Despite Bowdoin's long-standing commitment to promoting the common good, the college could do a better job serving the country according to "The Washington Monthly College Guide."
The Washington Monthly developed a college rankings system as an alternative to other guides?among them the U.S. News & World Report?that it felt focused too much on what the colleges can do for students. Instead, The Washington Monthly asked, "What can the colleges do for the country?"
Among liberal arts colleges, Bowdoin was ranked 35th overall in the ranking, sandwiched between Siena College and Pomona College and trailing far behind top-ranked schools Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Bryn Mawr College, and Harvey Mudd College.
According to Washington Monthly Editor Ben Wallace-Wells the ranking was determined by three categories: the colleges' promotion of social mobility, commitment to research, and national service performed by students.
Bowdoin finished 18th in the social mobility category and 34th in research.
To determine each school's social mobility score, The Washington Monthly did a calculation to approximate each school's success rate in educating students with disadvantaged backgrounds. They did so by a predicting an estimated graduation rate based on the percentage of students on Pell Grants?a federally-funded need-based financial aid package?and then determined if the school over- or under-performed the predicted rate.
The analysis was unable to track the actual success rate of Pell Grant students at Bowdoin since the College does not make such data available.
The national service criteria was divided into three sub-categories: the number of graduates that enter the Peace Corps, the percentage of students involved in the Army or Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, and the percent of federal work-study money that schools devote to service activities. Bowdoin ranked 23rd, 15th, and 151st respectively in these categories.
Much of the criteria that The Washington Monthly looked at were not particularly relevant to Bowdoin. The college does not offer a ROTC program, and Bowdoin students rarely enter the Peace Corps (although many join AmeriCorps and become VISTAS, Volunteers in Service to America). The percentage of federal work-study money devoted to service is only seven percent.
College officials are not too concerned about the rankings.
"We take these things with a grain of salt," said Scott Hood, Bowdoin Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs. "People are fascinated with lists and rankings, but there's not always a lot of substance."
The ranking does not account for many other service opportunities offered at schools.
In an interview with the Orient, Director of the Bowdoin College Community Service Resource Center Susan Dorn shared her views.
"The way they define service is not the same way we define it," she said. "Bowdoin produces sound, academic men and women who are experienced being leaders to help the common good."
A large percentage of Bowdoin graduates continue to relish the importance of service by working for non-profit programs in the professional world.
Hood pointed out many Bowdoin students who went on to become leaders in volunteerism and philanthropy. "People educated at Bowdoin go on to do incredible things," he said.
Bowdoin also offers a wide variety of service programs including student-led service organizations, mentoring, service-oriented spring breaks, and an America Reads and Counts program. Professors too have incorporated their lessons in certain service-learning courses.
Dorn did note one positive aspect of the rankings.
"It's raising awareness, and for that, I don't care where we are," she said.
Members of the Community Resource Center believe that Bowdoin is working hard to promote service.
"Current students, alumni, it doesn't matter what you choose," Dorn said. "Bowdoin students share the tendency to do service for the common good."