With the close of the academic school year around the corner, the Office of Admissions is finalizing decisions regarding next year's first-year class.
This year, the admissions office received 5,401 applications and admitted 1,172 students, marking a 21.66 percent acceptance rate. Last year, the office received 5,026 applications and admitted 1,220 for a 24.35 percent acceptance rate.
The target number of students for the Class of 2010 is 480, and, according to Assistant Dean of Admissions Toby Brewster, as of now, "Our projected yield is ahead of last year and is approaching the target of 480."
For accepted students, the deadline for notifying Bowdoin of their college plans was May 1. However, there are some individuals who have not yet sent in their decision. These students will receive letters in the mail this week, and the admissions office will know by next week whether or not they will need to look to the waiting list to fill the Class of 2010.
Since the number of students who have chosen Bowdoin is approaching the 480 limit, it is not yet clear whether the College will offer admission to any wait-listed students, according to Brewster. Depending on the replies of these late-responding individuals, "We may or may not use the wait list," which contains a number of "great students," Brewster said.
Brewster also noted that the three Bowdoin open houses and the Bowdoin Experience were valuable events in persuading perspectives to come to Bowdoin.
"Those events were well-attended," he said. "We tend to yield very well on students who choose to attend these events."
The open houses took place on April 17, April 21, and April 24 and were days packed with campus and athletic facilities tours, student panels, various classes, and information sessions. In addition to allowing prospective students to get a sense of the Bowdoin atmosphere and community, these events also allowed individuals to meet and get to know their potential future classmates.
The Bowdoin Experience brought 60 or 70 prospective students who had not previously seen the campus to Bowdoin and allowed them to see and experience the College for a weekend.
"This event was a separate event targeting primarily students of color, but not only students of color," said Brewster. "It was very successful."
In relation to previous years' numbers, Brewster indicated that "based on early returns, we're headed where we've been in the past."