<p>Similarities/differences?</p>
<p>Please discuss.</p>
<p>Well, they're both in Maine, they're both LAC's, they're both incredibly tiny.</p>
<p>Bates has no cable TV and is a bit more isolated. And Bowdoin has a better-looking website :D</p>
<p>That's all you can expect from a sophomore, dude!</p>
<p>search the old threads here - there are probably 10 or so discussions on this topic</p>
<p>Here is one thread comparing Bates and Bowdoin
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=260358%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=260358</a></p>
<p>bates friendlier, more outgoing and less competitive students. more creative a little quirkier. bowdoin seemed a bit cold, more pretentios and full of itself</p>
<p>I definitely would NOT classify Bowdoin students as competitive. In fact, the environment here is about as far away from competitive as you can get - students are motivated, but no one really talks about grades, etc. And I personally found Bowdoin to be far more friendlier than Bates when I visited both campuses - but, as you can see, opinions on this subject tend to differ from person to person, so I would suggest visiting both places and seeing what impressions you get.</p>
<p>Visit both, but the town of Lewiston, where Bates is located, is run down. I liked the surrounding area near Bowdoin alot better.</p>