Bates College
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Bates professors tend to be outstanding. Most are experts in their fields, and they generally bring a high degree of enthusiasm to the classes they teach. There are certainly some who, because they are tenured, don’t care much about bringing new approaches to their courses, but most professors care very deeply about the subjects they’ve chosen to teach. On the whole, Bates professors are very approachable, and some are even open to receiving phone calls from overstressed students during the wee hours of the morning. The school’s small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratio ensure that students are able to develop close relationships with their professors if they choose to do so. This encourages an atmosphere of mutual respect—many professors will ask their students to call them by their first names, and often professors request that students aid them in research projects and other such endeavors. Because so many classes are small and discussion-oriented, students are often deeply involved in their courses.

Probably the biggest issue facing Bates academics at the moment is general education requirements. In order to graduate, students must fulfill these requirements, which, coupled with a student’s major requirements—most of which involve writing a senior thesis—can be very difficult for a student to complete. Compounding the problem is the fact that entry-level natural science courses are almost always over-enrolled—some by as many as 100 students. So, students who are taking courses simply to fulfill gen ed requirements compete for places with students who are taking the courses for their majors or because they’re genuinely interested in the subjects. Aside from the gen ed requirements, students have few complaints about classes and professors at Bates. The system may have a few flaws, but the professors and the courses offered are above average, to say the least.

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Academics at Bates College

rangoon3

Philosophy '14

4.6

A

Understated, but Rigorous, Challenging and Enriching!!!

Bates College academics are often shorted in comparison to its "higher ranked" (according to US NEWS) counterpart, Bowdoin, but many sibling comparisons have found that Bates offers more challenge with less inflation. Bates professors hold their students to a very high standard of discussion and critical thinking. The best part about academics at Bates is though all students are intelligent, they do not shove it down your throat. You can find yourself talking about last night's primetime television in Commons and then critiquing Kant's categorical imperatives. It is a nice "best-of-both-worlds" atmosphere that is reflected in the extremely approachable staff who all yield impressive resumes (often more impressive due to their young age). They are leaders in their field who chose Bates for many of the same reasons the students did: To enrich within a small, comfortable academic setting with a unpretentious atmosphere.

Feb 20, 2012

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Academics at Bates College

lobster317

Political Science and Government '12

5.0

A+

One of the Top Staffs Here

The politics department is stocked with a bunch of brilliant professors who not only really know what they're talking about, but manage to cover a vast spectrum of different types of study within politics. They're also a bunch of cool people, with a bunch of old-timers that have been doing it for so long there is cohesion, but with enough new talent that it's interesting too. Couldn't recommend it more highly.

Dec 12, 2011

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Academics at Bates College

eunice_fda1

Liberal Arts and Humanities '14

4.6

A

Resources and Extra Help

Bates has numerous programs and workshops for students who need extra assistance in their major, primarily the sciences. Professors go out of their way to help students and giv them any extra assistance that they may need.

Aug 08, 2010

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