Bear-y Important Newsletter #3 | May 31, 2026

! Top Tasks !

• Placement Surveys open soon
• Highschool transcripts and test scores
• Bowdoin Student Health Portal
• Orientation Trip forms
• Housing registration
• Parent access to tuition payments
• New Student Survey 

ACADEMICS 
 

Show Us What You Know!

Placement Surveys open June 10 at 12:00pm EDT and are required before course registration. They help Bowdoin place you in the right course based on your previous experience.

• Surveys are not graded
• They will not appear on your transcript
• You should complete surveys in every subject in which you have experience
• Complete by 8:00am EDT on June 29

ADMISSIONS

To complete your enrollment at Bowdoin, Admissions must receive a copy of your final high school transcript and official test scores (if you chose score submission during the admissions process). Transcripts must be submitted by your school’s counseling office or registrar.

→  Submit Your Grades & Scores Here!
 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 

The student health portal is your hub for all health-related information and resources:

• New student forms (required)
• Secure messaging with Health Services
• Online scheduling after arrival day

→  Student Health Portal

O-TRIPS 

86 days until you leave for your Orientaiton Trip! Tell us about what you're interested in doing for your trip by filling out your Orientation Trip Medical Form and OTrip Preference Form before June 15! You must submit your medical form before you can fill out your trip preference form. Links and instructions are on Canvas. For any questions, email bocOtrips@bowdoin.edu or mckeenOtrips@bowdoin.edu. 

→  OTrip Medical Form
→  OTrip Preference Form

RES LIFE 

This is your chance to tell us about yourself so we can create solid roommate groups for the upcoming year. Login to Bowdoin's housing portal, Bricks and Beyond, and select "First Year Housing" located on the black banner right under the building image. Must complete by June 2.

→ Your Housing Form

STUDENT ACCOUNTS 

If you have friends/family who want to view, pay, or ask questions about your tuition bill, you must list them as a Friend/Family member in Workday and they MUST have billing permissions. Please read more about the important authorization requirements on our Bursar website and set up those permisions.

→  Visit the Bursar

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH 

All incoming first-year students are asked to participate in the Survey of New Students before they arrive on campus. We want to know about your high school experiences, how you see yourself as a student, and expectations you may have about the College. Please complete the survey on Canvas by Monday, June 29th. 
 

Top Tips

• Bowdoin Summer Send-Offs 2026: Across the country, Bowdoin families are hosting Summer Send-Off events for new Polar Bears and their families.
• TRIVIA: Win a $5 Bowdoin Café card by answering this question: "Once the tallest building in Maine, this building was originally called 'The Senior Center' but now goes by what moniker?"
• Create your Workday account today! You won't get into courses without it.
• Follow Orientation on IG: @welcometobowdoin and visit the First-Year Experience website.
• Congratulations on graduating high school!