A Student's Unofficial Guide to the Best Dorms at Bowdoin College
Hey there, future Polar Bear! If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the middle of one of the most exciting & maybe a little stressful parts of heading to college: figuring out where you’re going to live. You’ve probably heard amazing things about Bowdoin's academics & its gorgeous Maine campus, but let’s be real, you also want to know the inside scoop on the dorms. Where are the best spots? What’s the social scene like in each hall?
Honestly, navigating college housing can be tricky, but I'm here to break it down for you. Think of me as your friendly upperclassman guide. I’ve lived it, I’ve heard it all from friends, & now I’m spilling the tea so you can get a better picture of what to expect.
One of the first things you should know is that Bowdoin’s residential life is a HUGE part of the experience. They really emphasize creating a community, & where you live plays a big role in that. The good news? The housing here is pretty fantastic across the board. In fact, Niche.com gives Bowdoin’s dorms an A+ rating, with 86% of students saying the overall dorm quality is great. So, no matter where you end up, you’re in for a good experience.
But, of course, some dorms have their own unique quirks & personalities. Let's dive in.
First-Year Housing: Welcome to "The Bricks"
As a first-year, you don’t get to choose your specific dorm. You'll fill out a housing survey in the summer, & the Office of Residential Life will work its magic to place you with a roommate (or roommates) in one of the eight first-year residence halls. These are affectionately known as "the bricks," & they’re all located in the heart of campus. This is awesome because you’re never far from classes, dining halls, or the library.
Now, here’s something pretty incredible about Bowdoin’s first-year dorms that you won’t find at many other colleges: almost every single room has a common room & a separate bedroom. Whether you’re in a double, triple, or quad, you'll have a shared living space with desks, a couch, & chairs, plus a separate room for sleeping. This is a GAME-CHANGER. It means you can have friends over to hang out in the common room while your roommate is sleeping peacefully in the bedroom. It gives you so much more space to live & study.
Let's talk about some of the most popular first-year dorms:
Osher & West: The Newer Kids on the Block
If you ask around, you'll probably hear a lot of students rave about Osher Hall & West Hall. These are two of the newer first-year dorms, & they’re known for being really nice. They mostly consist of doubles, so you’ll have one roommate. The rooms are spacious, & because they’re newer, the facilities are top-notch. One student on a College Confidential forum mentioned that their son lived in Osher & had a small sofa, desks, two closets, & a bookshelf in the common room, with two beds in the other room.
One thing to note about Osher & West is that the showers are in the communal bathrooms, which is a more traditional college dorm setup. But don't let that deter you—the bathrooms are modern & well-maintained. Osher Hall is also known for being one of the best dorms on campus, so if you get placed there, you’ve hit the jackpot!
Maine Hall: Historic & Centrally Located
Maine Hall is another fantastic option for first-years. It’s one of the oldest buildings on campus, but it was renovated in 2007. It has a ton of historic charm, & its location is unbeatable—it’s right in the center of campus. One student who lived in Maine Hall said they loved how cozy & intimate it felt.
A student vlogger who did a dorm tour of their quad in Maine Hall showed off a spacious common room with a couch that came with the room, two windows, & plenty of outlets. They also mentioned that there's a study room at the end of the hall, which is great for when you need a quiet place to focus. One thing to keep in mind is that the elevator in Maine Hall only goes to the second floor, so if you live on the fourth floor, you'll be getting your steps in!
The Other Bricks: You Can't Go Wrong
Honestly, all of the first-year bricks are great. They’re all designed to foster a strong sense of community, & you’ll quickly get to know the other students on your floor. Residential Life does a wonderful job of creating a welcoming environment, so you’ll feel at home no matter where you end up.
Upperclassmen Housing: More Independence & Variety
Once you’re a sophomore, you’ll enter the housing lottery to choose your room for the following year. This is where things get really exciting, because there are so many different options to choose from.
College Houses: The Social Hubs of Campus
About half of the sophomore class lives in one of the eight College Houses. These are a unique part of Bowdoin’s social fabric. Since there’s no Greek life on campus, the College Houses serve as social hubs, hosting parties, events, & activities for the entire campus. They’re known for everything from broom-ball tournaments to special dinners.
Living in a College House is a really cool experience. You’ll be part of a close-knit community, & you’ll have a hand in shaping the social life on campus. Some of the popular College Houses include Quinby House, which is known for its great communal living experience, & Reed House, which has a nice yard & is a good distance from campus.
Apartment-Style Living: Your Own Space
As a junior or senior, you'll have the option to live in one of the apartment-style residence halls. This is a popular choice for upperclassmen who want a little more independence & their own kitchen.
Park Row & Harpswell Apartments: These are two of the newest & most sought-after upperclassmen housing options. They offer apartment-style living with single bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, & a study area. The apartments in Park Row even have full-size XL beds! These buildings were designed to create a home-like experience for juniors & seniors, with a focus on community & social interaction.
Brunswick Apartments & Mayflower Apartments: These are also popular choices for upperclassmen. They offer double & triple apartments with full kitchens & living rooms. They’re a bit further from the center of campus, but they have their own parking lots, which is a big plus if you have a car.
Coles Tower: You can’t miss Coles Tower—it’s the sixteen-story brick building that’s a prominent feature of the Bowdoin skyline. It houses about 218 students in quad suites & triple rooms. Each quad has four single bedrooms, a common room, & a bathroom that’s shared with the adjoining quad. The views from the upper floors are absolutely incredible!
Other Upperclassmen Options
There are plenty of other great upperclassmen dorms, too. Chamberlain Hall offers a mix of singles, doubles, & quads, & it has two common rooms & a kitchen on the first floor. Stowe Hall is another good option, with quint suites that each have two bedrooms, a common room, & a bathroom.
For students who prefer a substance-free living environment, Bowdoin offers several options, including 52 Harpswell, Howard Hall, Mayflower Apartments, & Smith House.
A Note on Storage & Parking
College dorms are great, but they’re not always known for their ample storage space. If you find yourself with more stuff than you have room for, or if you need a place to store your belongings over the summer, you might want to look into off-campus storage options. That's where a service like Prked can be a lifesaver. Prked connects you with people in the local community who have extra space in their homes—like a garage, attic, or basement—that you can rent for storage. It’s a convenient & affordable way to keep your things safe without cluttering up your dorm room.
And what about parking? If you're an upperclassman with a car, you'll need to register it with security to park in one of the designated student lots. Some of the apartment-style dorms, like Brunswick Apartments & Harpswell Apartments, have their own parking lots. But if you’re looking for a more convenient or guaranteed spot, especially if you're living off-campus, you could also use Prked to find a homeowner who’s renting out their driveway. It's a pretty clever way to solve the perennial problem of campus parking.
So, What's the "Best" Dorm?
Here’s the thing: the "best" dorm at Bowdoin really depends on what you’re looking for. Are you a first-year who wants a super modern room? Then you’ll probably love Osher or West. Are you a sophomore who wants to be at the center of the social scene? A College House might be the perfect fit for you. Are you a junior or senior who wants the independence of apartment-style living? You’ll have plenty of great options to choose from.
No matter where you end up living, you’re going to have an amazing experience at Bowdoin. The sense of community here is incredibly strong, & you’ll make lifelong friends in the process. I hope this guide was helpful in giving you a better idea of what to expect from the dorms at Bowdoin. Let me know if you have any other questions, & welcome to the Polar Bear family
