Sixty-six high school students will be traveling to Bowdoin by plane, train, or automobile free of charge this weekend.
These students are all high school seniors and have all been accepted to be a part of Bowdoin's Class of 2010. However, for most of these accepted students, "The Bowdoin Experience" will be the first time they see the College up close and in person, instead of in brochures and on the internet.
According to Interim Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Richard Steele, the decision as to who to invite is largely based on family income, not on race.
Associate Dean of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Recruitment Fumio Suhigara agreed.
"It is a diversity weekend, and it is targeted at minority students," he said. "But it's not exclusive?we base this program on who needs it the most."
"There's this excitement about getting the students here," said Sugihara.
The Bowdoin Experience has been a part of the admissions process at the College since the early 90s, according to Steele.
"We grew the program significantly in '98 and '99?that's when we moved to the format we're at now," Sugihara said.
As Bowdoin has focused on creating an increasingly diverse environment over time, the Bowdoin Experience weekend has flourished, and is now an integral part of bringing diversity to campus.
"Having greater diversity is the most important objective of the College," Steele said.
"It's just a simple formula," said Steele. "When kids come and meet students and faculty it makes a profound impact...and it works."
Over the years, the numbers have agreed.
"Of the students who come to these programs, we'll have a 60 to 70 percent conversion rate," said Sugihara.
Every spring, the Office of Admissions selects certain admitted students and invites them to visit campus in person.
The Office of Admissions uses two main tools to determine who to invite.
"If a student has already visited, we typically don't bring them back," Sugihara said.
"[Secondly], if a student is not applying for aid, we think the family can afford to make that effort to come and visit," he said. "Many students, for the most part, need assistance to make this trip."
Over the course of the weekend, the students will engage in a number of activities to help them get to know the College. During their time here, the students will have the opportunity to attend classes, stay in dorm rooms with current student, learn about student activities, and see Bowdoin athletics in action. They will also be treated to a belly dancing performance and comedian by the Asian Students Association, attend a gospel extravaganza, and go to a dance party sponsored by the African American Society.
"It's astronomical the kind of effort the College puts into these kinds of programs," Sugihara said.
The Office of Admissions is also sponsoring Yield Day today, a program in which all accepted students are invited to participate. Yield Day includes campus tours, information sessions, and classroom visits.
While the Bowdoin Experience is a significant way for the Office of Admissions to increase diversity on campus, its main focus has always been to help educate the students.
"We really shoot for honesty in our presentations," said Sugihara.
Steele agreed.
"We really want to get the best fit for the students," he said. "They realize it's for them."
As the visiting students come in this weekend, dozens of Bowdoin students will go to the Office of Admissions to welcome the visiting students into their dorms and show them what it is like to really be at Bowdoin.
"It's not easy for a stranger to come and live with them," said Steele. "It's an important demonstration to the broader campus commitment."
Anne Riley contributed to this report.