I am a Bates alum and also an alumni interviewer for them, so I can share my thoughts. If I go back to your original list of desired characteristics:
Liberal - definitely very liberal
Close knit and collaborative - for sure - unlike many schools that have very competitive admissions, the academic environment itself is not competitive meaning that student work together versus trying to get ahead of everyone else
Mix of preppy and artsy - I would say both exist, but the predominant vibe is down to earth
Small class sizes - 65% of classes have 19 or fewer students - discussion is expected and often factors into your grade
Study abroad - tons of options - 65% of students study abroad
Lively residential life - there are tons of clubs and an active social scene on weekends, but it is a small school so there is only so much offered. If you are into the outdoors they have a great outing club with tons to do in the area.
I noticed that you have Bowdoin and Colby on your potential list. While as a Bates grad I could never endorse either (kidding), they are very close to Bates, so why not check out all three or at least two of the three in one trip? They could be covered over a two day period.
To help narrow down the list you’re doing the right thing, which is to visit as many schools as possible. Your list is similar (in fact almost exactly the same) to my children’s (and their friends) when they went about looking and it was surprising how each kid had different thoughts after a visit. A couple chose Colgate and Hamilton in central NY and my oldest ended up at Bowdoin in Maine. My thoughts on Bowdoin and Brunswick are nothing but positive but truthfully all these kids loved their respective experiences and locations and made their decisions based on their own set of rationals. What did you think of those schools you did visit?
I strongly agree with the suggestion above to visit Bowdoin and Colby. I think they will be strong fits on most of your criteria:
close knit and collaborative community - definitely true for both
very liberal leaning- true for both although maybe more of a mix than Bates
can be preppy- definitely true for both
the more diverse of a student body the better- true for both although maybe more of a mix than Bates
lively residential life- definitely true for both
small class sizes where discussion is encouraged- definitely true for both
strong study abroad programs- definitely true for both
@nehiker Thank you! Your thoughts are so helpful! I am looking very forward to touring Bates!
My main concern with the student body is whether they are down to earth or not, so it’s very helpful that you pointed that out. A big aspect to me is a student body that is not pretentious and snobby, but collaborative and down to earth.
OP, you’ll find pretentious and snobby kids at all the school and your list. But I think the vast majority of the students, at all those schools, will be collaborative and down to earth.
The school on your lists that I know the least about is Colgate - so perhaps I should leave it out of my comment above and ask for comments by those with firsthand knowledge.
Heh, good one. I’d say no, though, because @OnTheBubble says things like “Bates [sic] location is much better” without giving much if any justification, whereas @CollegeWong gives several (good) reasons for the preference.
These schools are currently both on my son’s list (as are a few others on the OP’s list), and I don’t know what to think now!
@csdad2 : The pattern runs beyond writing style to perspective and other factors. For example, it appears that the “two” referenced users recently fabricated a conversation, “LACs with Entrepreneurial Vibe,” and that OnTheBubble has had additional user names, such as BatesParent2019. I posted with reluctance (in many ways, the user has been very helpful) on this matter, but with near certainty.
Good luck to your son and you in his college search.
Does OP have some safety/match schools on her list? St Lawrence might be a possible school to include, though I realize she asked for info on the schools on her list, not for additions to the list.
@merc81: Interesting. CollegeWong has so few posts, it’s hard to say, especially since they (the two users) interacted in that other thread so distinctly. On the other hand, in that other thread, CollegeWong was asking about schools such as Bates, and here they seem to be so familiar with it. OnTheBubble does seem to have, shall we say, strong feelings about Bates, as well as some of these other schools. Oh well, whatever.
You haven’t indicated anything about your academic interests. These schools, as similar as some of them are in some ways, will have different academic strengths and, potentially, weaknesses.
This list included most of the.schools that were on our list last year. Colby and Bates ended up topping the list for DS and bounced back and forth vying for #1 all year. While people who go to one see the other Maine schools as very different, I think they really are more alike than different. You really will have to get a feel yourself. Students at both were really friendly. Colby may have more international students. Bates and Lewiston are more fluid whereas Colby is separate from Waterville. All 3 BBC schools seem to get very nice, very accomplished kids from our school every year. In my mind, interchangeable kids.
Oddly, Hamilton came off the list after a visit. It’s so hit or miss but we must have hit it on a bad weird vibe day. It felt Uber preppy in an unpleasant way. Based on the folks we know who have gone there, that seems untrue (or at least exaggerated ) but such are the hazards of a 1 day snap opinion.
Bard and Union may be worth a look. Bard is definitely not preppy and more like Vassar. I know one recent Bates grad who had Bard as her other top choice. It’s a pretty intriguing place. Union felt very down to earth. And since you’re looking for down to earth and cold, did you consider Carleton?
Re #37, After being encouraged to look at Hamilton, Bates and Colby recently, the impressions formed by a family member were decidedly clear, but with different results. Bates was eliminated after one visit as a school that wouldn’t receive further consideration, Colby had significant, but still relatively modest, appeal and Hamilton was the clear winner. (Hamilton: ED1.)
@merc81, our impression of those 3 was that Bates was the least preppy and Hamilton the most. As mentioned, all impressions based on visits. Would you concur with that?
OP, you might like Connecticut college too. Pretty down to earth and a mix of kids.