Bowdoin College includes two optional supplemental essays with a 250-word limit each.
The Offer of the College Essay
Generations of students have found connection and meaning in Bowdoin’s “The Offer of the College,” written in 1906 by Bowdoin President William DeWitt Hyde.
To be at home in all lands and all ages;to count Nature a familiar acquaintance,and Art an intimate friend;to gain a standard for the appreciation of others' workand the criticism of your own;to carry the keys of the world's library in your pocket,and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake;to make hosts of friends…who are to be leaders in all walks of life;to lose yourself in generous enthusiasms and cooperate with others for common ends –this is the offer of the college for the best four years of your life.
Which line from The Offer resonates most with you?
To be at home in all lands and all ages
To count Nature a familiar acquaintance, and Art an intimate friend
To gain a standard for the appreciation of others' work and the criticism of your own
To carry the keys of the world's library in your pocket, and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake
To make hosts of friends…who are to be leaders in all walks of life
To lose yourself in generous enthusiasms and cooperate with others for common ends
Bowdoin Essay Slides
Q: How do you choose your prompt?
A:
The prompt tests your self-awareness.
Select the line that best serves your most unique, untold story.
The essay should reveal a core part of you, not just an interest.
Q: How do you find a home in new environments?
A:
It represents intellectual and cultural adaptability.
Show how you navigate different settings, physical or intellectual.
Example: Your passion for ancient Roman history informs your civic engagement.
Example: You adapt to new cultures by learning their folk music traditions.
Q: What is a specific piece of nature or art that has shaped you?
A:
It represents a deep, personal connection to a specific part of nature or art.
Avoid general statements. Get specific.
Example: My knowledge of specific bird migration patterns informs my conservation efforts.
Example: My study of specific Renaissance painting techniques informs my approach to abstract art.
Q: Tell a story about a time you had to change your mind.
A:
It represents intellectual humility and growth.
Tell a story about a failure or a lesson from a peer.
Example: My collaborative work on a team project taught me to receive critical feedback.
Example: A mentor's guidance improved my coding ability and my sense of self-worth.
Q: How do you use knowledge as a tool to take action?
A:
It represents intellectual resourcefulness.
Show how you use knowledge to take action.
Example: I used academic research to solve a community issue.
Example: I used the principles of electrical engineering to build a robot.
Q: How have you built a meaningful community?
A:
It represents a commitment to community.
Show how you contribute to a group's success.
Example: I established a student organization that brings leaders together for a common goal.
Example: My leadership on a debate team prepared me to collaborate.
Q: What cause are you willing to get lost in?
A:
It represents passion and purpose.
Tell a story about a time you worked on something bigger than yourself.
Example: A passion project for urban farming led me to create a sustainable garden.
Example: My enthusiasm for mentorship led me to start a tutoring program for students in my community.
Q: Final check and what to avoid?
A:
Avoid repeating the prompt verbatim.
Your essay must be a story, not a list of your accomplishments.
Bowdoin believes that its broadly diverse and inclusive campus community prepares graduates to be contributing and useful citizens of the world. Every graduate of this institution should be confident in their preparation to be able to navigate through differences and in all sorts of situations. A Bowdoin education does not guarantee these skills, but it does impart a set of tools necessary to bravely enter unfamiliar conditions with the confidence to deal effectively with ambiguity.
If you wish, you may share anything about the unique experiences and perspectives that you would bring with you to the Bowdoin campus and community or an experience you have had that required you to navigate across or through difference.
Bowdoin Navigating Differences Essay Slides
Q: What is this essay about?
A:
The essay tests how you handle ambiguity and difference.
It is a test of character, not your accomplishments.
Your response must prove you have tools for unfamiliar situations.
Q: How do you choose your story?
A:
Focus on a single anecdote.
Choose a moment that shows personal growth.
The essay must reveal a core part of you.
Q: How does your experience prepare you?
A:
Tell a story about your upbringing, a specific cultural environment, or your background.
Show how it gave you a unique perspective.
Example: A rural upbringing taught me to build solutions with limited resources.
Q: How did you navigate a situation with difference?
A:
Describe a specific challenge or difficult conversation.
Show the process, not just the outcome.
Example: A team's communication broke down. I created a shared document to organize ideas and build consensus.
Q: What does your story show about you?
A:
The essay proves you have a specific set of skills.
The essay demonstrates empathy, critical thinking, or resourcefulness.
