<p>How are Bates applicants different from Bowdoin applicants? How would you define the respective character of the 2 student bodies?</p>
<p>There is a big overlap between the applicants to the two schools, as you might imagine. Both of the schools are beautiful, prestigious liberal arts colleges of about the same size in Maine, so that shouldn’t be a surprise. There are slight differences between the academic programs at the schools (e.g., computer science), which you should research if you are applying to one or both of them. When visiting the two schools with our S, we had the impression that Bowdoin was a bit more intense and preppy than Bates, but others may have a different impression. Bowdoin has a bit of an edge on Bates in the college rankings and its’ students have slightly higher academic stats, but Bates is highly selective as well. Try to visit to see for yourself. The schools are only about an hour apart from each other.</p>
<p>Agree, they’re very similar student bodies. S made many friends at Bates while attending Bowdoin and thought the campus culture at both schools was of the ‘hardworking and laid back’ kind. And, actually, they are only 20 miles apart.</p>
<p>When D was looking she also looked at Colby. Similar vibe. She is in her last year now at Bates and still loves it. Each campus is a little bit different.</p>
<p>morandi</p>
<p>How did your son make friends at Bates? Are there shared social, academic, or other events?</p>
<p>Would you regard your son’s inter-college experience as unique?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>goldblot – I’m not sure I can answer your question about how he met his various friends but I think it was a bit of all the the above. I recall he worked with some Bates kids at some conference during his first year and developed a connection from that. Also, the friends of friends kind of thing, because many kids at New England schools have friends who attend nearby institutions and it’s easy to make weekend trips happen. And of course there was his club sports where it wasn’t unusual for teams to socialize. But the strongest connections happened during his junior year when he travelled abroad to east Africa. There was a surprising contingent of kids from LAC’s, including Bates but as far away as Whitman, and he developed strong ties from that which lasted through graduation and beyond. The fact that Bates is so close made it quite easy to maintain those friendships. </p>
<p>I don’t think this experience was particularly unusual simply because most of the kids at theses schools seem impressively involved, engaged, and open to adventures. Or in the case of my son, tend to grow in that direction because of the campus culture.</p>