Bates College offers Early Decision but does not offer Early Action for freshman admissions.
This year, the Early Decision (EDI) deadline for Bates College is November 15.
This year, the Early Decision (EDII) deadline for Bates College is January 1.
All ED1 applications should receive an admissions decision by December 20. Last year, Bates College admitted 351 of the 827 applicants who applied early decision. The acceptance rate was 42.44%.
For more information visit the Bates College page on College Confidential.
See updates and discuss results with other Bates College applicants.
Are you planning to apply early to Bates College? Why Bates College? What questions do you have about applying early? Comment in the thread below.
Have more information about Bates College Early Decision?
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DS22 applied to Bates. We just went up for a visit. It poured the whole time we were there, so a little difficult to get a sense. Campus looked very nice. I was not a fan of the town. Too many empty, boarded up stores. He is considering changing his application to ED for one of the schools and was hoping the visit would make the decision. Unfortunately, it didn’t. He’s pretty outdoorsy and down to earth, so Bates sounded like a good fit. Also considering Middlebury or Hobart/William Smith.
I suspect like many places across the country over the last year, the town has suffered economically. Bates kids seem to take it in stride and the thread will give you an insight as to why.
-4.0 unweighted GPA
-Took most of the AP/honors classes available
-test optional
-Varsity athlete in 2 sports
-Significant involvement in theater
-aunt and uncle went to Bates, so sort of legacy
-will do intercollegiate sports at Bates if accepted and has coach support, but not one of the slots that are basically a guarantee of admission; got a green light at the pre-read
-needs financial aid
Worried that financial aid will be her downfall. Or that they won’t like her essay (even though I think it is strong). Or who knows what else. Christmas is going to either be extra joyful or depressing and dismal this year.
My D applied ED1 to Bates. We visited in late October and my husband, D and I all fell in love with it!
3.83 unweighted GPA
33 ACT
Many honors, dual credit and AP courses
Class president
3 varsity sports / captain of two
Spent 6 weeks of junior year attending high school in Poland
Currently taking part in the TREK gap year program at YMCA of the Rockies in Colorado.
Her essay will either make it or break it for her. It’s definitely a little whack, but it lets her personality shine.
She sent a supplemental file of some of her creative writing.
We are from a midwestern state so we are crossing our fingers that our location gives her chances a little boost.
She is very outdoorsy, (too) adventurous, outgoing and down to earth. Jumping in icy water in January is right up her ally! It seems as if Bates students are the kind of people she is looking for, so as fuzziwig said above…”Christmas is going to be either extra joyful or depressing and dismal this year”. Let’s hope we can celebrate together!
@Lindagaf Thanks for all of the information about Bates that you have posted on CC. You have been super helpful!
I hope both our daughters get into Bates. Maybe they will even become friends there! I meant to mention above that we are from a western state, and also hope that helps a little. Did you apply for financial aid? I do worry about the impact that will have.
We did not apply for financial aid. Obviously that won’t hurt her, but I don’t know that it helps either. I know that my D absolutely does not want that to affect her chances of getting in. The two big things that worry us are her GPA and the very low acceptance rate.
If they both get in, we will briefly become helicopter moms and force them to become best friends!
Anxiously awaiting the ED1 decision! My son is a recruited swimmer who had a positive preread (96 GPA, 1410 SAT) and coach support. His grades dipped a bit for marking period 1, as he has a very rigorous schedule (4 APs-no electives) and had to readjust to full-day in-person after over a year of virtual half-days.
The whole family fell in love with the campus when we visited in September. He instantly felt at home there. It was a bit of a surprise, as we thought it wouldn’t jump to the top of his list. I had always read @Lindagaf posts, which were lovely, but went back and read many with new eyes after he committed. The way you describe your daughter’s experience is what we wish for our son and exactly what we felt when we visited Bates and Auburn/Lewiston.
We are hoping the one lower report won’t affect his acceptance. Fingers crossed-the wait now is agonizing! Good luck to all who applied to this amazing college.
DD applied ED with coach support, needs financial aid. 4.0 U/W, ~1500 SAT. Great ECs and solid essay, recommendations should be very good.
Thanks again @Lindagaf for your info!
I’m guessing decisions will likely be out on 12/11 based on previous years… so T-minus 7 days!
Fingers crossed, Bates seems like an awesome fit for DD!!
Also, we listened to the “One Goal” book on a recent road trip, about the Lewiston High School soccer team in the context of the town’s evolution and immigrant community - I highly recommend it for those applying to Bates.
I should add no one from our high school in NJ has ever gone to Bates so hoping that’s a plus. I thought he wrote a great essay and we will not get any financial aid.
Based on prior years, is Bates likely to announce WHEN decisions will come out? Do they give a heads up before releasing them (such as posting on social media “check tomorrow,” emailing applicants, or anything else)?
With the speculation that decisions come out Dec 11 (that was my kid’s conclusion as well), do we all wake up early Saturday morning and hit refresh over and over?
Good luck to all! I hope all our kids get accepted!
Right after my previous post, my daughter got an email from the coach saying the tentative plan is to release Saturday. Coach also said applicants will find out before coach, so let them know after they log into the portal and find out.
