Bates College - Overall Experience

To be honest, I've had a hard time...

To be honest, I've had a hard time adjusting to being at Bates. I'm from Georgia, and culturally, the North and South are much more different than I expected. That being said, Bates is a wonderful school where you can really get to know your professors. I've found that if you're forthright and honest with them, you can get them to work with you, even when you feel like you have a lot working against you. The social scene is not what I expected from college, but there is a lot to be said for having to find new ways to meet people and manage your time. You have to be proactive about having a social life, but the rewards of that are pretty great. You meet great people and get to know them pretty well. I have vacillated no whether or not I should transfer since Freshman year. I even took a semester off, not planning to return. Despite how lonely or uncomfortable I felt at times, there was always something keeping me here or bringing me back. When all is said and done, I am glad I stayed and have a great experience to take back home with me.

I have had a great experience so...

I have had a great experience so far. I've definitely had my ups and downs in transitioning to college, but I would do it all again. My greatest memories have been formed with my teammates. I have made some great connections here, and I have learned a lot.

Bates is the greatest place I...

Bates is the greatest place I could ever end up. I love it here. It is important to remember that Bates is academically rigorous-it's just as important to study as it is to make great friends. I was sure I had to come to Bates the first time I saw it, even though it was in April and it had snowed 10 inches the night before. Campus was beautiful, and all the students were so excited to be here. I went early decision, and I couldn't be happier with where I am.

Bates has been a thoroughly...

Bates has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience because of the people here. Those who come here usually have a gut feeling about the school—it just draws you in. My first choice was Dartmouth, but I'm glad I chose Bates because of the laid-back and down-to-earth attitude of the students. I first met some of my peers on an accepted students day in which the perspective students were separated from their parents—I thought it would be awkward, but I got along with the people I met right away. That's when I knew Bates was for me. Batesies tend to stick together, and I don't know one Batesie who wouldn't help a Batesie out after college, regardless of whether or not they had met beforehand.

Sometimes, when I visit my friends...

Sometimes, when I visit my friends at the University of Maine, I am jealous that they have so much more free time than I do and don’t have to work as hard for good grades. On the other hand, I have gained so much from my experience here. I have personal relationships with some of my professors and feel very able to approach them with any problems. I have been challenged so much here, and I have learned a ton—not only academically, but about myself as well. Bates also has amazing educational and technological resources that are extremely accessible at a small school. The majority of students are able to travel abroad at some point during their junior year, and the internships and grants available are really helpful for exploring potential career areas after Bates. Each summer since I have been here, I have been able to work for a non-profit agency and receive a stipend from Bates College so I wouldn’t have to work without pay.