<p>From the west coast and I’ve had a chance to visit both schools. Expect to focus on Languages - Theater - Volunteer to support organic food practices’ sustainable living. I would love to take some environmental studies classes but concerned that math/science is not my strength, will take at least one for sure. Thrilled to attend a liberal arts school and plan to explore classes. Locations of each school are very different but see positives in both locations… Prefer a friendly accepting community. I can be shy at first and then warm up after a while. Foreign travel programs and options are a big driver. Enjoy quiet time but would also like to enjoy college life.
The clock is ticking, both great choices, kind of stuck.
Suggestions</p>
<p>One thing I love about Bates is Short Term. It provides a great opportunity to get out into the field when the weather is decent.</p>
<p>My S is enjoying short term immensely! OP, I can’t comment on Colgate but my son’s experience at Bates has been extremely positive. He just finished his freshman year and I’m pretty sure he loves everything about being a Bobcat. In particular, the friendliness and openness of the student body really appeals to him. He is I believe the only deaf student at Bates. In many places that might be isolating but he’s not felt that at Bates at all. Everyone has been very accepting and in the case of faculty and staff, extremely accommodating. This of course is one-sided not knowing Colgate. Congratulations on whichever you choose.</p>
<p>What a horrible choice of locations!</p>
<p>rhg3rd,</p>
<p>Does that mean you won’t be applying? Because you don’t like the weather or their northeast rural locations?</p>
<p>These schools attract several thousand applications for a few hundred freshman places… They must be doing something right. Care to guess what that may be?</p>
<p>Go 'gate!</p>
<p>I have no experience with Colgate, but am I correct in thinking it still has fraternities and Greek life is very strong there? Bates has never had any. I, too, have a son at Bates who is happy to be there. Like you, he enjoys quiet time (he chose the no-chem first-year house) but has made many friends. He is not really a city guy, but finds Lewiston manageable, and the campus is a green oasis. There is much encouragement to study abroad with many options available. My son is really liking short term this year, even though he’s taking an intensive math class for potential majors. He will also, for example, have time to take a wilderness first aid class offered on campus–the outing club is very strong. His room mate on the other hand is into theater and music–singing in one of the a cappella groups, chorus, and a musical. The food is very good! I’m thinking the winters will be very similar at Bates and Colgate. One advantage of Lewiston is that it’s located 45 minutes from the beach and not much farther than that from the lakes and mountains. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>While I have never been to Bates, I have visited Hamilton College which is roughly 25 minutes from Colgate. It may have many similarities, especially in its smaller size (Colgate has 2900 students) and D3 athletics programs with Bates. That said, I don’t know about its Greek life.</p>
<p>Colgate has long had fraternities- from 10 in the 70s to 6 today, while 3 sororities were added in the past 20 years or so. Greek life is important for social activities, as you would expect, and attracts members for their junior and senior years only since joining them is available sophomore year for the following year. About 35% of Colgate students are active in them. Another interesting stat is that over 66% of students participate in US or international study groups always led by Colgate professors.</p>
<p>Colgate has a lot of tradition as reflected in its sponsorship of 25 varsity sports at the D1 level, as a charter member of the Patriot League 25 years ago and a member of the ECAC in m/w ice hockey. The fan support- students, staff, faculty and alumni- reflect the profile as do the facilities; Colgate is building a new varsity soccer stadium now and will start a new athletic facility of 97,000 square feet for $38 million this coming winter for 2016. Club and recreational activities are extremely popular. And in the Village of Hamilton adjoining Colgate, a new art center is being planned at 15,500 sq ft for about $15 million by world renowned architect David Adjaye.</p>
<p>As everyone will agree, you have to visit various college campuses to appreciate what suits you and your future needs. But in the meantime maybe you can start establishing impressions and frame questions by reviewing the colleges’ websites. I think colgate.edu is an excellent tool- full of information at quite a detailed level e.g. about Colgate curricula and programs. It’s most attractive and comprehensive.</p>
<p>Good luck with your college search!</p>
<p>“While I have never been to Bates, I have visited Hamilton College which is roughly 25 minutes from Colgate. It may have many similarities” With all due respect, why even post this if you don’t know? </p>
<p>I believe the OP has been accepted to both schools and needs to make a decision between the two. </p>
<p>I am assuming that you are an admitted student? So you may have made your decision by now as today is THE DAY! However I am going to chime in just in case you are still deliberating.</p>
<p>These two schools were also my daughter’s top two choices last April. Both are great schools and I think she could have been happy at either. She in fact did an overnight visit at Colgate as well as the admitted students’ day at Bates. There were several differences between the schools that were apparent. Markam describes Colgate pretty well–Greek life is a strong influence on campus social life and inter-collegiate athletics are emphasized more. Another difference was the setting. Colgate is at the edge of a tiny town and felt much more isolated. It is about an hour from Utica or Syracuse. There is very little to do off campus–maybe a couple of restaurants.</p>
<p>Bates is in an old mill town, not a metropolis by any means, but there seems to be a wider range of places to go out to eat or shop when students are interested. Portland is maybe 45 min. away and the mountains and the ocean are within an hour. And she has been to all of these places more than once. There are tons of outdoor things to do if you are interested.</p>
<p>As far as environmental studies, it is possible to major in ES at Bates with a focus on human culture or literature or social change, essentially a social science or humanities major with very little hard science. Or you can do ES with a bio and chem focus, for people who prefer that. It would be your choice. I’m not sure about the major at Colgate. </p>
<p>Bates has seemed to be a warm, friendly community of students, faculty and employees, (Colgate may be as well). My daughter chose Bates because it just felt right to her last April. Good luck with your decision! You are fortunate to have such good options!!</p>
<p>Btmell,</p>
<p>My only point was that Bates may have the same small college (about/fewer than 2000 students / D3 sports scene / few, if any Greek organizations) feel as Hamilton. In reviewing the 2 schools websites I see many similarities as well in their physical plant.</p>
<p>For those who know of Hamilton and have yet to visit Bates I am guessing that there are many differences vis-a-vis Colgate. The application overlaps are limited between both and Colgate as a result (while I am guessingthat there are many overlaps among Bates, Hamilton, Colby and other NESCAC schools). Colgate’s overlaps are mainly with larger schools such as Cornell, Georgetown, NYU, Dartmouth, Bucknell, Boston College and Holy Cross.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone with their college searches!</p>
<p>Thanks all for the reply I was cutting it close to the deadline and yes I am an admitted student at each and was reaching for any insights that I may have missed. I have visited both campus and spent a night at each. Each were sensational and had a great felling on each campus. In the end I decided that D1 sports were not that important to me and neither were fraternities and sororities. I’m very much an outdoor person and the outing club at Bates was a positive as were the opportunities to volunteer in Lewiston. I would have liked to be closer to my brother at Cornell, however my instincts tell me the Bates is the right choice. Regarding academics the classes I attended at each school were outstanding, the professors were sensational - felling very fortunate to have been accepted to 2 excellent schools - Looking forward to moving on and thank you for your input.</p>
<p>Congrats on your decision, gypsymoon! You will love the outing club and be sure to sign up for an AESOP trip. Most first years go on one and it is a great start to making new friends. And you are right, there are many opportunities to volunteer in Lewiston, a vibrant and diverse community. That is probably another notable difference with Colgate. My daughter has volunteered this year in a community center–hopefully she contributed but for sure she has grown a lot from the experience. </p>
<p>It’s a great day to be a bobcat!!</p>
<p>Congratulations, Gypsymoon! I’m so happy for you.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Gypsymoon on your decision! My son will be a Senior next year and has loved his 3 years at Bates. I am sure you will have a wonderful college experience there. It’s a very active campus with students engaged in all sorts of things outside of class and there is something for everyone, imo. Best of luck to you! </p>