<p>What’s it like? How are the coaches? Being on the team? Facilities? Schedule? Is the team competitive within the league? How does it integrate with student life, studies, etc.? All you can tell re swimming at Bates and academics and student life there in general, please!</p>
<p>Pool Facilities are aging, coach is well-liked, and he has done a lot to make those Bobcats move up the NESCAC ladder. Lots of spirit and support on the team.</p>
<p>Of course I love Bates. It’s a great school with a fabulous faculty and a beautiful campus.it is SAT optional, if you have a weak point there.Classes are small and facilities for academics and arts top notch.</p>
<p>Lewiston is a depressed, former factory town now full of Somali refugees. It can be an opportunity for someone who wants to help others, which possibly why Bates rates very high on the “Colleges for do-gooders” list. I expect I would be classified in that group, and I was very happy there.</p>
<p>I have no idea about the swim team but my son is a freshman and he has never been happier. He loves his classes, his professors are great, the kids are great. Despite the rigor of his classes and the heavy workload he is on the sailing team, is treasurer of two clubs and one of his dorms rep on student gov’t. Also, two of his courses this semester had a community service component so he has been tutoring middle and high school kids (mostly Somalis) a few afternoons a week. </p>
<p>He also has time to be social (parties on the weekends) but it’s also not unusual for him to be in the library all weekend. </p>
<p>Academic advising, imo, has been top-notch. Although only a freshman, according to him he will be done with his GEC by the end of fall semester 2012, will have a few courses in his major and at least two in his minor. </p>
<p>Lewiston is pretty bleugh but the kids don’t seem to mind at all. And Portland is only 30 minutes away. I know he has gone to at least one concert in P’land since being at Bates.</p>
<p>I can speak from first hand experience. My daughter swims for the Lady Cats. There is no better place to swim in the NESCAC. Pete Casares, the head coach, has built the team from a league doormat to finiish 5th out of 11 teams last year. Next year they would like to finish even higher. The boys have followed a like course. </p>
<p>My daughter has been swimming for 12 years and has never been on a closer knit team. Pete conveys an unending enthusiasm. The pool is not the best but the kids take a certain pride in the fact that they have beaten other schools with better facilities. </p>
<p>Pete emphasizes that they are student/athletes not athlete students. This attitude makes the intergration with student life seamless. </p>
<p>If you have any questions feel free to email me anytime.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman swimmer at Bates and is loving it. I gave to agree with all of the other posts. Facility wise the pool is not exciting but my son likes swimming in it. If you haven’t come for an overnight visit you should. You will see for yourself. My son felt welcomed immediately. The team is very close but probably the main difference between Bates and other schools is that it is truly inclusive there. No cliques like at some others. Kids don’t exclusively hang with their sports teams, yet the team is very close and has a lot of fun. Coach is very encouraging and has really moved his team up in the rankings. Check out the team blog on website and you can see what we’re all talking about. Kids are very impressive. Nice campus. Excellent food. Feel free to send me a personal message. Are you currently a senior or junior?</p>