Although the decision to attend any college is a difficult one, the Bowdoin Experience Weekend seeks to facilitate that decision for many multicultural students.
The Bowdoin Experience Weekend, which starts today, aims to attract minority students who have already been accepted to campus, and encourage them to develop a connection with Bowdoin, and, ultimately, to matriculate.
"The experience weekend as a whole, is designed to introduce admitted students to a different side of Bowdoin, which is often overshadowed by the misperception that Bowdoin isn't diverse," wrote Tony Thrower '09 in an e-mail to the Orient.
Thrower attended a past experience weekend.
"Diversity is much more than skin color," he added. "It's about the kind of people we are. That's what the experience weekend is about."
According to Erby Mitchell, assistant dean of admissions, the major message the College wants to convey to these students is that they belong at Bowdoin because of their unique qualifications.
"We admitted them because we think they'll make huge contributions to Bowdoin and the world," he said. "Many are students of color, [for] whom we feel seeing the campus will help make a difference."
Thrower said the program is intended to help these prospective students make informed decisions about whether Bowdoin is right for them.
"The Experience Weekend isn't about selling the school, it's about showcasing it. As long as we as a community continue to do our part, the school will sell itself," said Thrower.
The Office of Admissions, in conjunction with other campus organizations, organizes programming that helps prospective students engage with Bowdoin to allow those students to feel like they belong.
"It provides them with invaluable opportunities like attending panels on financial aid intricacies, student life on campus, and even events like the hip hop show and laser tag," Thrower said. "I think that the experience is a great representation of the window of opportunity that opens when you matriculate as a student here."
Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster stressed that the Bowdoin Experience Weekend is truly a "community enterprise" on the part of faculty, staff, and students, to encourage the most qualified students to attend Bowdoin.
"The president, faculty, students, and staff make themselves available," he said. "I always appreciate the commitment people make, especially those who host, to welcome others to campus."
Mitchell considers the Bowdoin Experience Weekend to be a great success in persuading multicultural students to attend Bowdoin.
Sixty to 65 percent of accepted students who attend the spring experience weekend matriculate. Of those who participate in a similar fall program that encourages students to apply to Bowdoin, 80 percent or more complete an application.
"The Experience Weekend was a tremendous factor in my decision to come to Bowdoin. The weekend allowed me to see Bowdoin College for what it is. I still talk with every student that I met during the Experience Weekend, as well as the admissions staff," said Thrower.