Bates College

Bates College has some of nicest people I've ever meet. Everyone holds the door for each other and is eager to help each other in any way. The best thing is that because it has no frats or sororities, they're aren't cliques like at other schools. I would feel comfortable going to any of the parties on campus and not feeling left out. People at Bates usually have some attachment to the outdoors or some sort of athletic pursuit. BUT academics are most certainly the top priority at Bates. People go to the games, but if you are looking for a school which idolizes its athletes or are die-hard fans of their sports teams, Bates is probably not the right school.

Every professor i've had so far has been amazing. They all are very helpful and really want to make sure your doing well. You will not fall through the cracks at Bates, professors will know if you miss class. The campus is also just beautiful in the fall! It looks like the classic new england college. It differs from the other NESCAC schools I visited in that it seems much less snooty and WASPish. There are preppy people here, but they are.nt the typical ones. There are also outdoorsy, hipster, hippy, and skater people too. What unites us is our friendliness, our commitment to learning, our quirks, and that we enjoy the winter.

Food at Commons is ridiculously good! they have every cereal you could want and make your own omlette a vegan bar, fresh baked goods, brick oven pizza... etc. It really makes it hard not to gain the freshman 15. Also everyone eats together in commons so your sure to see people you know there. Another cute thing is that people write their comments/questions/requests for Commons on the napkins and pins them to a wall. Commons then replies to these napkins.

Basically Bates is awesome, I couldn't imagine being at a different school.
The only negative I can think of would be some people might not like the small school or the surrounding town. Also although the students are all interesting and nice, they are mainly white and from the middle-upper middle class.

1st Year Female -- Class 2012

Individual Value: A+, Surrounding City: D+

I transferred here from Binghamton University (SUNY) and often try to describe to my friend how amazing this school is having experienced a place like Binghamton. I almost did not write this review because I did not think that I could put in words how wonderful this school is and how happy and proud I am to be a student here. THERE IS NO OTHER SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY I WOULD RATHER BE AT.

First, Bates was not my top choice. I was attracted to some of the "flashiness" of other schools - many had really fancy facilities and the best this or that. When I visited though, after talking with students and professors and seeing the campus, I knew if I came I would be happy… and I am. I am SOOOO glad that I did not get into my top choice Bowdoin. Bowdoin is a great school and I have become friends with students there, but I think I would not feel at home there. Bates feels right, like home. We have by far the best college food I have tasted - it's is local and there is much variety. We also have hands down the best dining staff – it’s like having 20 loving grandmothers cook you diner every night...now let me move on.

The physics department is exciting and challenging. The professors are my friend and are really here to help us learn. I can go into any of my professor's offices and chat about physics jokes, my homework, or the world cup and they kick their feet up and take time to talk. My understanding is that this is indicative of the much of the school.

Socially, there are two sides of campus divided by the salad-bar in commons (our dining hall) and the academic part of campus. On one side are the athletes and the other side the outdoorsy folk. We all get along, but do have our space. I think both groups love Bates, but have their own community.

The best way to describe Batesies is "Work hard, Play hard". For some, working hard means studying your ass off for a class you love and reading everything you can about the subject, for others it's many hours a day of play rehearsal, and still other many hours of sports practice - for many it is all of the above. Playing includes skiing/riding at Sunday River 3 days a week, hiking Katahdin, lawn sports on the quad followed by a BBQ outside your dorm, shooting-the-shit at the ronj (our college owned, student run coffee house)...to be honest, I'm not sure what the athletes do. “Play” also means lots of walking around campus on weekend nights, house to dance to house, and drinking...alot. But it's all with people you know and love.

Lewiston is an economically dearth city, but very interesting. The integration of the Somali refugee community to this most white, Franco-American community is very impressive. Despite the growing pains, which often are pointed out (perhaps you have seen THE LETTER?), the two communities are learning a great deal from each other. Go for a walk in town (I feel safe as 6'1" man, but it is worth walking with others at night) and if you're upper lip is not too stiff, you can find some amazing people and places. Some examples: The Somali folks in Kennedy park (go talk with them), the exemplar architecture and history of the Basilica, one of the best concrete skateparks in the northeast, the relatively unused old mills, the beauty of the falls, and the whole town smells like pastries and fresh bread due to the Country Kitchen factory near Kennedy park, but to counterbalance that, you can sometimes smell the river (it inspired Muskie, a Bates Grad, to write the Clean Water Act when he was in the Senate - but it is MUCH better now). Safety wise, on campus is very safe, but be smart when in Lewiston and you'll be fine. (I'm from NY and Lewiston is NOT the Bronx as mentioned above)

Every day I walk across campus and think "man, do I really get to hang out here every day!?) The campus is incredibly beautiful, but I will leave it at that. While Bates is dream-like, Lewiston is real-life. It's a good combination.

The location of Lewiston is superlative - 45 minutes from Portland (a great city to explore- food, art...the things Lewiston lacks), 20-50 minutes to amazing beaches, 1 hour to Sunday River, 2 Hours to the Presidential range in NH, 2+ to Boston, 3 to Acadia national park, and 13 minutes to Nazinscot farm (a local organic family farm that serves the best breakfast around).

Excitement about sustainability is also growing on campus and many students, faculty and staff are bringing Bates to the forefront of the campus fight against global warming.

Let's see...Downsides: Not the excitement of a city, very homogenous styles and attitude (great people, but on the surface very similar), not much alternative culture (Queer, Punk, artsy, etc.), late night social scene centered around drinking beer, does get cold, one-sided politics (if you're liberal, everyone agrees with you)...that’s all I got.

There is so much opportunity here and I know very few people who don't absolutely love Bates. Yet, it’s not the perfect school for everyone. If you are looking at small New England ivy liberal arts colleges though...it's pretty great!

2nd Year Male -- Class 2008

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Surrounding City: C+

My Bates experience was overwhelmingly positive. Students were very friendly, professors were top-notch, and the friends I made there I have stayed close with ever since graduation day. The social life is good, although it is not the most ideal college town. But, you are there for an education, not a frat party! As a veterinary student now, I can appreciate the foundation that was laid for me as a Bates student. I am better able to cope with the rigors of professional school study having gone through such a stringent academic program at Bates. I had a ton of fun and I learned a LOT!

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000