How to Apply to Psychology at Bowdoin College: Admission to the College, Declaring Psychology in Sophomore Spring, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Bowdoin College is a liberal arts college in Maine. Psychology is taught by the Psychology Department. Bowdoin admits students to the college, not to a major. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Bowdoin’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. When you declare psychology

• After entry: Bowdoin admits students to the college and all students declare a major after enrolling, typically in the spring of sophomore year.
• Suggested sequence: take PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology in your first year, then PSYC 2510 Research Design in Psychology and PSYC 2520 Data Analysis in your second. Research Design comes before Data Analysis, Data Analysis before any course numbered 2700 or higher, and advanced seminars in junior or senior year.
• AP and IB: AP Psychology 4 or higher, or IB Higher Level Psychology 5 or higher, lets you skip Introduction to Psychology, but the major still requires ten psychology courses.

2. Psychology major requirements

• Ten courses:
  • three core courses, PSYC 1101, PSYC 2510 and PSYC 2520, ideally before junior year;
  • three topics-level courses (2000–2099);
  • one laboratory course (2700–2799);
  • two advanced seminars (3000–3999);
  • one more elective, which may be an independent study.
• Grades: courses must be letter-graded with a C- or better; only Introduction to Psychology may be taken Credit/D/Fail.
• Honors: a two-semester senior sequence, one semester of which can count as an elective. Interested students should take advanced courses in junior year and approach faculty before or during the spring of junior year.
• Other: psychology majors and minors may not also major in neuroscience. Research Design and Data Analysis taken elsewhere usually do not count toward the major.

3. Deadlines

• Applications open on 1 August.
• Early Decision 1: 15 November, with notification in mid-December.
• Early Decision 2: 5 January, with notification in early February.
• Regular Decision: 5 January, with notification in mid-March.
• Optional materials: the video response is due 24 November for ED 1 and 20 January for ED 2 and RD; the arts supplement has its own deadlines. Recommendations and transcripts can arrive after the deadline.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: Bowdoin says it dropped testing requirements in 1969, and about half of its most recent class did not submit scores. SAT and ACT are superscored.
• English tests are optional too: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or Cambridge English are accepted, with no minimum score. Bowdoin has no ESL courses, so incoming students must be highly proficient in English.
• Interviews: InitialView, Vericant and the Duolingo video interview are accepted, as is Bowdoin’s own optional video response; all are weighed equally.
• Chinese curricula: students from countries with national university entrance exams must submit official results; A-Level and IB students send predicted grades in their final year or final results if graduated. Transcripts should be translated into English. Bowdoin publishes no Gaokao cut-off and no minimum GPA, IB or A-Level score.

5. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 (US$): tuition 74,268, fees 700, housing 10,106, food 10,326, direct costs 95,400; plus books and supplies of 840, personal expenses of 1,660 and transportation.
• Need-blind for international students: Bowdoin states that it is need-blind for international students and meets the full calculated need of every admitted student, with no loans.
• When to file aid documents: international applicants (excluding Canadian citizens) submit aid materials only after admission, within seven days. Canadian citizens file by the aid deadlines: 15 November for ED 1, 5 January for ED 2 and 1 February for RD.
• No merit scholarships: all aid is need-based.

6. Transfer students

• Deadline: the fall 2027 transfer application opens on 1 November 2026 and closes on 1 March 2027, with decisions in April 2027; there is no spring entry. Apply through the Common App; the fee is $70.
• Who must apply as a transfer: anyone who has matriculated in a degree program after high school, regardless of credits. Bachelor’s degree holders are not eligible.
• Credit: transfers enter as sophomores or juniors; Bowdoin typically credits liberal arts courses with a C- or better, not pre-professional or vocational courses such as business, accounting or nursing. The Registrar provides a preliminary credit assessment after admission. Most major and minor requirements must be completed at Bowdoin.
• Declaring: transfers entering as juniors declare a major the summer before arrival.
• International transfers: typically no need-based aid, though outside scholarships can be applied. Transfer admission is need-aware.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 15 November (ED 1) or 5 January (ED 2, RD)
• Optional English test, SAT or ACT; optional InitialView, Vericant or video response
• Translate transcripts into English; send official national exam results if you have them
• Submit aid documents within seven days of admission

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; Canadian citizens file aid materials by the aid deadlines, not after admission
• No Canada-specific grade requirements are published

Transfer students:

• Deadline 1 March 2027, fall only
• Liberal arts courses with a C- or better transfer; international transfers typically receive no aid

Sources: Bowdoin College, Application dates and deadlines; International students; Transfer applicants; Test optional policy; Costs and aid; Psychology requirements; Psychology honors guidelines. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Bowdoin for the latest details.