<p>My guidance counselor told me to look at Bates and it seems like a cool school but I don't think I'd be able to visit. Can someone please describe the student body there. Are they more preppy? Or quirkier? Are they athletic and outdoorsy? What kind of people are they? Also can anyone give opinions about the surrounding area.</p>
<p>no one knows anything?</p>
<p>Batesies are quirky and preppy, athletic and outdoorsy... you will find all types of people. In general it is a community where you will be accepted fo who you are (perhaps this has something to do with that rugged Yankee individualism). There are only ?1700 of us so although you get anything and everything, you only get it in small portions. The student body is very geographically diverse. It is also socio-economically divcerse (although the hefty price tag does mean that there are quite a few very wealthy students) , religiously diverse and, to a lesser extent, ethnically diverse. The latter is an issue that most NESCACs struggle with. I'd say that Bates has a pretty decent sized Asian population... however, we could certainly improve our African American and Hispanic recruitment (it's hard for most off-centre institutions in the north to attract applicants often found in more urban, warmer areas of the country). Another thing about Batesies--they are very easy going and although they are smart and hard working, they are not very competitive. Academics are tough and people tend to strive to grow their minds rather than obsessing over their GPAs (nobody graduates with a 4.0). Oh, and the SAT is optional, a policy that Bates has stuck to for decades (and it has proven successful as studies have shown a non-significant difference in academic performance between students who applied with and without the SAT). </p>
<p>Bates is in Lewiston--a typical New England mill town. I love the town and the surroundings are great. Lewiston's location is ideal: the drive to great shopping/eating on the coast (Portland/Freeport) is only 45min-1hr to the south and major ski resorts (like Sunday River and Sugarloaf USA) 1-1.5 hrs to the north; both are great for weekend outings. The campus is beautiful with a neighborhood street section and a more traditional institutional section. Unfortunately, Lewiston has an undeserved bad rep--in reality it is a very friendly, safe and dynamic town (very diverse by Maine standards). That said, if your idea of fun entails weekday shopping sprees, sushi bars and clubbing, Lewiston probably isn't the place for you. Some people who are used to city amenities have a hard time adjusting to small town life.</p>
<p>Hope this helps...</p>
<p>thank you so much, you did help a lot!</p>