<p>My D has developed an interest in Bates, and we like everything we read about the college.</p>
<p>However, we’ve never been to Lewiston, and don’t know much about it. D is heavily influenced by the ambiance of the area surrounding collge campuses, and the Bates website doesn’t give much sense of what Lewiston is like. </p>
<p>So, for those of you who know the area, can you give us a sense of what to expect? Charm or industrial drab?</p>
<p>I was there visiting with my daughter last summer, who will be attending Bates this fall. I wouldn't call Lewiston/Auburn a charming college town. If that is really important to your daughter, Bates may not be the school for her. I know that many students have found great opportunities for community service in the area, and that there is some diversity there -including a significant number of Somali immigrants. What Bates really offers is access the great outdoors and an active outings club--so it attracts students that enjoy backpacking, sailing, snowboarding, skiing, etc.</p>
<p>In addition to the considerations that millermilt offers, the fact that there are few "college town"-type activities near campus contributes (along with other factors, including the size of the school itself) to the Bates student community being very close-knit. That may or may not be what a particular student is looking for, but it should be taken into consideration in weighing pros and cons.</p>
<p>Thanks, both of you. The close-knit factor -- and the 4-4-1 schedule -- is very attractive to her, and what she is looking for. We live in Minnesota, so the "winter factor" is probably not as big a deal as it might be to others. It sounds like a wonderful school.</p>
<p>Having grown up in a quaint little suburb, I wanted to live in a different environment during college, so I loved that Lewiston was a real city rather than a picture-perfect/typical college town. Lewiston is an old mill town that became a bit rough, but now there's a revitalization effort going on (see <a href="http://laitshappeninghere.com/)%5B/url%5D">http://laitshappeninghere.com/)</a>. And the efforts aren't just talk -- even during my two years I've seen infrastructure improvements and felt a gentle shift in the feel of the community.</p>
<p>My friends and I are always saying that we wished we spent more time in Lewiston. I think the truth of the matter is that most people are often too busy to take the time to get to know it. We always have so much happening on campus that it's often hard to find a spare moment to get away from it. It does take some effort to get to know where some of the cute thrift stores are and such, but it's worth it. Last year, my most frequent visits to downtown Lewiston were probably: 1. Going to a restaurant downtown to celebrate someone's birthday 2. Going to a local elementary school as part of a community service program 3. Going to Lewiston Maineiacs (hockey -- future NHLers) games. All of these are within easy walking distance.</p>
<p>In terms of safety, I feel totally comfortable walking downtown during the day. At night, I don't walk alone downtown, but I feel fine as long as there's someone else with me. Bates Security has a saferide/walk service as well.</p>
<p>Hope that was understandable and helpful. Let me know if I can help you with anything else. Obviously I'm Bates-biased, but I wouldn't have it any other way!</p>
<p>PS- I think of Maine and Minnesota as having the nicest people, so you daughter would feel right at home in terms of whether and people! I hope she continues to pursue Bates.</p>
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<p>Hmm. . . . We live in Minnesota, too, and the "winter factor" is definitely a factor for D who hopes to escape to a warmer clime. In her mind, weather is a definite drawback to Bates and the other very good LACs in Maine. But I'm thinking winter is actually a bit milder in Maine than in Minnesota?</p>
<p>I also am a fan of quaint towns and that was something I had wanted in a school when I was applying to colleges. While Lewiston isn't the picture perfect New England town, there are various nice parts. The center of the city isn't so aesthetically pleasing but the historic mills and architecture really give it character- at least that's what I think. There are also various country trails and roads pretty close to campus. Lake Auburn for instance is beautiful and pretty easy to get to. If your'e daughter ends up really liking Bates, I wouldn't let the Lewiston factor deter her from applying. Good luck with the whole admissions process.</p>
<p>Batesie and ercigr, thanks for much for the encouraging words. It seems unlikely that we'll be able to make another college trip this year, so we probably won't be able to see for ourselves. Maybe she'll be interested in applying with the promise that, if accepted and finances allow, she could visit once before making her decision.</p>
<p>As a resident of ME, I know Lewiston doesn't have the best reputation in Maine, but it isn't horrible. It seems like there is enough to do on campus that students don't have to leave too often. It is a city and I think that makes it different from ther rural colleges. For the 3 Maine colleges, I think Bowdoin by far has the best location. For Bates, Lewiston isn't really a plus or minus. But it is close to Portland, which is a great city.</p>