You've been admitted to Bowdoin! What's next?

Bowdoin Bearings is a collection of on-campus and virtual events for admitted students and their families. It includes: Bearings in Brunswick, on-campus events hosted at Bowdoin on April 18-19; Polar Preview, one half-day event on April 8 if you can't make it to Bearings in Brunswick; and, Virtual Bearings, a series of virtual events held in March and April.

Yes! We understand that the timing doesn’t work for everyone. The Polar Preview on April 8 is an alternative option to visit campus and meet fellow Bowdoin Class of 2028 classmates. You may also register for an admissions tour and information session (geared toward prospective students) or take our self-guided campus tour. You can also reach out to your Admissions Officer to let them know you’ll be on campus so they can say hello and answer any additional questions. If you’d like to meet with the Student Aid Office, please contact them directly to schedule an appointment during your visit.

Yes! We look forward to welcoming family members and guests to our Bearings in Brunswick and Polar Preview events. Students  are able to invite guests when they register for Bearings in Brunswick and Polar Preview events at www.bowdoin.edu/bearings. 

Students are welcome to visit campus alone or with family members. If a student will be staying overnight, please be aware that Bowdoin is not able to offer housing on-campus, so be sure to make appropriate travel and lodging arrangements. You can find a list of area accommodations.

Any changes or cancelations can be made through your Application Portal up until the registration deadlines, which are listed in your portal. If you need to make a change after the deadline, please let us know at bearings@bowdoin.edu.

The following events will be recorded:

• Students Talk – Academic Life (link will be shared with all admitted students later in April)
• RepresentAsian Panel (email bearings@bowdoin.edu for link)
• Association of Bowdoin Latinx Alumni (ABLA) Panel (email bearings@bowdoin.edu for link)
• Bowdoin College Black Alumni Association (BCBAA) Panel (email bearings@bowdoin.edu for link)

Most events are for students only. You can, however, invite family members and guests to the three affinity group events on April 8, 10, and 11. We will also livestream Bearings in Brunswick events on April 18-19, which are open to all.

May 1 at midnight eastern time is the deadline to accept your place in Bowdoin's Class of 2028. Log in to your Application Portal and complete the admission reply form. You will then be prompted to submit your $300 deposit payment or request a deposit waiver.

The orientation team and Office of the Dean of Students will be hosting Zoom sessions, as well as posting informative videos, for incoming students and their families to help with the on-boarding process. Topics will include academics, placement exams, and course registration information, Orientation trip information, information for Transfer students and International students, housing, health services, counseling and wellness services, and student accessibility information, summer forms and deadlines, and more. Each live call will include time for questions and answers. All calls will be recorded and posted for students and their families to access through the summer. The full schedule of Pre-Orientation events will be available in the coming weeks.

Students admitted to Bowdoin may apply to defer their attendance for one year. Gap year requests can be submitted through your Application Portal after you've accepted Bowdoin's offer of admission. Note: Students offered admission from the waitlist and transfer students are unable to defer their enrollment.

Your request must include a general timeline of how your year will be spent and what you hope to learn during that time. During your gap year you may not apply to or enroll at any another institution as degree seeking students or take courses at another college or university for credit.

We do require that a school official send us your final high school transcript—with your graduation date—as soon as it is available. All transcripts can be sent to the Admissions Office at appmaterials@bowdoin.edu. If you have already graduated from high school and we have your final high school transcript on file, there is no need to send us the transcript again. 

Contact the Office of the Registar at registrar@bowdoin.edu or 207-725-3521.