Doug

Bates is a very fun school, the classes are fun, the parties are fun, the students are fun. This is not to say that Bates is a huge party school, we take our academics very seriously, its just that the environment of the college lends itself to not take many things too seriously. We do party though, and if the night is right, we party like Division I Football Players.

Most people at Bates love Bates, the only major complaint is the town of Lewiston, which has be reemerging as a cultural center in recent years, and is starting more and more to mesh better with the college. Lewiston is nicely situated about 40 minutes from everything (Portland, Freeport, the Beach, Great Skiing, Colby, Bowdoin)

Bates is a bubble. Realize that in coming to Bates you will know a high percentage of people on campus just in that you go to class. The school is the right size for me, and I like not feeling like a number and not being an anonymous citizen of the campus. Recently diversity has become an issue on campus. Most minority students claim that everyone at Bates is white and racist. They have rallies all the time professing so, which really gets old. Maine is the Whitest state in America, and diversity has been steadily increasing, however, if you don't like being called racist just because you are white, Bates is not for you. Lewiston leaves some to be desired, but it has its charm. Neighboring Auburn has the largest Wal*Mart on the east coast. Between Lewiston, Auburn, and Portland you will have plenty to do.

Bates is great for academics and generally underrated in the college books for reasons we Bates students don't understand. Most classes at Bates are very very small, and all are taught by professors. Most professors like to interact with students outside of class, and it is not uncommon to see a member of the faculty playing IM sports, acting in a play, or having lunch with a student in commons. Often professors work under their first names, and are very easy to work with. Class participation is the name of the game at Bates. The professors at Bates are there because they want to teach, and they are very passionate about that.

Bates has great academics. The professors know you and are interested in your well-being. On the whole students at Bates are not competitive academically, but, like everywhere, there are those girls that ace everything and still think they are about to fail out. In our dining hall, don't be surprised to hear one table discussing ancient Greek philosophies and another modern politics. Bates students are intellectuals, but there are no nerds here. The theater department at Bates is actually really good. Professors at Bates are generally very friendly and accommodating.

In general, Bates students are very open and accepting of anyone regardless of background. However, because of recent tensions between Minority students at Bates and the 1 or 2 percent that make the "in general" necessary in the first sentence, there is increasing cynicism on campus. That being said, Bates students are really pretty funny. I can think of at least 10 people I know well that could be successful comedians.

Students at Bates are more than likely liberals, from New England, and want to change the world.

Bates students are almost all liberal minded people from New England. The typical "Just Outside Boston" crowd dominates, a quarter of the students are from Massachusetts. Most minorities are too vocal for their own good.

Students at Bates love Bates, love Partying, love Electronic music, and love dancing. Radio is really big at Bates, and listenership is up among students, and in the local communities. There are no Frats or Sororities, so clubs mean a lot. People at Bates get out and support their friends, at Shows, Games, etc. Its a great place to be.

Bates has an annual Mustache Party

The Radio station is one of the best in America. Everyone tunes into WRBC

I think the biggest stereotype at Bates is that everyone is a pot-smoking hippie. Other stereotypes about Bates students is that they are very nice, helpful, and generally laid back people. The stereotype of Bates is that it is far removed from anything and in the middle of nowhere.

Bates students are stereotypically crunchy and hippie-esque, love the outdoors, liberal political causes, and anything else that sends out the perception of being more socially conscious than the average college student.