<p>What are the reputations of the dorms at Bates (especially the ones open to freshman)?</p>
<p>My son who is a sophomore told me the freshman dorms tend to be quite noisy. We’d been told by one of my friend’s daughter who was at Bates to request a mixed class dorm, which he did. In the mixed class dorms the freshman are clustered - usually 4 rooms next to each other so it’s not like you are the only freshman surrounded by upperclassman.</p>
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<p>Really depends on the dorm. The mixed-year dorms are probably the most quiet, emilybee is right. “Quite noisy” is probably only true on weekends though, even in the all-freshman dorms. </p>
<p>I can tell you my friends almost universally loved where they lived freshman year. It’s not about the building, it’s about the new experiences and sharing them with a close-knit group on your floor.
There’s one caveat… Smith Hall is an all-freshman dorm which is generally regarded as the worst of the first-year living options. It’s arranged in quads (so you have three roommates), and is often seen as kind of a “party” dorm. I will say so that MOST people still love Smith and remember it with great affection. However, the people you find who were unhappy with their living situation freshman year were often in Smith. </p>
<p>After freshman year, it’s less common for students to live in the traditional dorms. There are residential houses (Victorian style houses, mostly on Frye Street) which are where most upperclassmen live (or in suites, or off-campus). The rooms are basically dorm rooms, except they don’t feel like them and you’re only living with 30 other people.</p>
<p>I lived in a dorm freshman year, Frye St. houses sophomore and junior year, and off-campus senior year. Was very happy with every living arrangement I had.</p>
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<p>If I choose to live in a mixed year dorm, will it be harder to meet other freshman? My hesitation toward the all freshman dorm is that it will be just all partying, which I’m not that into. On the other hand, I would like to be around a lot of other people and be social.</p>
<p>Also, what is the name of the newly build dorms and are they available to freshman?</p>
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<p>Maybe a little bit, but probably not. In the mixed dorms, freshmen are still all together by floor, so you still have that first-year community (I lived in a mixed-class dorm). I wouldn’t worry about the partying thing too much. It’s not really intrusive, doesn’t happen nearly as often as people think, and (even though you don’t think so) you’ll probably end up liking it anyway. </p>
<p>The newest dorm is at 280 College St. and doesn’t have an official name (referred to variously as “280”, “New Rand”, and “New Dorm”). Freshmen DO live there. It’s pretty sought-after (though I’m not sure there’s a good reason for it)</p>
<p>My advice: stay away from Smith if you can… Parker, Page, Rand, and New Dorm are all good options (as well as the two freshmen houses). </p>
<p>But in the end you will have a great time no matter where you end up. Trust me. It’s all about the people you are with.</p>
<p>So, assuming I like to party and I’m not too picky about it being a little noisy (Latent super-ability to sleep even if there’s a parade nearby), is Smith a good match for me, or are there other issues with it?
Because I keep hearing from many not to choose it.</p>
<p>Yeah you’d probably love Smith. The thing is it’s set up as quads, not doubles like the other dorms. (So you’ll have three roommates instead of 1). So it depends if you mind that. </p>
<p>Getting Smith is not the end of the world by any means. It’s just a little different. Most people still love their time there.</p>
<p>Here’s a Smith room plan.
[Smith</a> Hall | Campus Tour | Bates College](<a href=“http://www.bates.edu/tour/housing-tour/houses-halls-2/smith-hall/]Smith”>http://www.bates.edu/tour/housing-tour/houses-halls-2/smith-hall/)
And a picture of an actual room in Smith
[Moving</a> in | Sun Journal](<a href=“http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2012/08/29/moving/1243311]Moving”>Moving on)</p>
<p>Many moons ago I lived in Smith and had this exact room setup. It was tight but my room didn’t mind because we happened to get along together well. It is nice to have a second room because you can study when your roommate’s sleeping and vice versa. People tend to think of each part of Smith as a separate dorm because each section (North, Middle and South) has its own entrance. They’re connected underground and share a lounge, kitchen and seminar room. As I remember it the disadvantages of Smith are that there are no elevators, so if you’re on the 4th floor you have a hike to get back to your room, and there was only one shower for each floor of 4 rooms.
Current Batesies-has this changed?</p>
<p>Even back then Smith had the smallest, most basic rooms, but I liked the fact that it was all freshmen. I met a ton of people early on and we bonded in a way I’m not sure we would have in a mixed class dorm. Last year I got together with my freshman year roommates and together we were able to remember the names of all 60 or so people in our dorm.</p>
<p>What about the House, like Clason or Milliken? Anyone knows something about them?
Is it kind of lonely to live with only 30 people? Or, do the 30 people usually create a sweet, close-knit community that feels like home?
Will ALL FIRST YEAR House be very noisy and unsuitable for study?
What about bathroom and kitchen? How many are them?
Which is better, living in a House or dorm?
Thanx!</p>
<p>Nowhere will be noisy and unsuitable for study, except maybe on weekend nights. In which case there are other places to study.</p>
<p>Clason and Milliken are definitely tight-knit communities. Similar to the way a floor on a dorm will be tight-knit, but maybe even closer. Clason is chem-free, fyi (no alcohol allowed). Most dorms do not have a full kitchen; each floor has kitchenettes with a fridge/sink/microwave. I’m not sure about the bathrooms or kitchens in the houses. In the dorms there is plenty of bathroom space on every floor. </p>
<p>House and dorm are definitely very different. I didn’t live in a house freshmen year, but people who did were close and stayed close throughout school. There’s always a possibility that you meet less people or become a little insulated. They’re a bit different but in the end it comes down to the people you live with and the shared experience of going through college together.</p>
<p>Wow, I am in such a dilemma.
bro2baseball, personally, which one will you recommend, House or Dorm?
I am not that into party; I love small community however don’t want to feel insulated at the first year of college.
Thank you!</p>
<p>You really can’t go wrong. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. You also may not get your first choice anyway. “Insulated” was the wrong word to use. It’s just a little different in the houses.</p>
<p>I personally might go with Milliken (not Clason, because of the no-chem thing) , and then the other dorms. I think you can indicate whether you want low-chem, no-chem, or just regular. So maybe you will want to rank the low-chem dorms higher if you don’t think you’ll be interested in partying.</p>
<p>Another random question…what is the bathroom situation in the dorms? I can’t seem to find any info on it on the Bates website.</p>
<p>Most floors are coed, so there is a men’s bathroom and a women’s bathroom on each floor, each with 3+ shower stalls and 3+ toilets</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>Given all the information above, I’m still having trouble coming up on a ranking based on what the form asks for. It doesnt ask to rank specific housing arrangements but rather the type. Here are the options:</p>
<p>All first year (House)
All first year (residence hall)
All class years (residence hall)
Chem-free, all first year (house)
Low-chem, all class years (residence hall)</p>
<p>Based on what I’ve heard, I’ll avoid Smith… anyone have any suggestions? I’m having trouble differentiating between what’s what.</p>
<p>All first year house - Milliken
All first year dorm - Smith
All class year dorm - Page, Parker
Chem free, all first year house - Clason
Low chem all class year dorm - Rand, 280</p>
<p>So you should avoid Smith if you put “all first year residence hall” lower down in the list. I might recommend Page or Parker, though I will say I lived in Rand freshman year and loved it. Never really liked the feel at 280 though it’s the newest/fanciest dorm.</p>
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<p>Thanks man. I did 1) All class year, 2) all class year, low chem, 3) all first year, 4) all first year house, 5) all first year chem free. I’ll hope for Page or Parker.</p>
<p>There’s just one more question I’m confused about on the survey, which is if I’d accept a roommate who smokes. How strictly enforced is the no-smoking policy in the dorms? Like I dont mind having a roommate who smokes as long as they go outside, I just don’t want a room that smells like cigarette smoke all the time. Should I keep it as “yes” or change it to “no”?</p>
<p>Also does that question only apply to cigarette smoke…?</p>
<p>Do a lot of freshman live in Rand Hall? 280?</p>
<p>My son lived in Rand his freshman year. There were plenty of other freshman. He really liked living in Rand. </p>
<p>Berty, I don’t believe any smoking is allowed in dorms or any other building on campus.</p>
<p>S is interested in the no-chem dorm. He will be a first year. Is it hard to get or in low demand?</p>