Bates College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Undeclared
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Heterosexual Female
Summary
Athlete
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public school in Suffolk County, New York with a graduating class of about 150. There was a culture of going to college.
First Generation College Student: No
Major: Undeclared
Extracurricular Activities: Athlete
Academic Experience
What was your favorite class last year?
Anthropology. My professor was really awesome and I thought it was a great class to get me going in the first year. I think it’s a really good class for first-year students.
How accessible have your professors been?
For the most part, they were pretty accessible. I feel like Bates really focuses on that. You can go and talk to them and they learn your name because it’s such a small school.
Do you feel people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Yes.
How happy have you been with your classes in your first year? Has there been anything that you feel has been done particularly well or poorly?
My main thing that I don’t like about Bates is what classes are available because the classes fill up really fast. If you can’t get into it, you end up taking random classes and that kind of sucks. My favorite thing about Bates is the people there. Everybody really means well and everybody really, really goes out of their way to be friendly. They’re all pretty down to earth people and are very welcoming to anyone and new ideas.
How was managing both your sport and your coursework?
It was definitely hard at first. It was tough for the first year, but I think I will get used to it this year.
Reasons to Attend
1) The people.
2) The fact you get all the seasons.
3) Short term.
4) The academics.
5) The large athlete population.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) Harsh winters.
2) It’s not one of the top party schools. People really go hard with academics. If you’re not prepared to really hone in on your academics, then you’ll probably get behind.
3) The fact that it’s in Lewiston, ME.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: I lived in Wentworth Adams with one roommate. It was pretty old.
Sophomore: I got lucky and I’m going to be living in one of the new dorms.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I feel really safe.
How was transitioning from being outside of New York City to Maine?
I honestly didn’t think I would like Maine as much as I do. The town surrounding Bates is really not very prosperous. [Lewiston has a 22% poverty rate and median household income of about $38,000.] It’s about an hour away from Portland, so my friends and I will go there for dinner and birthdays. One of my really good friends has a house in Portland so I’ll stay over there some weekends if I just want to get off campus which is really nice.
What is your favorite off-campus restaurant?
Flatbread in Portland. It’s a homemade pizza place that’s amazing.
What is your favorite place to get away from campus?
My friend’s house in Portland.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you participate in at Bates?
There is no Greek life at Bates. There are a lot of athletes, so they kind of take over the role of Greek life. In season I usually just go out Saturday nights. There will also be random days during the week that we go out. In the off-season, I go out Friday night and Saturday night. Sometimes we’ll have small team parties, so we’ll go to one of the senior girls’ houses for that, and then usually there will be a mixer with a boys’ team with a theme. In general, we go to a smaller party and then we’ll go to the house that’s having the big party and meet up with everyone.
What have been your favorite times at Bates?
Short term is just so fun. There are parties going on almost every night.
How happy are you with the weekend options? Is there anything you would change?
It’s a small school and definitely not a party school. It can be slow some nights. I think even if you’re not going out, you’re always hanging out with a group of friends. Girls and guys are always hanging out and doing small stuff. Even if it’s not a party, you’re with people and having a good time.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I have two best, best friends at Bates. One doesn’t play sports at all and the other is on my team. I knew most of the girls in my class on my team going in, so, for the most part, I like most of the girls in my grade on my team and they are in my friend group. I met my other really good friend who doesn’t play a sport in my first-year seminar.
How would you describe the social scene?
I think it’s really open. Everyone is very down to earth and people are not very critical. What I love about it is that the seniors end up being really close with the freshmen, which I think is really cool. There are friendly faces all the time.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I do have to say not that much. Everyone is very nice to each other, but I don’t see that much mixing.