Office of Admissions: records and publications

The Office of Admissions is responsible for deciding which students are admitted to the college. Specifically, the office evaluates candidates applying to the college in terms of six factors: academic record, the level of challenge in the candidate's course work, counselor/teacher recommendations and Bowdoin interview, application and essay, overall academic potential, and personal qualitites. In addition, this office produces publications that provide information about the college, the various academic departments, and student life. These brochures are distributed to prospective students.

In 1802, President Joseph McKeen adopted entrance qualifications similar to those required by Harvard University. Based largely on examination, prospective students were required to be knowledgeable in Geography, in Walsh's Arithmetic, Cicero's Select Orations, the Bucolics, Georgics, and Aeneid of Virgil, Sallust, the Greek Testament, and Collectanea Graeca Minora. From 1802 to the mid-1800's, it is likely that the members of the faculty administered this test and made admissions decisions. From about 1860 to 1900, the Examining Committee made admissions decisions. In 1900 the Relations with Preparatory Schools Committee first appeared. This faculty committee worked in conjunction with the administrators of preparatory schools in order to administer the Bowdoin Entrance Examinations.

In 1935 Edward S. Hammond, a professor at the college, was appointed the first Director of Admissions. He was replaced in 1946 by Hubert Seely Shaw. In 1991, during a restructuring of the administration, the title Director of Admissions was changed to the Dean of Admissions.