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Canadian
Member
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Posted: Sun Apr 13th, 2008 08:45 am |
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We went to Bates a year ago, so I welcome corrections to my comments.
The receptionist at Bates was one of the nicest we met on our tours, a motherly, huggable lady. Bates was different from many other schools, as I did all my arranging with her by phone rather than email. Although Bates would not schedule an official overnight for my junior son, the receptionist was helpful in getting me in touch with a coach, who found me a rugby player, who was happy to host my son.
I also contacted someone on the Hillel website and got S an overnight with one of their members. S had a great time with each of his hosts and did a fair share of partying.
I really liked how the receptionist helped S schedule a class. She helped him find all the available classes on their website that might be appropriate for him. S then picked what he wanted and was responsible for emailing the professor and asking if it would be alright for him to attend. This was the only school that allowed him to pick, and it was by far his best class visit experience.
The info session was conducted by students, as was his interview. During the info session, they talked about Bates being part of the underground railway and the school's ongoing commitment to equality and fairness. I felt they put their money where their mouth is. Bates does not give merit aid, preferring instead to use all their funds for students who need FA. Also, Bates is SAT optional.
We arrived just after a snowstorm. You enter Bates through a treed main quad with an old stone chapel on the side. My first impression was that it looked like Narnia. The campus is absolutely beautiful, very New England but with many modern elements. Comfortable and inviting. One academic building has a 3 story glass atrium overlooking the campus lake. With comfortable seating, it was well used. Over and over, I noticed beautiful attention to detail both inside buildings and out.
I attended an enjoyable strings recital in a lovely theatre. Next to it is an art gallery. The gym was very good, with a padded indoor track. Everything was well-lit and looked new or well-kept. The food was good but nothing special. I think there is a new dining hall this year.
The dorms were fine and there are many college-owned theme houses within a few blocks of the campus.
Everyone I met was extremely nice.......admissions staff, students, security guard. I loved the Maine accents of the local staff.
Bates has a hockey rink. The donor stipulated that it had to be slightly shorter than full scale so that Bates hockey would have to remain Div 1. This would keep Bates from recruiting players, another part of keeping the equality issue alive.
The academic schedule is somewhat unusual with two 4-month semesters and then a spring short term. This term offers all kinds of unusual and fun courses. Students can also opt to do independent study during this time or skip the term, which allows them a jump on getting summer jobs.
Lewiston is a somewhat depressed NE mill town that offers some good and reasonable restaurants not too far from campus. I think the school offers shuttles for local shopping and into Portland and Boston.
Many of the students are athletic. Team sports and outdoor activities are popular. There is skiing nearby (pathetic by western standards, but nonetheless popular). Bates is less than an hour from Portland and the ME coast and about 2 1/2 hours from Boston.
I loved this school and my S liked it the best of all the east coast schools we visited.
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alanarch
Member
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Posted: Sun Apr 13th, 2008 12:57 pm |
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| My son just finished his first year at Bates. If anyone has any questions, I will do my best to answer them.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3191 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 13th, 2008 07:29 pm |
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| Alan, How wonderful to *see* you. I'd love to hear an update on how your son has fared at Bates. So, please chime in!
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alanarch
Member
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Posted: Sun Apr 13th, 2008 08:19 pm |
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I do lurk here as coming to this site had/has become a force of habit. I only chime in when I think I have something of value to contribute.
I have to say that everything during my son's first year has gone very smoothly. He adjusted very easily to 4 boys living in two small rooms. About 8 years of camp will make that easy. His basic plan is to study economics. If my memory is correct, all freshman take a seminar course with the teacher becoming their advisor until they choose a major. His advisor has been very helpful. He has been living in Smith Hall, which is a freshman dorm. Though one of the oldest dorms, my son's research on Facebook told him that it was a good place to hang out with freshman and it has been a good experience. Some kids drink and do other things but I believe it has never been an issue if you choose not to do thise things. There always seem to be things to do on campus. He has not made any "best" friends yet but is very happy.
The workload is only overwhelming some of the time but he was used to all-nighters in high school. He is definitely exploring new territories academically and socially. He has taken psych 101 and and the anthropology of religion.
He is getting involved with the admissions dept. and was involved in interviewing new admissions staff. He is hosting a prospective student as part of the admitted students process. For a relatively non-observant Jew, he has joined Hillel and, by default, has become Secretary. He literally finished his semester last night at midnight as a paper was due then. Bates has a 4-4-1 where two out the four years you have to do a one month, one course semester from the middle of april to the middle of May. It is actually one of the nicest times to be up there as there is a lot of snow over the winter.
If anybody has any questions, I would be glad to answer them as best I can.
Carolyn, and others, thanks for the support last year as we all went through this process. For the others, I wish you the best of luck.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3191 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 14th, 2008 01:32 am |
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Alan,
How wonderful to read the update on your son. It sounds like Bates is a good match for him in many ways, and it is nice to hear how things turned out so well for him.
Maybe we should have an update thread for parents who had kids who were freshmen this year!
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Canadian
Member
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Posted: Mon Apr 14th, 2008 05:08 am |
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Carolyn,
That's a terrific idea. Perhaps the update posts could be copied and pasted into the appropriate college threads, too. I'd be happy to do that if you like.
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