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Bates College

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Bates as an academic institution has to beQuite BrightPolitical Science
Bates as an academic institution has to be up there in at the very least the top 50 schools in the nation. There is no questioning that the administration uses the tuition money to expand the oppertunities of its students by rigorously recruiting experienced professionals, providing students with resources, and maintaining a modern working and living environment.

With that said there is a downside to Bates which arises almost entirely as its position as a school for the rich. Many of the people at Bates are incredibly friendly, I can vouch for that because before I was a student here I actually was a truck driver who stalked the vending machines. With that said 90% of the student body is open, friendly and willing to help in anyway. Maybe even lay down in traffic for you. However the other 10% serve to contaminate the rest in all their self absorbtion. There are alot of snooty people here that otherwise shouldn't be. I mean I can understand when gorgeous women become self absorbed, but when average women start to act that way it irritates me. There are alot of what I would deem "hippy snobs" here, people from wealthy COUNTRY families, who are rich but have no clue as to the modern conveniences the gucci and prada provide.

Finally for god sake watch out for the surrounding community (Lewiston, Maine) which is in every way a "mini" South Bronx. Although the city has only 40,000 people the crime and violence here are every bit as nasty as that which occurs in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. There is an inordinate amount of brutality for such a small community. Go into the center of town and its like your in Watts...liquor stores, gun shops, shop keepers are all from Somalia or Cambodia, and there are more pawn shops here than most countries have abroad.

Quite frequently you will here of a stabbing, or even a murder which in a big city is not a big deal but becomes ever more troubling when this news is continously surfacing out of a community of only 40,000 people.

Also 2 years ago one of the Bates students was actually stabbed to death in fight in the center of town. Thats right. The fight was largely his own fault, rich kid thoaght he could go run his mouth to the locals without any trouble. Problem is the locals are a a) poor white trash or b) angry Moslems so I guess in a way he got what was coming to him, aparently some white trailer park guy knifed him up and left him in a pool of blood to die while the ambulances came.

Although the fight was largely his fault it just goes to show you how dangerous this town really is. This was by no means an isolated incident, but it did recieve press here and nationally because it was a college student who died. However this town is dangerous and you better believe that, this coming from someone who has lived in the shady section of downtown Miami but I also lived in Lewiston itself as a child growin up in Maine...all the shit that goes down in the seedy parts of big cities hppens here...homelessness is rampant, crack is on the rise, brutality (i.e. assault and even murder) is a way of life.Come here for the education but please be advised to warn your children that while this is essentially a small "hick" town that doesn't mean that it is a town to be played with. Like I said I lived in Lewiston for a while growing up and some really sad and crazy things happens just minutes from the campus.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2007
Useful Schoolwork: A+, Surrounding City: F
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There's only one prevailingQuite BrightEconomics
There's only one prevailing point of view on most issues - liberal. There's not enough real world training and discussion. Everything lives and thrives well under the ridiculously limiting Bates Bubble while the real world full of stark contrast awaits all of its graduates.
4th Year Male -- Class 1991
Campus Maintenance: A+, Surrounding City: F
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Bates is an academically rigorous, socially tight community.Chemistry
Bates is an academically rigorous, socially tight community. The small student population and cold winters force students to get to know each other. No matter what your area of interest the college has established opportunities, or will help yo create your own. It is a liberal arts college, so the focus is on developing learning skills along with subject knowledge. I suspect that very few students end up in their original field of study.
Alumnus Male -- Class 2000
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