<p>Hey guys im going to be a soph at Bates. If you have any questions about the school and Lewiston just ask! Also welcome class of 2010, you’ll find that at bates we don’t discriminate amongst classes, so be prepared to make friends who are upperclassmen, and o yeah enjoy your AESOP, and you’ll let’s just say have ahem a lot of fun during ur orientation when you get back.</p>
<p>Thanks for offering to answer questions. Bates "feels" as though it is a work hard, have a great time, sort of atmosphere. Would you agree? Also, could you try to define what sort of students you come across on campus? Our feeling was that it was a rather diverse group (from what we have heard, and who we know attending ~ we were there in the summer and only got to see a few students), preppies, jocks, liberals, hippies, nerds... a little bit of everything that adds up to a pretty interesting group of kids. I assume a decent amount of beer drinking/dancing/party type behavior takes place on weekends? Thanks in advance for your thoughts....</p>
<p>You will find many types of people at Bates. A lot of Jocks whom you may question how they got in, but you realize they do work hard, hippy types, very preppy, and GLBTQ people. On the weekends we do have fun, your JA's first year are not at all your normal RA, they are there for guidance and they will party with you. I consider my JA last year as one of my best friends on campus. There are your nerdy types but they interact with the jocks. You'll find that at bates different groups interacting. Security is very cool, the social life at Bates is amazing.</p>
<p>Thanks bateskid09. Can you describe a typical weekend on campus? Also, did you apply ED? If so, what stood out for you to make Bates the one and only... If you applied RD, what other schools did you find as appealing as Bates? Do you think they really look at the "whole applicant" when deciding who to admit/reject???</p>
<p>A typical weekend at Bates includes partying at the on campus houses and the dorms. Sober events include dance and other "artsy" performances, lectures, and sport events. I did not apply ED, my top three were Brown, Bowdoin and Bates. Similiar schools that have a "bates" feel would probably be, Bowdoin,Colby, Oberlin, and other nescac schools. Oberlin and Bates have a similar history when it comes to egalitarian values. Bates is very well known for looking at the "whole" applicant, that is probably why I and a lot of others I know got in.</p>
<p>I know Bates is SAT optional, if you did submit your scores... how much do they help? I am not the best standardized test taker.... got a 26 on the ACT... have yet to take the SAT.... but I am really interested in Bates. Also, I was invited to a diversity weekend on campus.... can you comment on this event... have you heard of others who have gone to this?</p>
<p>I do not know anything about this "diversity" weekend. I'm sure it is part of the new hardcore effort to recruit more minorities. I did not submit my SATs, if you do have a high SAT (above 1400 for us geezers i don't know what that equates to with the new one) than certainly submit it. SAT's are not important are though, i know kids who have scored 1000s and did not submit them and ones with 1500s who did. Check out this cool article from the NY times about bates and the sat, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/education/31sat.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=464fd41a24d29901&hp=&ex=1157083200&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1157037242-S+kJj4F5QRaFmdlD7cUvCw&oref=slogin%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/education/31sat.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=464fd41a24d29901&hp=&ex=1157083200&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1157037242-S+kJj4F5QRaFmdlD7cUvCw&oref=slogin</a></p>
<p>Hi, bateskid09,
Loved the NYTimes article. I'd like to know why Bates and similar LACs in NE have trouble attracting and keeping minorities. Your campus appears to be very open and inclusive. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, a lot of people use the excuse that because we are a small school in maine bates is not attractive to minorities. I don't buy it. Bates is very inclusive open campus with a history that it is proud about. There is now a big push to recruit more minorities, time will tell.</p>