<p>When I had my interview, my interviewer said that the thing she liked a lot about Bates was that it was truly a middle class school when she attended back in the mid 1980s–meaning there weren’t a lot of rich snobby kids. I’m wondering if that has changed a lot. I think that when she used to go, all the rich kids could still get into HYP, but now that they’re not necessarily as successful at following in their parents’ footsteps, do you guys think that Bates is still a “middle class school”?</p>
<p>It's hard to be snobby at Bates-it just won't fly. I graduated a long time ago, but there were plenty of rich kids then too-but they didn't flash their parents' money (actually in Lewiston there is nothing much to spend it on, anyways). The beautiful part of Bates is its democratic (little d) values, it's disdain for elitism and its heritage of accepting women, blacks, and immigrants-long before its counterparts. Returning to reunions, everyone remains so friendly-regardless of how wealthy they have become or their status in life.</p>
<p>Noth that one wants to be at a school populated completely by rich kids, but, it can be extremely valuable as the connections you can make could prove invaluable in internships, job placement, etc.</p>
<p>my daughters friends range from parents who are fabulously wealthy (but the kids do NOT talk about it or show it, to those whose parents clean houses.</p>