<p>Hey, everyone. I’m currently a sophomore at Bates and I love it here. I remember lurking around this site quite a few times and the quality of advice I got here was amazing and I was lucky enough to apply and get accepted to Bates. I though there might be others who might have been in the same position I was in during college applications time and I thought I might be of assistance to some of you. So, if you’ve got any questions, just shoot! I’m pretty knowledgeable about most things on campus…</p>
<p>What was your experience like? Did you like your classes and how were the professors? Also, what is life like in Lewiston, known for being isolated and quite small?</p>
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<p>THE EXPERIENCE
Well, speaking as someone who never visited Bates (or any college I applied to for that matter), I didn’t have any expectations. There were tons of ups and downs, but looking back I really loved and cherished my freshman year and it went by in a flash. I will say that attending Bates was like nothing I had thought a normal college experience would be like. Lot’s of people here say it’s like being at Camp or High School all over again. And, that may work for some people, but personally it took time to adjust to for me. I certainly could elaborate on anything in particular about my experience if any one cares to inquire, but I’ll leave it at that for now.</p>
<p>THE CLASSES
Classes were pretty good. I took a variety of courses because I wasn’t particularly sure what I wanted to major in or pursue. I registered for Intro level Chemistry, Economics, English, Pottery, Calculus, Politics, Geology, etc. Workload was definitely lengthy and rigorous no matter what subject I took. Tons of reading material within the Humanities/Social Sciences departments every week, challenging labs and problems sets in the Sciences/Math. IMO, classes at Bates are very challenging and you’re definitely going to have to work and exceed all standards and expectations to attain an A, but if you do the work there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do well. I will say grade deflation has a bit of a presence in some departments and at Bates overall. My GPA took a bit of a hit first semester, but I rebounded come winter. Good work always pays of in the end. There’s tons of tutoring and after-class help if you seek it, especially for the Math and Science departments. Group sessions and Office Hours are a MUST and a LIFESAVER. Out of every course I sat in, I loved my FYS the most, seminars were definitely my preference; small classes and fabulous discussion.</p>
<p>THE PROFESSORS
They’re there to teach and they do it quite well. They really want to see students succeed but they also expect much from us as well. Definitely make use of office hours, ask questions, participate, make yourself KNOWN. Lectures in my Humanities/Social Sciences courses ranged from excellent to rather dry, but the material was always interesting and most professors are always engaging. It’s hit or miss, I suppose. Science/Math were a bit too dry for me, but I’m not very oriented towards that field in the first place so I am a bit biased. Labs were very interesting, but very long and write-ups took even longer out of class. I’m sure Science majors would disagree, though…just my perspective.</p>
<p>LEWISTON
Point Blank. If you’re used to living in a thriving metropolis, like NYC, SoCal, or Boston, Lewiston might not be the place for you. Lewiston really is what you make of it. If you decide to reside within the Bates Bubble (which many Batesies do), you can make use of your free time on campus but you’ll probably feel constrained and life on campus can begin to grow redundant at times regardless of what might be going on. During the first couple of weeks I certainly felt isolated, but the feeling gradually dissipated as I found other things to do to fill the void of time; varsity sports, clubs, parties, traveling, events etc. Bates is pretty small, with only 1700 kids (my HS was twice as large). On the bright side students are extremely friendly with one another and we really do have a tight knit community here, on the other hand you tend to see the same people over and over again and by the end of the year you have a good grasp on who’s who here. Some people don’t mind, others find it monotonous. The city of Lewiston has some quaint, gorgeous areas (Lisbon Street) to eat and hang out but there are also a lot of tense relations between students and the Somali population in Lewiston and there are plenty of areas around the city of Lewiston that look quite depressed and run down. </p>
<p>Hope this helps anyone considering Bates and don’t be shy to ask anything Bates-related, peeps.</p>
<p>BatesGirl</p>
<p>Questions for my son, who would not be caught dead on CC, who has just completed initial course registration and who in general resists asking questions like this:</p>
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<li>With phys ed-type classes (e.g. x-c skiing) do you register for those as for academic classes? It has not been clear to him how to sign up.</li>
<li>In your experience, how are a) the Classics and b) the Art departments?</li>
<li>We live more than a day’s drive away and are planning on shipping many of his things up to Maine. Do boxes get delivered to dorm rooms, or are students expected to pick them up at the package center?</li>
<li>Can you say more about how rigorous the FYS’s are? I know they are different every year–at least some of them–but which one did you take and what was it like?</li>
<li>Do many students stay on campus over Thanksgiving break? If so, what is that like for them??</li>
<li>Did you do a short term your first year, and if so, was it on campus?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for your help–probably will have more questions.</p>
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<ol>
<li><p>I believe the Physical Education registration period is after the initial academic registration period, but I’m not certain when that is. If the process is still the same you register through Garnet Gateway. My guess is that administration hasn’t opened the portal for PE sign up yet.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve yet to take a class within the Classics department, so I can’t offer much information for you. The Arts department is pretty impressive and most classes take place in the Olin Arts Center. I took a Ceramics course which was pretty interesting and not too rigorous at all. I have a few friends who do a lot of draw and paint and the work is always outstanding. I don’t believe grading in the Arts is too harsh, but I’ll also note that there’s much talent and experience as well so the standard is also high.</p></li>
<li><p>To ship large packages via UPS, FedEx, USPS prior to your arrival (but not before August 1), please use the following address format:</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Student’s Name & Class Year
Student’s Box # (Bates College)
Lewiston, ME 04240</p>
<p>When the package reaches Bates your son will receive a yellow notice in his mailbox. He must bring the yellow notice and his ID to the Package Center in order to pick up his package.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>First Year Seminars aren’t typically difficult, nor time consuming. I’m sure there are some exceptions, but personally I only had 4 major papers all under a 6 page limit and readings were manageable as well. There are only 15 students per class so participation is imperative and discussion is always very enlightening. I won’t reveal my FYS to remain anonymous but it was a cross between the American Cultural Studies and Environmental Studies department. I loved it, I only had 4 major papers but was required to do plenty of re-writes along with a final oral presentation and 6 page term paper at the end of the semester. Most of our discussion stemmed from the films we watched, from hollywood blockbusters to documentaries, along with two novels and a variety of articles dealing with a particular subject that week. FYS professors also become your students academic advisor which is an important thing to note. They’ll be able to guide your son until he chooses a major plus two and becomes acquainted with the academic major advisor and department chair.</p></li>
<li><p>I personally only came back home during Christmas break. Bates has Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break I believe. Students are allowed to stay on campus during break but dining services are “closed” (meaning they have to be paid for), except for Fall break. For thanksgiving I stayed on campus the first few days and stayed over with a friend in Boston for the remaining days. I know a lot of professors also live near campus and invite students over for Thanksgiving dinner, which I think is incredible here at Bates. On campus there are plenty of students who stay over during Thanksgiving, mostly Internationals, sports teams, or students who live far from Bates (i.e. I live far down southeast) so plane tickets can be a bit pricey. Campus is pretty quiet and it can get lonesome if you don’t plan some events or activies accordingly with those who decide to stay on campus for breaks, as well. For financial matters and varsity sport obligations I only chose to go back home for break once. It wasn’t too much of a burden and I did travel quite a bit with friends.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, I did do short term. I nearly decided to opt for an off campus one but decided not to to continue my sport. Short Term on campus is very laid back, students are playing intramurals outside, tons of outdoor study sessions and class discussions going on, and lots of notable speakers, dances, and events. Class wise the material isn’t nearly as rigorous (unless you decide to do Math Camp) and there is much free time left to students to hang out. I’d definitely recommend it to first years.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope that helps</p>
<p>BatesGirl</p>
<p>Thank you! We are also in the Southeast. One more thing: my understanding is that it is not difficult to get a campus job. Is there any procedure you recommend/know about for getting an early start on the job search so as to nail down an interesting/higher paying one?</p>
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<p>It isn’t too difficult to acquire an on-campus position (esp. if you’re on work study). All open positions are listed on the Bates Student Employment page on September 1st (or a little after then) and students are encouraged to contact supervisors in order to inquire about certain jobs and the possibility of an inerview. I’d recommend doing that as soon as possible because jobs can go quick.</p>
<p>Most jobs are only a little above minimum wage ($7.50-$8.00) so there aren’t many higher paying positons. There are certain campus obligations that pay substantially more such as Junior Advisor, tour guide or peer writing assistants, but these are typically reserved for upperclassmen with experience.</p>
<p>BatesGirl</p>
<p>Is it difficult to balance a varsity sport and classes? I told my son that I didn’t think it would be wise for him to get a job and play a varsity sport, what do you think?</p>
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<p>Speaking as someone who was a varsity athlete, a student, and was balancing a job, I would say it really depends on the particular sport and the intensity of the program. My sport was rather demanding and time consuming, but my team was pretty competitive, as well. Personally, I found it really difficult and I most likely will not continue next year to focus on studies and paying off my remaining college debt. However, this is only anecdotal and I know plenty of students who are able to juggle all three initiatives. Some jobs at Bates allow you to be able to study and get work done (desk/secretarial work), so perhaps being on a sport and classes would be doable. For me it wasn’t balancing work, sports, and classes that was difficult, it was having time to do other things as well as the exhaustion afterwards.</p>
<p>How are research opportunities at Bates, from what I saw on the website, it almost seem as if research is MANDATORY. I understand seniors must write a thesis, but are there plentiful research opportunities?
Also, being such a small college, how good are the school’s resources? (Labs, athletic complexes, etc.)?</p>
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<p>Hi. I think research oppurtunities are easily attainable if you seek them. As far as being mandatory, there are plenty of courses at Bates that require you to do some form of research in order to participate in the Mount David Summit every year. There are tons of grants available to assist you in any of your endeavors and professor are typically very welcoming and eager to assist students who would like to partake in any type of research. Internships through the Career Development Center and field study opportunities are also pretty common. I’m not entirely sure if I’ve answered your question, my knowledge of research opportunities is pretty limited with only being a rising sophomore.</p>
<p>In terms of school resources and facilities, Bates is pretty good. Most of the academic buildings are state-of-the-art especially, Pettingil (Humanities), Roger Williams (Foreign Languages), Carnegie (Science), and Hedge (Miscell.). Ladd Library is a bit “dated”, but there have been talks about renovation. There is a MAC lab on campus, too. Commons (dining) is by far the best. Athletic facilities are functional, but certainly could use some revamping. Labs are adequate, IMO. Dorms are decent, 280 is like living in a palace (if you’re lucky enough to get in)–flat screen TVs on every floor, study lounges, a fireplace, and a kitchen :0</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>Our D fell in love with Bates when we visited in February. One thing we missed seeing on our tour was an indoor cardio room for non-athletes. Is there a place with treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipticals for students to work out?</p>
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<p>Hi. Yes, within Merrill Gym there is a cardio room available for students, although I must add that it can get a tad crowded at times and is definitely in need of an expansion, IMO. There are treadmills, stationary bikes, ellipticals, an indoor track, a few athletic rooms used for classes also housing yoga/pilates items, a dance studio, an enclosed squash center, an indoor pool, a lifting/weight area (situated in Davis Fitness Center). There are also indoor/outdoor tennis, an indoor basketball area (within Alumni Gymnasium), football and softball fields.</p>
<p>hth</p>
<p>hi, this has all been very helpful, thanks. my D just got her housing assignment – Smith Hall Middle. any tips on what if any extras to bring for a 2 room quad?</p>
<p>BatesGirl, you said “students are encouraged to contact supervisors in order to inquire about certain jobs and the possibility of an inerview. I’d recommend doing that as soon as possible because jobs can go quick.”</p>
<p>Would you recommend contacting a supervisor before arriving on campus or is it better to wait?</p>
<p>Hi - I’m very appreciative of this thread too. My S just got his roommate and housing info. He’ll be in Parker Hall and would also love tips on things to pack.</p>
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<p>I apologize for the delay; getting ready to head back to Bates. Anyways, I thought I’d answer the question of dorm necessities at Bates for both of you. If you haven’t already done so, this link might be a good start on what to bring in particular for Bates: [What</a> to Bring | Welcome Entering Students | Bates College](<a href=“http://www.bates.edu/entering/what-to-bring/]What”>FAQs from Student Affairs | Student Affairs | Bates College)</p>
<p>It’s actually a pretty good list and representation on what most people brought first-year. I personally didn’t bring too much from home and decided to buy most things in Maine, Portland to be specific. </p>
<p>hth</p>
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<p>I don’t believe contacting a supervisor prior to arriving would be necessary, as long as your child applies to the position timely and contacts the supervisor via email after positions are listed on the Student Employment page.</p>
<p>How often do students go to Boston for a weekend? If they do, how do they get there without a car–I know a train from Brunswick was supposed to start running this year, but is there a bus or some other direct way?</p>
<p>It really depends. I wouldn’t say that students head to Boston every weekend but once or twice a month, perhaps. It’s actually quite easy to head to Boston, if need be, without your own car. There’s a rental car system here called ZipCar, where students can rent out a vehicle for a couple of hours or days. The Greyhound (probably the most reliable and cheapest option) is only $20ish-30ish and can take you straight from Lewiston to Boston. Bates itself has a shuttle hosted by Student Activities that takes students to Boston for $20. So, Boston is accessible without a car.</p>