<p>I am very interested in Bates and considering applying early decision. Does anyone know how athletics play a part in student life. Are the popular and common on campus? Are the athletic facilities nice? Are varsity athletes treated well? I am planning on participating on varsity indoor and outdoor track while in college and I just wanna get a sense of what the scene is like at Bates. Thanks.</p>
<p>D originally was on the CC team and was going to do indoor and outdoor track. Let me just say that the facilities are nice – new indoor track – about 1 year old now. Outdoor track is nice as well and well kept. Many of the students at Bates participate in a sport or two. D was injured when she started school and never really recovered – even after physical therapy – to many miles on her legs in HS. Once she may have been able to compete again her social circle was not with the kids on the team so she didn’t go rejoin. She also felt that the classes themselves were difficult and although she would love to run there were times when she felt stressed with the workload, practice and needing to go to meets. I do think however it is a great part of the college life.</p>