First post! I have been admitted to Bates and Hamilton and I was looking for any insight on either college. I’m looking for an inclusive, friendly, down to earth community with students who intermingle with different groups. I do not like clique-y schools, and I also do not like Greek life. I know that Hamilton does have fraternities and sororities, and also that those are non-residential groups. However, I’m still concerned that even the presence of Greek life would create an overall preppier and maybe more snobby student body. I am also concerned that at either school a divide may exist between varsity athletes and non varisty athletes. From an academic perspective, I very much want to be in a non-competitive environment. I really appreciate being around people who are intelligent, but balanced. With Hamilton, I am most worried about it not being the better fit for me. With Bates, I am concerned that the low endowment would somehow affect my experience there and also that that is an indicator of alumni involvement and the strength of that network. Also, as ridiculous as I realize this sounds, I am worried about Bates’ reputation. It seems to me that Hamilton is more highly regarded and while I know that Bates is a great school, I’m worried that a Bates degree may not pull as much weight.
I visited both about a year ago, and went to the Bates admitted students day this past Friday. I’ll be going to Hamilton’s next week. Thanks for any help!
Within the NESCACs: Amherst College, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Conn, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan and Williams, I’d say Bates and Hamilton are pretty evenly matched. They’re both sort of in the boonies. They are both academically sound. If you are that worried about greek life separating students, I’d go with Bates. But really, I think the Hamilton campus is more beautiful. With its Science Center it’s a cross between Middlebury and Amherst with its quad appointed with adirondak chairs. Hamilton has the focus on writing, and its quite the manicured campus. You can see immediately where your money is going. I think it also has a better town. Lewiston–kind of run down. My choice would be Hamilton.
Congrats on 2 great choices. At both you will find friendly, inclusive kids. Yes, there is Greek life at Hamilton, but it is not the raucous in your face frats you may find at other schools. And the participation rate is not all that high. It’s like splitting hairs to find measurable differences, but Hamilton does have a more open curriculum and may have a slightly more intellectual vibe. Bates more sporty, but not jocky, if that makes sense. Hamilton may have a more diverse student body, Bates may be more community service oriented.
Both are great schools. I wouldn’t let the difference in endowment play into your decision as I don’t think it will affect your experience and education.
Despite Lewiston itself, I’d give a location edge to Bates. Easy access to mountains and ocean, and the city of Portland is really cool and only 40 minutes away.
You can’t go wrong. Both are great schools. Go with where you think you’ll be happier and have a better fit.
OP, agree both are great choices to have. My DD’s were accepted at several NESCAC, as well as similar Midwest schools, and will be at both upcoming accepted students day - one’s a student athlete so that does play into the mix for her.
The kids I know who went to Ham were happy, challenged, and are now doing well
Lewiston isn’t so bad and the campus is active. Lots of community engagement opps, including as part of academics and/or service, which I hope OP learned about. The kids I know who went there found it inclusive. The endowment didn’t affect things in any noticeable way. Both of mine went there, made great friends, were highly educated, and are doing well. The alum network is as strong as you make it.
Hamilton seems to use some of its financial resources to make the campus a really interesting environment. As an example, they have four distinct places at which students can eat lunch on the meal plan. Over the course of your time there, you might come to appreciate these larger-school type amenities that Hamilton offers in disproportion to its enrollment.
I don’t want to split hairs – they are both wonderful schools. But on the multiple dining options at Hamilton perhaps being a reflection of greater financial resources, I don’t think that is a finances thing. On our Bates visit, I recall hearing that there was a concerted effort to consider whether to build additional dining options around campus, and with student support, the decision was it was an important part of campus culture that the community came together in a single dining hall throughout the day.
Hamilton’s multiple dining options reflect the history and culture of the school, and therefore seem like an organic complement to its nature. Beyond that, Hamilton, at 1350 acres, may effectively need multiple options. Whether this spatial luxuriance relates to financial resources may be an open question, but the inherent variety of Hamilton seems desirable in any event.
What major are you considering? Take a look at the required and elective classes. I know someone who went to Bartes but wished she chose Hamilton. Hamilton has stronger music and it is easier to double major there. I think you will know when you visit where you belong.
@preppedparent Yes, Greek life is a huge turn off for me and for that reason I’m leaning toward Bates. Though, I’m still trying to keep an open mind. Campus aesthetic is only important to me up to a certain point. Wesleyan was my first choice and I applied there EDI despite its, in my opinion, average looks. I think it’s the people that really make a place
@wisteria100 Thank you! Your characterizations are great. I don’t mind sporty and I don’t mind a lack of diversity as long as that doesn’t mean students who feed off of each other’s privilege. I also like Hamilton’s open curriculum and the intellectual vibe. Would you say that Hamilton is more pre-professional?
I agree that after some time multiple dining options would be a draw. At the same time, it’s nice to have a physical manifestation of the community engagement focus at Bates. I can appreciate both for their different benefits.
@chemusic I do play an instrument, but I’m not in an any sort of ensemble and don’t plan on being in one in college. I also don’t plan on studying music. I’m not positive about my major (or double major) but it will probably be psychology and/or economics and/or politics. I do have potential plans to pursue a masters. Either an MBA or a JD.
I think right now Hamilton has a bit of an upper hand in overall academic rep, but these are both old NESCAC schools: you don’t have to worry about academic quality at either. They both offer an excellent education.
One academic thing you should think about is the differing curricula of the schools: Hamilton with the open curriculum; Bates with the more traditional distribution requirements.
Check out lists of majors and courses to see which school carries more things that interest you.
Compare study abroad programs if that interests you.
See what they are doing research-wise if you think you might like to get involved in research at some point.
Other fit variables include their environments/settings – Maine vs. Upstate NY, Lewiston vs. Clinton); social vibe (the two sides of Hamilton, the students at both schools and their party and club scenes, Greek life since you mentioned its importance, etc.); and dorms and food. You do have to eat and sleep there for most of four years.
Bates does has a relatively low endowment by NESCAC standards, but I wouldn’t necessarily assume that this is “an indicator of alumni involvement”. I’ve heard that it relates, at least in part, to historical factors – specifically Bates’ attitude towards coeducation.
Bates has been coed since the mid-1800s, while most other NESCACs were all-male until around 1970. So Bates had a good 100-year head start on coeducation. Unfortunately, women didn’t generally have great career opportunities or earning power during the late 1800s and early 1900s. So for most of its history, Bates was at a significant disadvantage relative to the all-male NESCACs in terms of alumni fundraising.
@hopeful1660
To answer your question, neither school would be considered pre professional. Both solidly traditional liberal arts schools. Hamilton may be closer to Wesleyan if that was your first choice.
@Lindagaf I’ve read a lot of your posts and I know your daughter is currently a freshman at Bates. Could you tell me anything about her experience there socially as a non athlete? Was it hard for her to break into different groups?
