<p>I was there visiting with my daughter last summer, who will be attending Bates this fall. I wouldn’t call Lewiston/Auburn a charming college town. If that is really important to your daughter, Bates may not be the school for her. I know that many students have found great opportunities for community service in the area, and that there is some diversity there -including a significant number of Somali immigrants. What Bates really offers is access the great outdoors and an active outings club–so it attracts students that enjoy backpacking, sailing, snowboarding, skiing, etc.</p>