Current BATESIE here to answer questions!

<p>How much grade deflation is there (if there is any)? I haven’t heard Bates being known for it, but I’m just curious. Thanks! I have an interview and tour and info session scheduled Friday! Nervous but excited too!</p>

<p>Good luck on your interview, I still remember mines…it went terrible haha</p>

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<p>Well, I’m sure there are people at Bates who breeze by any class, without cracking a book open and still manage to get an A. Some others struggle, but most work hard and manage to pull good grades. Grade deflation isn’t overt here, but it still is apparent in some departments. Generally speaking, it can be difficult to get an A at Bates (according to Berkeley, althogh the article was a bit dated it still holds true)</p>

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<p>Haha do you mind if I ask why it went terrible?</p>

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<p>Well, it was the one college interview I wasn’t worried about, but certainly not prepared for (Bates wasn’t really on my radar at the time, lol). Out of every single interview I had with other colleges, my Bates interview was the most insightful, and personally focused, which, in retrospect I love, but while speaking with my interviewer I got tripped up quite a few times with his questions. I wasn’t so comfortable speaking so personally about myself, but I enjoyed the experience nonetheless. My interviewer told me I had an “interesting, compelling story to tell”; I never really considered that I actually did and looking back I’m happy I found out more about myself in the process.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the info, BatesGirl. It’s interesting Bates wasn’t really “on your radar” when you applied; S didn’t have an interview because there wasn’t anyone available to do it off campus, but he admits he didn’t put as much into his Bates essay as for other schools…and Bates is where he is ending up. What if anything can you tell me about Clason House, the no-chem house for first-years?</p>

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<p>No problem. And yes, Bates wasn’t my top choice and I wasn’t particularly interested in attending a liberal arts college; but I can’t see myself being anywhere but here either way.</p>

<p>I lived in a no/low chem building freshman year and made a lot of friends at Clason. Most of the students there tend to be really down to earth, on/off drinkers, international students, quiet yet fun people. From years past, people of Clason tend to stick together and become a tight-knit group. Clason is a decent house, three floors I believe with a lounge room. It’s a bit dated, but nice and bright nonetheless.</p>

<p>I really appreciate your offering up all this good info as well - it’s very good of you.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on Parker? My son’s room is there. thanks!</p>

<p>What about Page Hall as well? How are the dining services?</p>

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<p>I really don’t have much to say about dorms, there all pretty similar in set up (esp. Parker and Page). Drinking is moderate on the weekends, they’ve both had a few fire alarms pulled last year, and they’re all class year dorms so freshmen are in close proximity to upperclassmen.</p>

<p>Dining services are great and living an an unlimited meal plan never gets old. In Commons, there’s a Euro, Pasta, Grill, Sandwich/Salad, Desert, and a Brick Oven (pizza is AMAZING!) Station. Lots of good, healthy options every day.</p>

<p>Thanks! We’re actually in Lewiston this weekend so we’re going to at least see Parker from the outside. My son wanted a multi-year dorm.</p>

<p>Is there an unlimited meal plan? I thought the plan was 19 meals a week or something of that sort.</p>

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<p>It’s unlimited. Theoretically, it would be “19 meals a week”:
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on weekdays=15
Brunch and Dinner on weekends=4</p>

<p>but you can enter the commons as often as you’d like.</p>

<p>For the short term, it says a maximum of 3 are allowed. Does that mean you have to still sign up for a short term class and only abroad short terms count? Or if you don’t sign up for a class as a freshman, you’re done with school at the end of April?</p>

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<p>You’re allowed to take up to three short terms during your entire four years at Bates, you only need to take two to graduate. You sign up during Winter Semester for short term. Abroad (off-campus) short terms count the same as on campus ones.</p>

<p>Kissmeimnotirish-
If you don’t do a short term you are indeed out in the middle of April. It’s a great time for an internship or to travel. Many years ago when I was a Batesie the year I didn’t do a short term I was able to get an early paid internship while everyone else was still in school, then I spent some of the money I earned backpacking through Europe with friends for the last 6 weeks of the summer.</p>

<p>I have a very mundane question. Will my son need a printer? Thanks!</p>

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<p>My roommate had a printer; I think it’s more of a convenience than a necessity. Sometimes the printers in the library are going through repairs, or there might be a lengthy line in order to print an assignment, other times you’d rather not walk all the way to the library to print a six page document in two feet of snow in December. Your son can certainly survive without one, but a lot of students like the convenience of having one in their room.</p>

<p>Thanks! And another mundane question - are the clothes washers top loaders or front loaders (wondering about the type of soap he’ll need). I read somewhere else that you need change to use them? (my older S goes to a school where the washers/dryers are included as part of the dorm - so no need to save change). I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>BTMell-
I’ll leave BatesGirl to answer about whether the machines are front or top load, but according to the freshman “what to bring” page there are laundry machines in each dorm and students pay for them by using a rechargeable “MacGrey” card. The card can be refilled at a number of central locations such as the library and the student mailbox area.</p>

<p>I’m sending my son off with a container of Tide pods. No measuring, no mess.</p>

<p>Hi Sue - thanks. The Tide Pods are a good idea - I hadn’t thought of that. I’m guessing they work for HE or regular machines - off to google! It was so weird, my older son’s Tide (liquid, HE) was taken twice last year from the laundry room. He’s not the most careful kid but how weird was that?</p>