Bates College - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The majority of Bates students live on campus. A percentage of seniors may apply to live off campus, but they must live within a mile of the school. Considering the amount of snow Maine gets every winter, living more than a mile away would be an inconvenience. It’s not too difficult to get housing off campus, and it ends up costing about the same as living in the dorms. Students who elect to live off campus can continue with the meal plan, and many do. There are advantages and disadvantages to off-campus living. The cons: It is a lot more work to organize renting an apartment, you have to go farther to get to classes, and you’re not connected to the Bates computer network. On the other hand, off-campus students are more independent and are able to better prepare themselves for life after Bates. After three years of living in dorms, many students are ready to live in an apartment of their own.

Students generally don’t live off-campus until they are seniors. Each year, Bates has a lottery for the same off-campus apartments, although the cost of off-campus apartments is between the students and the landlords. Students are responsible for paying rent and any repairs, such as a broken heater, as well as cleaning. Bates provides four-year housing with the hope that most people will stay on campus to foster a sense of community, and most people do. However, when a record high number of first-year students enrolled, Bates had to move some of the upperclassmen out of the rooms they chose in the housing lottery and into additional apartments on Russell Street. There are always freshmen in forced triples in Page and the crammed quads of Smith, which used to be doubles. However, students appreciate the availability of housing all four years, but as Bates continues to grow, many wonder how long everyone will be able to fit.

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Students Speak Out

BatMV says: Bates College 2014 Arts, Visual and Performing

You can only live off campus as a... You can only live off campus as a senior. It is pretty easy to apply and get permission. There are many nice apartments and houses surrounding campus, and all are within a very reasonable distance. If you move off, you can choose to be on or off the meal plan, and I would say the ratio is about 50/50 for those who stay on the meal plan. Many apartments have kitchens, so some would just prefer to cook for themselves, although the dining hall is fantastic, so many people still come to campus for meals. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 01, 2009 Report

katiswb says:

You're not allowed to live... You're not allowed to live off-campus until you're a senior. And even then you have to get permission, but it's not that hard to get. Some people really like living off campus, but it is usually a bit of a longer walk than any of the dorms or houses on campus. There is a lot of good housing on campus, so for some people it might not be worth it to move off. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: February 28, 2009 Report

BatAC says: Bates College 2014 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Most people prefer to live on... Most people prefer to live on campus. We're a pretty tight community, and most people prefer to have access to food from Commons. I don't think I'd ever live off campus. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: February 16, 2009 Report

BatRL says: Bates College 2014 Psychology

Nobody really lives off campus, at... Nobody really lives off campus, at all. If anybody does, I'm pretty sure it's just seniors. There are houses located off the main campus, but Bates owns them. Very few people find their own houses or apartments because it just isn't worth it at a school so small and in such a dreary area. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: February 15, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Sure, off-campus housing is worth... Sure, off-campus housing is worth it if you have a car and really want to get away, but I never found the desire to do so. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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