Bowdoin College Admission

Bowdoin College admissions are accepted in the Fall semester with an option of an early decision through different deadlines. It is one of the most selective colleges to take admissions in, with an acceptance rate of around 9%.

Bowdoin College Admission Requirements

Bowdoin College is test-optional which means SAT and ACT scores are not mandatory for admission. A minimum GPA of 3.93 is required to be considered for admission at Bowdoin. Additional documents required for admission are letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, secondary school reports, etc.

Undergraduate Admission at Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College offers undergraduate programs in over 40 academic areas mainly in the fields of neuroscience, computer science, accounting, and more. Online applications can be submitted either through the Common Application or the Coalition Application along with a non-refundable application fee of $65.

Eligibility Criteria for International Students

• Official academic transcripts
• English language proficiency test scores
• SAT/ ACT scores (optional)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal essay
• Proof of financial support

Bowdoin College Application Process for International Students

Bowdoin College applications are accepted both through the Common Application, Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application. A non-refundable application fee of $65 is charged for all applicants. Applications are accepted in the Fall intake for various intake types such as regular decision, early action, early action 2, etc.

Required Documents

• Official copies of all academic records (translated in English) starting from high school and above
• English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or other accepted tests)
• Scores of standardized exams to study in the USA (optional)
• A personal essay stating why you want to join the university
• Interviews (preferred but not compulsory) 
• An additional letter of reference instead of an interview
• Financial statement (with original supporting documents) from a reputed financial institution confirming that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover the Bowdoin College tuition fees
• Letters of recommendation
• Copy of passport ID page
• Any other program-related documentation specified by Bowdoin College

How to Apply?

• Interested candidates should apply either through the Common Application or the Coalition Application
• Completed applications can be submitted in the early action 1, early action 2, or regular decision deadlines for the Fall semester
• A non-refundable application fee of $65 is charged to all applicants
• Applications are also accepted through Questbridge which is a nonprofit organization that matches high-achieving, low-income students with opportunities in higher education
• International applicants need to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting test scores of TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, etc
• Official academic transcripts along with translated copies need to be submitted along with the application
• Interview at Bowdoin is optional and applicants can submit one additional letter of recommendation instead of the interview

Bowdoin College Application Deadlines

Bowdoin College accepts applications for the Fall semester with an option for an early decision deadline. The applications need to be completed online either through the Common Application or the Coalition Application and all required documents should be submitted along with it. Tabulated below are the Bowdoin College application deadlines for the different intakes in the Fall semester:

Admission Procedure of Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College admission decisions are informed 4-8 weeks after the submission of the completed application. The applicants can log in to the Bowdoin Application Portal to check the status of their application. Admitted students need to confirm their spot by accepting the offer of admission. Find below the other steps to be followed by admitted students at Bowdoin College:

• Reply to the Admission Offer
• Contact the admissions officer or the Student Aid Office for queries related to financial aid
• Attend Admitted Student Days
• Visit Bowdoin College virtually or in-person

Acceptance Rate at Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College admissions are very selective with an acceptance rate of a mere 9%. Out of a total of 9,325 applications, only 500 made it to Bowdoin in the 2021 admissions, making it the most selective year ever, with an all-time low admit rate of 8.8%.