center Programs.
How I found Bowdoin: I came across Bowdoin when reading about volunteerism in U.S colleges during my sophomore year of high school. I ended up visiting Bowdoin at the very start of my college search, immediately fell in love with the Offer of the College, and then bought a key lanyard in a fit of excitement. For the rest of my high school career, that lanyard followed me; no matter what I did for clubs or where I went to visit schools, Bowdoin was always on the back of my mind. From that first contact, Brunswick has been a second home to me. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else and, thus, decided to apply early decision. I have never regretted a moment.
Benjamin Bousquet
Hometown: Mystic, Connecticut
Major: History/English double major
Minor: Asian Studies
Campus involvement: George J. Mitchell Special Collections & Archives, Hawthorne-Longfellow Library circulation desk, Bowdoin College concert band, Bowdoin chamber ensemble, admissions head tour guide, history teaching assistant, programming chair of MacMillan House
How I found Bowdoin: I knew early in my college search that I wanted a small, tight-knit community, so I looked through a variety of college guidebooks to find schools that fit this description. Through these, Bowdoin stood out as a place where I would be able to really grow as a student and thrive socially, so I came to interview and eventually stayed for an overnight visit. After that visit, I knew Bowdoin was the ideal fit for me due to the collaborative nature of the students and the high levels of engagement I saw across campus.
Maggie Burke
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: History
Minor: Hispanic Studies
Campus involvement: Receptionist at the admissions office, Student Assistant at the Media Commons in HL, Programming Chair of Burnett House, Dancer with VAGUE, a student led jazz dance group, Chair of Hospital Relations for The Bowdoin College Dance Marathon, a charity organization run through the McKeen Center.
How I found Bowdoin: All I knew going into my junior year of high school was that I wanted a small, liberal arts college for my undergraduate experience. When I visited Bowdoin later that year, it was my first time ever visiting Maine. I knew I wanted to experience something a bit different from my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, but I never thought I would fall in love with a school that was so far away. Though I was nervous I would be homesick, I couldn't be happier that I applied to Bowdoin. I felt so at home from the minute I got to campus. With such amazing classes and professors, extensive extracurriculars, and its proximity to both the city of Portland and the ocean, I knew I would never run out of things to learn and places to explore. Despite its distance from Kansas City, Bowdoin has since become my home away from home, and I'm so happy I decided to take a leap of faith and look into this amazing institution during my college search.
Aaron Earl
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Major: Earth and Oceanographic Science
Minor: Visual Arts
Campus Involvement: Photography Dark Room TA, Rowing Team
How I Found Bowdoin: I first heard about Bowdoin from one of my favorite teachers in high school, who was a Bowdoin graduate. He urged me to consider Bowdoin since he had such an amazing experience there. I looked at many liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, and Bowdoin was always on my list but not necessarily at the top. When I visited, the students and staff were so genuinely kind to me, and I felt a real connection with the campus. I knew Bowdoin was where I belonged, and when I got in, I was thrilled to tell my teacher that I would be attending his alma mater.
Rubin Jones
Hometown: Rogers, Arkansas
Major: Undeclared (likely an Environmental Studies and Francophone Studies coordinate major)
Campus involvement: SWAG (Sexuality, Women, and Gender) Center Student Director, Residential Life Proctor, Intramural badminton, Bowdoin Queer Straight Alliance, Masque and Gown, Bowdoin Outing Club, admissions tour guide
How I Found Bowdoin: As I started my college search process, I decided to look into what a liberal arts college was. Very few seniors from my high school went to out-of-state schools, much less an “LAC (Liberal Arts College),” so I knew nothing about schools like Bowdoin. After doing some research and deciding that an intimate liberal arts education was for me, I narrowed down my search and spent the night here. I had a feeling coming in that this was the place for me, but after spending the night with current students and experiencing friendly campus culture firsthand, I applied early decision. Despite being over a thousand miles away from my parents and their cooking, I could not be happier with my decision.
Aine Lawlor
Hometown: Helena, Montana
Major: Government & Legal Studies
Minor: English
Campus involvement: Women's Varsity Soccer team, Bowdoin Outing Club (completed leadership training and am a trained raft guide, telemark ski instructor, and nordic ski instructor), led a McKeen Center orientation trip, led an Alternative Spring Break focused on poverty and homelessness in Maine, volunteer weekly at the Volunteer Lawyer's Project in Portland, writing assistant at the Writing Center in the CLT, associate editor and writer (and soon-to-be editor in chief) of the Bowdoin Harpoon (our satire publication on campus), completed a training institute and worked with the Office of Gender Violence Prevention and Education, student representative on the Bias Incident Committee, Admissions Tour Guide, student employee at the Pub, mentor at Brunswick High School, Bowdoin RISE cast member, OutAllies member
How I found Bowdoin: When thinking about college, I knew I wanted a small liberal arts school that was academically rigorous and offered a strong connection to place and thus I was drawn to the NESCACs. I quickly realized that Bowdoin offered great academics, strong athletic teams, extensive alumni connections, and it did so in an absolutely beautiful location. I visited Bowdoin and loved the trails around campus, the Coastal Studies Center, and all of the people I met. I had a general idea of what I was looking for in a school, but Bowdoin has given me so much more than what I had expected!
Maria McCarthy
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Art History
Campus involvement: Senior Interviewer, America Reads and Counts Tutor, Bowdoin College Museum of Art Advisory Council, Curator Search Committee at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Baxter House (2017-2018)
How I found Bowdoin: As a first-generation college student, I didn’t really know what to look for in a college until I found Bowdoin. After visiting the college in April of my junior year, I decided to apply for Explore Bowdoin, an overnight fly-in program for low-income students. I got to spend a long September weekend exploring the coast of Maine, sitting in on first-year seminars, and bonding with my host and her friends. One night, walking back from Super Snacks, I looked up to the sky and saw bright, clear stars for the first time in my life. I thought to myself: “I could see these stars, every day, for the next four years.” In the months that followed, my dad would sing a little tune, “Bowdoin, Bowdoin, Bowdoin,” and watch as my face lit up with joy. None of us could deny that I had fallen in love with Maine and the wonderful community here at Bowdoin. Now, just over three years later, I still look up at the stars and smile, grateful that I had the opportunity to return and make this place home.
Tessa Peterson
Hometown: Nederland, Colorado
Major: Double Major in Earth & Oceanographic Science and Francophone Studies
Campus involvement: Bowdoin Outing Club, Women's Cross Country, Writing Project
How I found Bowdoin: During my college search I was attracted to Bowdoin because it felt like a very intellectual, active, and most importantly happy place. A really important factor for me in choosing Bowdoin was the chance to talk to current students and alumni - on all accounts, people were proud of their connection to Bowdoin and effusively positive about their student experience. I was so impressed.