<p>My D went to accepted students day and was looking at the dorms. She really liked 280 college ,Rand and Parker. Are any of those Dorms lo chem or chem free? Does anybody have any recommendations on dorms for freshman. Thanks</p>
<p>You may find this link helpful:
[Entering</a> Students | Bates College](<a href=“http://www.bates.edu/entering/first-year-residences/]Entering”>http://www.bates.edu/entering/first-year-residences/)</p>
<p>It appears Rand and 280 College are low-chem, Parker is not designated as either low-chem or chem-free. Clason House (not on D’s list) is chem-free.</p>
<p>D was in 280 College her first year and really liked it. Some of the students like the houses though as well. Next year will be the first year that D is in a house so I can’t say much for it yet. She was in the one right next to 280 College the sophmore year and one over by the football field last year (dorms that is). I would look them up but pressed for time. Sorry. 280 is by far the newest and is VERY nice.</p>
<p>Thanks , my D is favoring that Dorm. Was your daughter able to meet enough freshman in a mixed class dorm?</p>
<p>Mindy. Since the campus is so small meeting people has never been an issue for my D there and she is very shy. She has come out of her shell a bit over the years but still a shy person. They do a lot with the freshman which helps as well. I think her floor at 280 was all freshman so that also helped I’m sure.</p>
<p>My son is in Rand and really liked living there. He lucked out and got the most enormous dorm room (250ish sq ft!) I have ever seen in my life. Had 12 foot ceilings and two 10ft windows and it’s only a double. </p>
<p>My one suggestion is to try to avoid the all Freshman dorms. They are very noisy.</p>
<p>He got locked out of the lottery this year, as did the two other kids he wants to room with so no idea where he will end up but there is no way it’ll be as big as his room this year. </p>
<p>Mindy, don’t worry. Your daughter will meet plenty of other freshman regardless of what dorm she is in. They group several freshman rooms together in the mixed dorms.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, I would also suggest she go on one of the AESOP trips the week before orientation. Great way to meet other freshman, plus you get to move them into their rooms before they go on their trips.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Emilybee, Rochester mom and Sue 22! Yes she is doing an AESOP. Our plan, since we live a good distance away is to drive up the day before Aesop,stay at a hotel, get her settled the next day pre-aesop and then explore acadia (my husband and I) while she is doing aesop and come back to Bates for parent/ student orientation. Then leave for my empty nest:(. Does this sound doable? Any sightseeing or lodging suggestions. I am excited to explore Maine.</p>
<p>Your plan is definitely doable, Mindy. We never went back up for parent/student orientation (don’t know how many parents whose kids do AESOP do that, tbh) but my son didn’t seem to miss us not being there. </p>
<p>You should try to go to Boothbay for a day or two. It’s a lovely little town. We stayed at Spruce Point Inn when we were there. [Maine</a> Hotels | Hotels in Maine | Spruce Point Inn Resort & Spa](<a href=“http://www.sprucepointinn.com/]Maine”>http://www.sprucepointinn.com/)</p>
<p>Also Freeport for LLBean and outlet shopping. </p>
<p>If you have a chance, Portland is lovely, too. Some great restaurants. We ate at Fore Street last time we went. It was excellent. [Fore</a> Street Restaurant - Portland, Maine](<a href=“http://www.forestreet.biz/]Fore”>http://www.forestreet.biz/)</p>
<p>Thanks Emily Bee, just made a reservation at Spruce Point for 2 days! Prior to that we will be at Atlantic Eyrie in Bar Harbor. I hope its ok to come back on orientation…would like to meet the new Dean/President etc.</p>
<p>Any thoughts about good experiences at AESOP?</p>
<p>Ooh, you will love it SPI. It’s a lovely inn and Boothbay is charming. Try to get to the Maine Botanical Gardens when you are there. There is also a lobster shack on the road from Boothbay to Brunswick that is supposed to be one of the best. We didn’t have time to wait on line. :(</p>
<p>“Few highway snarls are as loathed as the one that forms on the Route 1 bridge in Wiscasset. On summer weekends, cars wait up to an hour to cross. Relief can be found at Red’s Eats, a gaudy roadside hut just south of the bridge. The market-price roll is ridiculously generous: a whole lobster’s worth of nearly intact, unadorned meat (mayo or butter comes on the side), overflowing from a tiny hot dog bun that’s too unwieldy to pick up. The solution? Use your fingers to eat the plump morsels, dipping them in melted butter: instant lobster cocktail. Perfect for whiling away the next 30 minutes in traffic—and don’t worry, you’ll be going too slowly to spill.” [The</a> 10 Best Lobster Shacks In Maine- Slide 4 - Slideshows | Travel + Leisure](<a href=“http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/the-10-best-lobster-shacks-in-maine/4]The”>http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/the-10-best-lobster-shacks-in-maine/4)</p>
<p>My son had a great Aesop, though his trip (sailing) was changed a bit because of Hurricane Irene, which was battering Maine the day before.</p>
<p>There should be no problem gong back for orientation. I am sure some parents go - especially kids who aren’t there for Aesop.</p>
<p>My son lived in Rand this year and really liked it. Request low chem dorm which should get you into Rand or 280. A lot of the athletes are in Smith. Rand’s floors are smaller which makes it easier for socializing with the whole floor. We go a lot up there and stay in Portland, and in Freeport. Can give you some ideas if you want to send me a message.</p>
<p>Page is a beautiful dorm! I requested low-chem in my first year (hoping for 280) and was placed in Page instead. It was by far the best freshman dorm in the sense that the students there accrued the least amount of dorm damage, were highly respectful of property and whenever anything was broken, students in this dorm owned up immediately. It’s right next to Lake Andrews - the views are spectacular! 280 is a new dorm and has its perks but for the true college experience, a quaint dorm like Page is perfect. Many years ago, it used to be an all-women’s dorm. You can’t go wrong with rooming at Bates!</p>