Bates College

Overpriced, understaffed, lacking in rigor. I graduated from Bates in 2005 with a degree in psychology. My entire time there I did not have a class with under 30 students, and never had a class discussion of any rigor. The administration is vindictive and arbitrary. As when they denied my friend graduation based on a single transfer credit - he was able to graduate after retaking the exact same course "pre-approved." As when they encouraged me not graduate, because I was behind 5k in bills after paying 130k. I graduated a semester early, to get out and save money. There is nothing you will learn at Bates that you cannot learn from reading free or inexpensive books and articles, or in MOOCs. The pedigree of the degree is only relevant in Boston or the northeast, and then will only help you get a job if you know someone. Think long and hard before you spend a quarter of a million dollars. Any startup will hire you, with a $100k investment in their company. You could spend 4 years at a startup with that investment, have more accomplishments, be more hireable, have more real skills, and save $160k. Do not waste your time and effort on a education model that has been outdated for over 20 years.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000