While there are more similarities than differences between these two schools I do believe there are important differences. Bates has a consistent theme of a commitment to giving back to the world, and their “purposeful work” idea informs every aspect of the school. They have many Fulbright scholars and almost all of them are teachers in underprivileged areas. D visited and loved many aspects of Bates, esp the friendliness and the dining hall. When she mentioned that she was a possible French minor she was enthusiastically told that she could work in downtown Lewiston with Somali refugees that speak French. That did not appeal to her. When she visited Hamilton (her choice in the end) she said the same about being a French minor and was told that they had several programs in France and a dedicated one in Paris where she could study abroad and focus on her interests in hospitality and fashion. That aligned with her interests better; she felt that at Bates her true interests would be considered “superficial”. I can’t say which is better for the OP, but we found a big difference in the vibe of these two schools. There is certainly a commitment to giving back and community service at Hamilton; it just did not feel as overwhelming and mandated to D as it did at Bates. While I profoundly dislikeHamilton’s tagline of “Be Who You Are” it does seem to convey the school vibe that any choice is a viable and respected one at Hamilton.
And while both are located in small towns the campus is quite different. Hamilton has vistas for miles and really feels connected with nature; Bates is interwoven in a small urban environment and the sound of cars is omnipresent.