Sarah
Despite complaints from some students, Lewiston is a really cool place. It is certainly not your typical college town, and it may be very different from where most Bates students come from. That is why I love it. It is an old mill town turned city with a strong community, wonderful central park, down-to-earth residents, and lots of outlets for community engagement and volunteering. It also has a pretty cool local music scene with great folk performances in particular. One thing that is really unique about Bates is its large Somali refugee community. I really appreciate this chance to experience another culture and watch two very different communities merge into one.
kevin
"Just come with a positive mind, because no one minds being positive!"
Rob
I couldn't be happier than I am at Bates. It is truly a special place and in my freshman year I have met some truly amazing people. One of the best parts of Bates is that it doesn't matter what year you are - no one is very exclusive. I think it's a beautiful thing that I have just as many freshman friends as I do any other class year.
Devin
Bates was a great experience for me, safe enough to let me grow but it definitely pushed me to take some risks. I loved the people and the school. Definitely take advantage of the study abroad opportunities and get involved!
Kate
A lot of the people here LOVE Bates, but I feel like you definitely have to be a certain type of person to feel at home here. I came because my Dad went to Bates, but it ended up not being for me, and I'm actually transferring next year. But then again, I am that high-strung person who wants competition in my academics, intensity in my sport, and not so much alcohol on the weekends. Also, this school is SMALL-we don't even have two thousand kids-so the campus can feel kind of constricting at times. You should definitely take that into account before applying/deciding to come. Also, when you come to visit Bates, take time to look around Lewiston as well.
Casey
Believe me...Bates is a guaranteed success if you want to enjoy your college years and grow and mature as an academic and a real person. Just one thing, you need to be a social person to succeed at Bates.
Ben
On the whole, Bates, though my second-choice school, has turned out to be everything that I originally thought college could be. I have met most of my closest friends at Bates, learned more than I thought I was capable of, and have fallen deeply in love with some of the more unlikely parts of Maine. Though I will be the first to admit that it is imperfect, I feel great about having chosen Bates and would do so again.
Alex
Bates is Bates. There is no place like Bates.