And CardinalBobcat agrees 
Based on indications throughout the thread, I think your son should attend Bates as well.
@Lindagaf, a student just asked to be convinced to pick Bates ā¦ out of Bates, Hamilton, Oberline, Bard
@HCatmom , your son seems to like Bates and Hamilton the best. I would agree that based on vibe, those two are more similar and Oberlin and Bard should be taken out of the mix at this point.
On the most simple level, it seems sensible to choose Bates. It gave the best aid, and really, your talking about paying less for an equal school. Itās a top LAC, the location is excellent, it has everything a student could want in terms of academics, activities, sports, and, letās not forget, food. The dorms are excellent. As far as Iām aware, the dorms have all recently been redone. Except for singles, (even those are roomy) Iāve never seen a bad dorm room, and some are beautiful. The campus is compact and lovely. The dining hall is outstanding, and the Den and the Ronj offer alternatives for when students want something different. The art museum is lovely, and the arts are well supported in general. Is everything at Bates glistening and modern? No. It is not a school of performing arts, but I can honestly tell you that I am always blown away by the level of talent I see when I am at Back to Bates weekends. I donāt know how these kids do all that they do, and do it well.
The courses are great. My daughter has never felt that she has been forced to take a class she isnāt interested in, and the requirements are very flexible. Short term in May is fun, and no one has better study abroad options than Bates. If study abroad is not possible, as it sometimes isnāt due to major or double majoring, short term offers study abroad too.
The thing I like best about Bates is the students. I like how relaxed they are with each other. I like the guy in the flannel shirt hanging out with the hippie girl. Or the urbanite hanging with the science nerd. Thatās a little idealized, but my point is I never feel that there is one type of Bates student. My daughter is only a sample of one, but did not apply to Hamilton because she felt it was a little uptight and a little too preppy for her. Just her impression, because I liked Hamilton. I think many people agree though that Bates is known for being friendly and relaxed.
Your son shouldnāt be concerned about choir and theater. There will be plenty of opportunities for him to be involved in performing arts. If he wants to sing something different, Iām sure he will be able to do so.
As far as Maine, well, my daughterās best friends are from Hawaii, Florida and Tunisia. Is he going to college to be close to home? Does another hour in the car outweigh everything else, including the money? Thatās a family decision. Yep, itās cold. But they go to the beach anyway, or they go snowboarding, or they go out in Portland, or they go running in the adjacent bird sanctuary, or hiking right off campus, or with the Bates Outing Club. If heās asking to be convinced to choose Bates, have him read this post, and that might help him decide.
@Lindagaf Ha! Thanks so much. will do! I think today he is trying on Hamilton as someone here suggested. He said he feels anxious after making the decision about Bates and does that mean it is the wrong decision. I said, there are no wrong decisions here. I feel anxious everytime I go on a trip, but I always end up having a great time! Someone just re introduced Bard as an option based on it actually being more academically challenging than Bates or Hamilton. I think my son noticed this when he attended the classes tho he like the things he attended at Bates.
@Lindagaf - after that, I want to go to Bates! (And Iām a Hamilton alum - lol!)
@gardenstategal Yes, we have been over that. He has been singing with the best choir I have ever heard for the last 4 years. Hopefully the smallness doesnāt also mean too many competeing for good parts, I guess it can go both ways. He is not the top talent anywhere, except maybe for his comedic roles.
I, personally love that program and would be in it in a minute if I were 18. I keep mentioning it to him!
Hm - Bard is more academically challenging? Like, in a creativity sort of way? Heavier work load? Students seemed more engaged?
I believe Bates has about six a capella groups. Is he interested in that?
Each of those schools is going to be academically challenging. Kids donāt get in if the colleges donāt think they can handle the academics. Not one of them will be a good school for slackers. Not implying that your son is a slacker, of course.
Regarding Hamilton, it potentially offers your son the most varied social options because of its spatial aspects. With three residential neighborhoods and five places to eat lunch, he could choose an essentially fluid experience based on where he lives and dines. In terms of academics, Hamiltonās intellectualism probably runs a bit ācoolerā than at a school such as Bard, so course selection would be key for the type of active engagement that he experienced there. In terms of intellectual capability as might be indicated by class standing and standardized scores, however, Hamilton falls at the top of his group. If Hamilton was located in Maine, for that matter, it would be the top school in the state by these measures.
I agree with merc81. The overall music program is stronger at Hamilton than at Bates if that is an important consideration.
Iām not sure at all about the claim that Bates offers the best study abroad programs around. Bates approves programs such as Hamilton in France, Hamilton in Spain and Associated Colleges in China, which are all administered by Hamilton College. Batesā own abroad programs seem much less developed by comparison.
All that said, heās just āfeelingā Bates. I think he should go to Bates.
Also, with so much choral talent at Hamilton, do we know he would make the choir if heās not a top talent? @HCatmom - did you get a sense of that while on campus? Meet with the choral director at all?
I am completely stunned that he is not choosing Hamilton or Oberlin for that matter. Bates was the last place he visited. So maybe thats it. Anyhow, he has, for better or worse, seemed to have chosen the one school that is the farthest away and the farthest North. EEEEEEWK! Thanks all.
Also, the one school his dad went to for the admitted student day instead of me.
Best of luck to your son at Bates, @HCatmom!
Congratulations to your son! Heās made a choice heāll be happy with.
Congratulations on your son for having made his decision. Time to buy the sweatshirt and never look back!
^ @HCatmom , you should have devised your own microbrewery tourā¦?