So you got into Bates...now what?

iceikle252 · 05-05-2009, 12:53 PM

Congratulations to everyone planning to attend Bates this coming fall! Welcome to a wonderful community... I started this thread as more of an opportunity for incoming freshmen to get specific questions or concerns addressed... I'll start it off with some things I wish I had known entering Bates...

Registering for classes: It's first come, first served as a first year and it starts at the same time all across the country. If you are in a different time zone than the east coast keep this in mind (you might need to get up super early)! Also, register for your first year seminar FIRST, they fill up quickly. If you are an intended premedical student or someone seeking a bachelor of sciences, make sure you register for Chem 107 first semester.

Housing: See the thread below for some insider tips on what you might want to consider when deciding where to live.

AESOP: Do one! Unless you are in a fall sport, you really have no reason not to go on a trip and get to make friends before school even starts.

Get psyched!

RochesterMom · 05-05-2009, 03:52 PM

iceikle252 Thanks for the great information. D is trying to decide if she wants to do an AESOP as she is in a fall sport but the coach didn't seem to indicate that she couldn't. Waiting to see what they are.

Loved the chem 107 tip as D is a bio major.

Any information that you wished you had known?

Any thing that you wished that you had brought with you the first year?

Looking for any suggestions to make a good transition.

iceikle252 · 05-05-2009, 04:50 PM

good things to bring freshmen year:
-a doorstop - always good to leave your door propped open during first semester to get to meet people!
-a pair of rainboots
-an open mind - even if you don't get to live where you wanted or to be in the exact classes you wanted, things will work out if a student is willing to be flexible

honestly, participating in an AESOP is one of the best ways to transition...students are able to get to know other first-years before orientation even starts...also just being outgoing and willing to meet others is certainly helpful (it is uncomfortable at first, but everyone is going through it too)

grapejuice · 05-05-2009, 07:37 PM

As a current Bates student, I definitely agree with iceikle. I'm still good friends with some of the people I met on AESOP and it was also just a lot of fun.

Don't let your D get scared of Bio101 since it is a weed out course that a lot of my most "science"-y friends were surprised by. If you can place out of it into higher courses, I've heard you should. But I'm an English major, and that's all hearsay.

Definitely don't bother bringing a laptop lock. I used pretty much everything I brought except for that.

RochesterMom · 05-05-2009, 07:46 PM

Great info. D is shy so meeting people will be a challenge plus she doesn't I'll say warm up to people quickly. No one from her high school has even applied in the last 6 years so she really won't know anyone. Being part of a team will help her out I'm sure

She doesn't have a specific place that she just HAS to live in. Very open minded about that. Just as she is listing her choices it always good to have the inside scoop.

Doorstop and rain boots are great ideas that I wouldn't have thought of. She doesn't wear rain boots. I'll have to try to figure out how to convince her that they are a good idea....

grapejuice · 05-05-2009, 07:55 PM

Believe me at Bates on a rainy day they are the best idea ever. Bates has a terrible drainage system so there are days that campus feels like one big lake.

iceikle252 · 05-05-2009, 08:14 PM

definitely skip out on bio101 if possible, i did and it was a great decision!

iceikle252 · 05-05-2009, 08:16 PM

also, i am still a current student, a rising senior, so although i've been on college confidential a while, i am still around Bates as well!

walkthewalk · 05-16-2009, 09:42 PM

Since I was accepted, I've been reading the Bates Student online. I enjoy perusing it because I think I'll be pursuing a career in journalism post-Bates and because it offers a lot of insight into student life. Check it out:

BatesStudent.com: The Bates Student

grapejuice · 05-17-2009, 01:21 AM

While it's definitely possible to pursue journalism after college, there is no journalism major at Bates (which you probably know) and it is very difficult to create a journalism interdisc major (I know a kid who tried it this year). The Bates Student has gotten a lot better over the past few years though, and it's pretty easy to become a writer (and, if you're an active writer, definitely possible to get an editorial position)

RochesterMom · 05-18-2009, 10:12 AM

Anyone received their housing and what ever else packets yet? D is still waiting for hers. Not 100% sure what is in them. I would think that there is login information so that the students can login and submit in early June their housing choices and fill out the roommate survey.

When/how are classes registered for for the fall? Anyone know?

walkthewalk · 05-18-2009, 06:34 PM

I haven't received anything yet, but apparently the packet's due to come this week, at least according to someone on the Bates '13 FB group who called up admissions to ask.

iceikle252 · 05-18-2009, 09:09 PM

Registration for classes is on a first come, first served basis online. It is sort of a madhouse when it happens as high demand classes go quickly. A word of advice: register for your First Year Seminar (FYS) first! They usually fill up the fastest. Information regarding the date and time of registration can be found at the Registrar's page on the Bates website. Enter in registrar into the search bar.

RochesterMom · 05-19-2009, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the information about registering for the first year seminar first. I've passed the information on to D and it got her to pull the old information that we have out and start to look at what is actually offered. First words were "how do I know what to take". She hasn't had any choices in HS with IB so this will be a nice change for her to actually be able to pick some of her classes.

walkthewalk · 05-26-2009, 03:44 PM

I'd like some advice regarding AESOP choices. I am not outdoorsy at all and am thinking about doing one of the base camp trips that are level one. However this year, three of the AESOPs are community service-oriented and take place in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Two include working with the Somali L-A population and the third is organic farming. Should I try a level one trip that includes camping and hiking or should I just stay in Lewiston (and inside!) and do one of the alternative AESOPs? I am also thinking of calling the AESOP students heads to ask for their advice. Thanks!