Hi-
Looking for general feedback between Haverford and Bates, including the following:
- Diversity
- Athletes vs. non-athletes, is there a social divide?
- LD student support (e.g., dyslexia, etc.)
- Housing
Thanks!
Haverford = 60% white
Bates = 70% white
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Where did you feel better - stats are one thing - have you been to both - which feels more “right” to you.
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In lots of ways these schools pair well together. Nonetheless, as one important aspect to consider, the difference in their academic levels may be greater than the difference in their U.S. News rankings (#15, #22) suggests, in my opinion.
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My D visited in January last year, so the weather wasn’t great. The campus and the immediate area felt dreary and deserted, but she could see herself there. People say Haverford is really small. I don’t know if 500 more at Bates will feel much different. She did not get to visit Bates to compare.
Beyond enrollment size, you may want to consider campus size. Haverford, with fewer students, resides on a campus, at 200 acres, quite a bit larger than that of Bates, at 133 acres.
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Bryan Mawr is only 2 miles away, practically an extension of the Haverford campus. Easy by bus and even walking distance for a 20-year-old.
I live near Wesleyan, twice the size of Haverford. I’m in the vicinity often but rarely see students out and about. College kids are busy, spending most of their time indoors in class, in dorms, at extracurriculars, etc. Those aren’t large gatherings and don’t require big numbers on campus. A high school of 1500 would be considered large.
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@oza2022 Congratulations on your acceptances. As a Haverford grad whose D applied to Bates, I can understand why this is a hard decision. IMHO the schools have similar vibes and probably have a big overlap in applicants. Given your priorities, I would find out as much as possible about how much LD support you’ll get. Having adequate support could be the difference between having the most successful, least stressful academic experience.
I would start by spending time on each school’s sites for academic resources. Academic Coaching
Academic Resource Commons | Bates College
I would also reach out to those offices with an email that has specific questions and ask if there are current students who would be willing to share their experiences.
Regarding diversity at Haverford, go to the Admissions page and scroll down to the student volunteers page. There you’ll find a button that says, “Access & Diversity Intern”. When you click it, you’ll see current students who have volunteered to answer questions about diversity at Haverford. I urge you to reach out to them. Office of Admission | Haverford College
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Great suggestions and resources, thank you!
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Good point. My D is waitlisted at Wesleyan, so it’s also in the mix.
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Have you sent Wesleyan a letter of continued interest with updates on achievements or accomplishments + a letter of reference in support of any such updates?
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