<p>This may seem premature to ask as not all students have been accepted yet. However, its really a question for the experienced Bates Parents/Students. I think it will help everyone considering going to Bates.</p>
<p>The website is advertising “receptions”. Most colleges have Accepted Student Days which appear to be a fun day of hanging out on campus, getting a little swag, etc. I know many students make their decisions after attending these days. Are these receptions at Bates beneficial to students that definitely want to attend?</p>
<p>There are receptions being held off campus in some major cities. What would these be like? </p>
<p>My S was accepted ED. I have heard its different visiting a school once you know you are going there. </p>
<p>My daughter (and her father and I) visited Bates for accepted students’ day which was at the end of April last year. I think they also had one at the beginning of the month. She was deciding between several schools and absolutely fell in love with Bates that day. She made her decision before lunch and never looked back. So for us, it was extremely beneficial. It was a really lovely day in every way and totally won my husband and I over as well.</p>
<p>There were many prospective students at the event who had committed ED and were there to visit and start to meet other future classmates, so I think it is valuable for the ED kids as well. My son was ED at another school several years age, he attended the prospective students’ weekend there, and it was a great first step in truly joining the campus community. It started to feel like his future home.</p>
<p>So I would recommend that you attend, if at all possible. And welcome to Bates!!</p>
<p>My son is a junior. The only reception he went to was in the summer before his freshman year, at the home of a Bates student and new entering students from the area were invited. He also went to Accepted Students day on campus in April. </p>
<p>Oh no, not intimidating at all. The reception was at one of parents home of a rising sophomore and there was a Bates representative attending. There was food and drinks and about 15 incoming first year students and their parents attended. It was very casual and my son met all the other kids so when he went to Bates for AESOP, he already new a bunch of kids. I know he is still close friends with one of the girls he met at the reception. The receptions are held all over the country so there should be one close enough for most to go to. Invitations are sent some time in May, if I recall correctly. </p>
<p>What I remember about the accepted students day is that there were a number of different programs, sometimes there were choices depending upon your interest, starting with a welcoming presentation by Leigh Weisenburger. There were tours of the dorms, information about various programs, and lunch in Commons. The campus was very welcoming, the professors were impressive, and the food was great! I believe parents ate separately from students, as is typical, so that they can start to make connections with each other. The entire day was relaxed and welcoming. I hope that you and your son are able to visit. There were a good number of ED students there.</p>
<p>Hello summeristhebest. I also have an S who was accepted to Bates ED. Congratulations to him! Isn’t it nice to have the whole decision making process over (well, the “main” decision anyway)??</p>
<p>Labbydog, it is a relief! It was a long spring/summer of tours and travel. It seems so far off until they leave but, I am sure it will be here before we know it. Looking forward to my S seeing the school again as an accepted student and hopefully coming back even more excited.</p>
<p>Our experience could be summed up just as mathfan wrote. It was a warm, welcoming day. I do think attending was great for my S. We didn’t see a ton of ED students. But, the ones we did were there for the same reason - to see the college as an attending student and meet people. All the parents we spoke to hoped their undecided students would chose Bates. They liked the feel of it themselves. It was quite fun to laugh about and made for a good time.</p>
<p>I did not feel the campus put on a show. If you didn’t see clumps of parents, I don’t think you would know it was an accepted students day. A very laid back, casual day.</p>
<p>Bates Students and staff were friendly. If we were confused on where to go, we always had a guide and not always someone that was “on duty”. Just someone going that way. </p>
<p>My daughter was accepted ED, and we attended the one on April 4 (there is another one this Friday, 4/25), She (and I) had visited before, and she had made her decision, but this gave her the chance to see the campus as an accepted student, perhaps meets some classmates, and relax. It also gave my wife a chance to see where her daughter has chosen to spend the next four years. I thought it was worth the trip. Nice day.</p>