espressoroast

Hey! I'm a rising Sophomore at Bates. I know this site helped me a lot (and stressed me out a lot!) last year when I was applying/deciding, so if anyone has any questions about any aspect of Bates life, please ask!

vttxnh

Why would someone pick Bates over a lively campus in Boston? What kinds of cultural, fun, or outdoors activities exist that could possibly compete with Boston? Thanks.

espressoroast

Well, I guess if your only concern when choosing a college is the liveliness of the surrounding area, then you would not pick Bates, although I do think there is a lot going on to keep you occupied. Lewiston does not really provide any cultural activities, at least none that students regularly participate in. There are a couple nice museums and theaters, and some beautiful churches, but they are not easy to get to and they don’t really offer the kind of “fun” activities you’re probably talking about.

Bates does a great job of trying to make up for what Lewiston lacks. I love the Village Club Series, which brings in some excellent bands every Thursday night and serves free chai and cookies. There are always student performances going on, like plays, a capella concerts, traditional dances, and the hilarious improv comedy groups. We have some big student dances that are always a lot of fun, like the Halloween dance, Gala, and the infamous 80’s dance (and many more…). Bates activities bring the student body together in crazy activities like the Puddle Jump (where students jump into the frozen pond on campus in the middle of winter), winter carnival, the leaf jump during the fall, and many other little traditional activities.

The Bates campus is far removed from the bustling streets of Boston, but it is absolutely beautiful. A city might provide you with easier access to clubs and concerts, but it cannot give you a degree. There are many reasons why I would choose Bates as an academic institutution over a generic “school in a lively city.”

yepunsarang

Hey---thank you for starting this thread---it's really helpful. Well, what about diversity? Do you feel the lack of diversity affects your experience academically and socially?

vttxnh

Thanks expressoroast, that's exactly the info I am looking for for my daughter. She thinks the city would be exciting since we live in a rural town. Do you find that your classes are small and that the professors take a sincere interest in you?

espressoroast

yepunsarang,

I have not personally felt that the lack of diversity has hindered my academic or social experience, but I have definitely benefited from the “diverse” students I’ve met. There is not a huge percentage of minority students here (although Bates is doing its best to attract more) but they certainly have a voice on campus. Bates is very proud of its abolitionist heritage, MLK day is a big event, and Amandla! (the African American group) is very active, always bringing speakers and organizing events. There is not a huge presence of European international students, but I have a lot of friends from Asia, the Middle East, and several from Africa. The smallness of the Bates community makes it easier to get to know these people well, and I’ve learned so much from talking to them. A bigger university might have a higher number of minority/international students, but the culture is such that its more difficult to form close bonds with them, and there’s also more self-segregation at bigger schools. I’m from a very white area, so to me, this has been a huge step up in terms of diversity. Of course, Lewiston itself has a huge and growing Somali population, and there is a program to get together and just talk with them so they can improve their English. I haven’t done this yet, but I’m sure that’s a great way to hear some interesting stories about people from an entirely different world.

espressoroast

vttxnh,

Yes, classes are pretty small, excpet for prerequisite science classes. Even then, it doesn’t feel impersonal and you can always get to know your professor well by going to his/her office hours and speaking up in class. Most of my classes have been small, averaging around 25-30 students. Whether professors take a sincere interest naturally depends on how much interest you show in class and upon their individual personality. First-year seminar provides a great way for students to form close bonds with their proessors because the classes have a cap (of 15 I think) and focus on class discussion and writing. Your FYS professor serves as your advisor until you declare your major. I’ve had a fantastic advisor this year, and he will literally drop everything to talk to me. He doesn’t only care about my academic interests and concerns, but also about how I’m faring overall with the adjustment to college life. It is great to have a go-to person like this, and every student has one as soon as they step foot on campus with their FYS professor.

wedgedrive

What's the male to female ratio at Bates? How is life for international students, gays, and students with learning issues?

wedgedrive

What is Bates known for?

espressoroast

hi wedgedrive,

Hmm, according to collegeboard.com it's 54% women/46% men. The purported lack of men doesn't seem to be a problem...it seems perfectly equal to me.

Life for international students is whatever they make of it, but Bates tries to provide a comfortable adjustment and really encourages them to express whatever cultural diversity they bring to the community. There’s a huge international dinner that’s a big deal, and everyone bakes their own traditional dish. My observations are that many seem to spend more time in the library than your typical American student...if you swing by Ladd Library on a Friday night, the population is heavily international. Most are economics majors. Bates has great financial aid for international students so there is socioeconomic diversity within the int'l student body. I know that life can be hard for some of them because Bates/America/Americans are so different from what they are used to.

Gay students are treated well, as far as I can tell. The gay/straight alliance (I’m not sure of the specific name of the group here) puts on “Lick-It” every year on the night before the formal gala, which is a dance in which students dress down (way down to their undies) instead of up. It’s a crazy night but it’s a lot of fun (for a little while, anyway…) I have a few gay friends and they are perfectly fine, accepted, and happy.

In terms of “learning issues,” I know that you can get extended test-taking hours. There is a peer writing center, a professional help writing center, and a math center, “peer-assisted learning groups” for science classes, free tutors, and many other resources for students who need help with certain subjects.

espressoroast

I'm not going to go into huge detail here because I have to study for finals, but Bates is "known for" its Economics department, Short Term, its high percentage of students who study abroad during their junior year, the emphasis of the senior thesis, the competitive Brooks Quimby Debate Council, and its historic openness to women and black students from its very beginning, among other things. Great questions everyone, i'll check back in tomorrow!

wedgedrive

Thanks so much!

vttxnh

Espressoroast,
Thank you for your thoughtful responses, sounds like Bates is a good fit for you. Best wishes on your finals.

xirtan

is it a bad idea to bring a mac notebook? meaning is there less support and help available for macs than for laptops?

espressoroast

xirtan, actually a LOT of people have mac notebooks so it's definitely not a bad idea. They seem to work well and there is plenty of support. We also have a mac lab, although its true that the majority of computer labs are PC systems.