Admissions

What Are Special Students?

Bowdoin College allows a very small number of people in the nearby community to take courses at Bowdoin on a part-time basis.  These non-degree candidates are known as Special Students.

Special Students are NOT those who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, nor are they recent high-school graduates who have not attended college at all, nor are they students who were enrolled in college during the previous year.

Rather, Special Students are those whose education has been interrupted for one reason or another, and who have a serious commitment to resuming their education on a part-time basis in a demanding liberal arts curriculum.  In a few cases, Special Student status may be granted to primary and secondary school teachers who must take courses in order to maintain their certification.  In all cases, Special Students at Bowdoin are non-matriculated students, normally enrolling in one or two courses.  Special students are non-degree candidates.

What Is Bowdoin?

Located in Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin is an independent, coeducational, undergraduate, liberal arts college with just over 1,700 students in residence.  Students who desire such an environment in which to continue their education may apply to Bowdoin College as Special Students.

How Does One Apply For Special Student Status At Bowdoin College?

Application to Bowdoin College for Special Student status is ordinarily made through the Admissions Office.  The application for special students is available online. Candidates for admission should submit transcripts of all previous academic work, an essay explaining their reasons for returning to college (including a statement describing their non-academic pursuits), a letter of recommendation from an employer, an academic dean, or a professor, and a non-refundable application fee of $60.00.  Special Student applicants should normally have academic credentials that are equivalent to those sought from traditional applicants, although non-academic achievements will also be important for most Special Students.  An interview is strongly encouraged.  Applications must be received in the Admissions Office at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester.

What Is The Cost Of Attendance For Special Students At Bowdoin College?

For Special Students, the cost of attending Bowdoin College for the 2010-2011 academic year is $3,220 per course.  Financial aid is not available.  Special students may not live on campus, and they may take courses only as space is available.  The work completed by Special Students is graded, and they will receive an official Bowdoin College transcript.

What If I Do Not Qualify As A Special Student, But Still Wish To Take Courses?

If for some reason you are ineligible for Special Student status at Bowdoin College, but still wish to take courses here, you may consider the possibility of auditing a course.  Auditors must obtain the permission of the instructor to enroll in a course.  Auditors will not be graded.  There is no official Bowdoin College transcript, and there is no fee.  Auditors will not be permitted to use laboratory or studio facilities.

Inquiries Regarding Application For Special Student Status Should Go To:

Special Student Coordinator
Admissions Office, 5000 College Station
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME  04011
207-725-3192

Additional Educational Opportunities In Mid-Coast Maine:

Additional educational opportunities are available in the greater Brunswick area.  Many of these additional options are less expensive and more accessible than Bowdoin College.  These include courses available at Southern New Hampshire University, and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and in Portland, the University of New England, the University of Southern Maine and Southern Maine Community College.

Note:

• Students interested in the Twelve College Exchange Program should contact the Twelve College Exchange Coordinator at their home college.
• International students interested in attending Bowdoin for no more than one year as full-time non-degree students should consult the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
• Bowdoin College employees interested in taking courses at Bowdoin should contact the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs directly.
• Bowdoin College graduates who require additional course work at Bowdoin should also contact the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs directly.