Bates just pushed back the EDII and RD deadline:
"Applying to college is enough of a challenge without a pandemic on top. That’s why at Bates, in recognition of these extraordinary circumstances, we’ve decided to move our Regular Decision/ED II deadline to January 11, 2021. Learn more: Early Decision II and Regular Decision Deadlines Moved to January 11 | Admission | Bates College "
Curious… Not enough ED applications?
Hi everyone! I am planning on applying to Bates if my EA school (Yale) doesn’t fall through. While it is not super high on my list, it is definitely still a contender (I live in Maine, so it feels a little close to home for me, and it is my second Maine school choice after Bowdoin). I have been able to visit the campus, and I liked though, though was a little bored by the homogeneous brick buildings. @CocoaTiger, I am curious what your son’s other choices are. I believe Bowdoin also has a reputable crew team, the campus is gorgeous, and I find Brunswick much more enjoyable than Lewiston. Also, is don’t know if Conn College in on his list, but my cousin went there (and I’m applying there to RD), and they are supposed to have a “top 5” crew team according to him. They also have strong academics and a gorgeous small campus. Just thought I would throw a couple out there!
Anyway, I am not sure if being from Maine will help or hurt me for Bates (or Bowdoin or Colby), but my school is known to send 1-2 students per year there. In case you wanted to know a little bit about me, here’s a profile to reference to (def not meant to brag or anything, take it or leave it, and I encourage other people to share if they want to)!
SAT: 1440 (720, 720)
GPA: ~98/100 UW (would be 4.0, straight A’s), ~103/100 W
Class Rank: Top 10% out of 200 students (we only to decile ranking, so this is the highest you can get. I would estimate I am 5-12th, so around Top 5%?)
Course Load: Very rigorous for my school. Took only AP and Honors options for core classes when available (except for regular physics because, well, it’s PHYSICS). 6 AP’s (considered a bunch for my school, 2 Junior year, 4 Senior year).
Extracurriculars (an attempted brief summary):
Performing Arts: Heavily involved in dance, choir, and theater. I have been training across many styles in dance since 7th grade, and am now in the select principle performance group. I also got into a crazy selective summer conservatory for dance theatre (around 20 students selected from international applicant pool), and got to train with broadway performers in NYC, really cool experience! I also sang in my school regular choir 4 years and my auditioned choir 3 years. Got award from director and sang in regional, state, and district honors choirs throughout high school. Performed in both lead and ensemble roles in annual school musical (pretty well-recognized in state, 3-4k audience members total each musical, 5-6 productions per musical). Also performed in various plays and dance showcases.
Educational Advocacy/Policy: For 11-12th grade, was selected by Maine DoE leadership to serve in newly formed student advisory cabinet (32 Maine students out of ~500 applicants). We got to work with the DoE Commissioner and other awesome leadership to discuss, revise, and design state-wide policy to promote student equity and inclusivity in the Maine education system. Also was a part of the anti-racism subgroup which focused on eliminating systematic racism in schools and independently led state-wide mental health PSA for students and teachers in response to COVID-19. I was also invited by my school district’s superintendent and administrators to work with them in reforming school district’s curriculum, systematic racial biases, and social exclusivity.
Other stuff: President of NHS (member 11-12, President 12), organized and ran officer and club meetings, helped create COVID-safe service projects that still helped community. Was selected by Maine Educational Theatre Association to serve as State Thespian Officer, which basically involved helping design and run state-wide events that promoted high school student access to a valuable performing arts education. I also started a poetry project in response to COVID-19 aimed to promote gratitude and hope despite situations in local community. I surveyed 100+ people about an object of value to them and am currently working on turning it into poetry! I also am a certified Reiki master and teacher, thanks to training that I have done since 8th grade.
Awards: Nothing huge. Was just accepted into my school’s Gifted and Talented program for performing arts, which means I supposedly represent 2-5% of Maine’s student population that is “G&T” (I hate that phrase because it is so pretentious and exclusive). Like I said before, got award from director (Most Outstanding CS Member 2019), and award from English teacher in 11th grade. Got recognition for service project I helped lead for Veterans Day from my local American Legion post. Got high honor roll all 4 years (93+ in all classes, aka. straight-A’s).
Other Stuff:
Teacher #1 LoR: 9/10. My APUSH teacher and I adore each other, and she promised me that she will make the letter scream “ADMIT ME!” She didn’t know a ton about my EC’s going in, but I gave her my activities resumé so that she would have something to work with.
Teacher #2 LoR: 9/10. This is my 9-10th grade English teacher. I know it is frowned upon to choose teachers from earlier years, but she definitely is the perfect candidate. Starting 9th grade, I was definitely the underdog (could not write an argumentative essay for the life of me), and by 10th grade I emerged as a leader in the class. I got perfect marks on nearly all my assignments (NOT the case 9th grade 1st semester), and I spent a lot of time mentoring other classmates on their writing, which my teacher noticed and appreciated. She is also one of the sponsors of NHS, so she knows my work there. She is an incredibly gifted and dramatic writer so I am sure it is a good one!
Counselor LoR: 7/10. She doesn’t know me that well, but she surveyed both me and my parents, so I was able to bring up things not emphasized in my application that I think will help round out my application.
Additional LoR: 11/10. I’m serious. I had my dance teacher write me one for me, and we absolutely ADORE each other. She shared her writing with me, which was 5 pages long (I know that they probably won’t read all of it, but even just the beginning powerful enough IMO). The first two lines: It is my sincere honor to write to you today about one of the most magnificent humans I have ever met in my time on this planet. While [my name] has been my dance student for many years, he has taught me so much about myself, about teaching and about how to view life in the most extraordinary ways." Needless to say, I blushed bright red by the time I finished reading the LoR.
CommonApp Essay: 7-8/10. I don’t personally LOVE it, but people who have read have given really positive feedback. I think it is really simple, but it does convey a good amount about me.
I think that’s most of it! Hope this helps in some way! Of course, Bates is definitely a reach school for me, as it is for everyone. I would give myself a 30-35% chance of admission.
@PerformingDude, Wow, you have a very impressive application. I think Yale or Bates, or any school, would be lucky to have you. Good luck!
DS’s final list included Bowdoin as well as Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Colgate, Bates, Hamilton, Middlebury, UT-Austin and UW-Seattle. Ultimately after much discussion and communication with coaches, both pandemic and rowing considerations led DS to apply ED1 to Hamilton. If in two weeks he finds out that he didn’t get into Hamilton, I’m sure he will immediately apply ED2 to Bates and RD to at least one or two others on his list.
That is so nice of you to say! Thank you!
Your son also has very impressive accomplishments, especially as an athlete, so I am sure it will all work out for him! He has a great shot at Hamilton, as he will at Bates if Hamilton doesn’t work out. I am of course biased, but I highly encourage him to apply to Yale and Bowdoin (and other schools he really likes) RD if he doesn’t get into Hamilton. Midd is also an awesome school (my brother went there and I am applying RD). He is clearly a strong candidate, so it is really just a matter shooting his shot at enough to get that one needed acceptance! Best of luck, and let me know how it goes!
Bates ED1 decisions come out tomorrow 12/12 by 12pm est! Announced on Instagram
Good luck everyone!!!
Good luck to everyone tomorrow! Hope things go well 
Happy happy son over here! #batesbound #bates2025 It’s a great day to be a Bobcat!
Smiles everywhere here!! And shopping the Bates store for gear! Congrats!!
Congrats everyone!!! 
Congratulations to the newest Bobcats!
Congrats to you and your Bobcat as well!!! 
Congrats to new Bobcats! My DS accepted ED1 & thrilled. Being from sunny (and apparently permanently drought-ridden CA) he instantly added some Maine suitable clothing to his Christmas list (beyond the swag that’s already on its way). So, advice on a winter coat & boots? How much of a winter coat? Apparently Canada Goose is a controversial thing?? Do the boys all wear boots? Are they lined? I have the slightly (?!) unreasonable fear of him getting lost & freezing to death in a snowstorm. Yes, I know. Laughing at myself. A little bit.
Congrats. My younger son is applying to Bates RD and my older son is at Bowdoin. We are from TX and I had the same fear 2 years ago. Not same school but similar and they DO need boots:) mine was a preppy kid who became a hippy kid and won’t wear the boots we originally bought( LL bean lined ducks). He wears a pair or work boots around campus and has a better pair of hikers as needed. Both have been protected with water/ snow sealers. We can’t afford Canada goose so not an option but they are worn by some. Another friend at Colgate says they are often stolen at parties so have a cheaper party cost;) I bought stuff early and sort of wished I’d waited til he found his place and picked his new style, but I get the drive to load up now. Lots of sales on the outdoor sites like REI, moosejaw etc in later winter. Wool socks, hats are great stocking stuffers though!
Oops party coat!
It doesn’t need to be Canada Goose. LLBean will give you temperature ratings, maybe Lands End does, too. Layering helps.
Right now in New England, it seems extraordinarily cold for December. Usually you can wait to need the warmest wear. But selections get limited, that’s the issue, to me.
Buildings will be heated and it’s not that far from dorms to classes.
My girls adored their times at Bates, got a wonderful education.
Congrats to New Bobcats and best wishes to applicants.
Ps. The website Sierra often has name brands at good prices. But not a lot of reviews.
North Face makes a nice winter coat with a zip in liner so good flexibility. Functional and makes no statement at a decent price. Coats are left “unsupervised” in so many places and situations. Don’t get one that you would be terribly upset if it were picked up by someone else. It’s not the norm, but it happens and not just at parties.
Thinsulate lined LL bean boots (or just hiking boots) are both good options. Waterproof is key.
Thank you for the advice. DS not into labels and is very prone to just dropping his jacket & leaving it without a second thought—maybe the cold weather will do what my nagging could not! What kind of temps should a cold rating cover? Is it possible the coat could be too heavy to get frequent use?
Shopping is not high on DS’s list of things to do. His eyes glaze over looking at shoe displays, but he will want to look “right”… or at least not foolish for being overly or under shod.
So mine felt I overdid it ( as usual). He has lots of jackets and tends to layer more than wearing the 3 ply coat we purchased from LL bean. He actually did not know what it was when I asked him to pull the liner for a ski trip. He did do some outdoor trips and needed the underlayers and such. Looked like northface, patagonia were popular on campus. His dorm was close and he basically wore cords and a sherpa lined cordoroy trucker jacket most of the time and I am sure was freezing ( he only has spent one winter there though and his dorm was like 500 feet from classes so that may change when he gets to return in Feb!). The athletes were all in hoodies and sweats.
As an example, I just bought a Lands End jacket rated 7-32 degrees. They go lower. I had asked D1 if, as a reference, she thought that range would have worked at school and she said yes. But that’s one opinion. I do think I could have gotten an even warmer one, with a zip out lining.
Beans and Lands End, Northface, etc, are popular because they generally do the job. Less about raw prestige, per se. And there are sales now.