Bates College Comprehensive Admissions and Academic and Community Guide

Introduction and Land Acknowledgement

  • Speaker Profile: The session is led by Vincent Scott, an Assistant Dean of Admission at Bates College and the coordinator for native and indigenous recruitment.
  • Land Acknowledgement: Bates College is situated on the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy.
    • The Confederacy consists of five tribes: the Abenaki, the Penobscot, the Passamaquoddy, the Maliseet, and the Mi'kmaq.
    • The college works closely with Wabanaki REACH (the tribes' outreach program) to provide programming that informs students, faculty, and staff about native issues and how to support native people in the state of Maine.

History and Founding Principles

  • Founding Date: Bates was founded in 18551855.
  • Founders: The institution was established by Free Will Abolitionists.
  • Motto: "Come as you are."
  • Legacy of Inclusion: At its founding, Bates was the first coeducational college in New England.
    • The founders believed education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, social status, or creed.
    • This commitment to equity and access occurred nearly two centuries earlier than many peer institutions.
    • The core belief remains rooted in learning from a community of diverse students.

Geography and Location: Lewiston and Auburn, Maine

  • Lewiston, Maine: The college is located in Maine’s second-largest city, with a population of approximately 60,00060,000.
  • The "LA" of Maine: The region consists of Lewiston and its sister city, Auburn, located directly across the river; the area is colloquially known as "LA" (not to be confused with Los Angeles).
  • Industry and Demographics:
    • Lewiston is a traditional New England mill town built on the Androscoggin River.
    • Over the past 30th30^\text{th} years, the city has become one of the most racially diverse places in Maine due to an influx of immigrants from the East African diaspora (Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti).
    • Auburn serves as the commercial hub, containing major retailers like Walmart, Target, and various fast-food chains.
  • Proximity:
    • Located 30 minutes30\,\text{minutes} from Portland, Maine’s largest city and a prominent "foodie" destination.
    • Accessibility via public transportation (bus and train) to Portland, Boston, and New York City.
    • Regional air travel is accessible through airports in New York, Boston, and Portland.
  • Local Traditions: Auburn hosts an annual hot air balloon festival in August near the Androscoggin River.

Community Engagement and Social Justice

  • Residential Focus: Bates has approximately 2,0002,000 total students, 95%95\% of whom live on campus for all four years.
  • Civic Engagement: Bates is recognized as the most civically engaged campus in Maine, maintaining the highest voter registration rate in the state.
  • The Harward Center (Implied): Students engage in community service through various initiatives:
    • Storytime hours at local public schools.
    • Work with youth organizations and voter registration drives.
    • Involvement with local nonprofits and municipalities.
  • Academic Integration: Every semester, about 50%50\% of students take a "community-engaged course."
    • Students contribute over 42,00042,000 hours of community work annually.
    • The local high school has over 3838 languages spoken, providing unique opportunities for tutoring and language-based engagement.

Academic Structure and Requirements

  • Liberal Arts and STEM: While a liberal arts institution, Bates has strong STEM programs, with Biology serving as one of the most popular majors.
  • Curricular Flexibility: There are no core required classes. Instead, students fulfill general education requirements through "Six Modes of Inquiry":
    1. Math
    2. Science
    3. English
    4. History
    5. Language
    6. Fine Arts
    • Students must take at least one class in 55 out of the 66 areas.
  • Major Plus One Requirement: Every student must complete at least a major plus one other area of study.
    • Combinations include: Major/Major, Major/Minor, or Major/Concentration.
    • Major: 1212 to 1414 classes.
    • Minor: 66 to 88 classes.
    • Concentration: 44 classes.
    • Total Courses: Students typically take over 3232 courses during their four-year tenure.

Special Academic Programs

  • First-Year Seminar (FYS):
    • A small cohort style class (1212 to 1414 students).
    • The professor of the FYS serves as the student's academic advisor for the first semester.
    • Topics are niche and varied (e.g., "Demystifying Disney," which analyzes the original stories behind fairy tales, or classes on the marketing of "Big Tobacco").
  • Senior Thesis: Bates is one of 1111 institutions in the U.S. requiring a senior thesis for every student.
    • This is a master’s level research project completed before graduation.
    • Tradition: Seniors invite a first-year student to help bind the thesis, and they "kiss full size" as a symbolic transfer of knowledge.
  • Wait-Term / Short Term: Bates follows a "4-4-1" academic calendar.
    • Fall Semester: 44 to 55 classes.
    • Spring Semester: 44 to 55 classes.
    • Short Term: A special 1-class1\text{-class} semester during the month of May.
    • Short term features passion projects, alumni-taught business fundamental classes, and networking opportunities.
  • Study Abroad:
    • Over 68%68\% of students study abroad.
    • Partnerships with over 200200 global institutions.
    • Options include location-based, major-specific, or short-term study abroad (1 month1\,\text{month} in May with a Bates professor).
    • Financial Aid: All Bates financial aid follows the student when they study abroad.
    • Example: A student completed one semester in Argentina, one in Tanzania, and a short term in India, all fully funded.

Campus Life and Athletics

  • Clubs and Organizations: There are over 100100 student-run organizations.
    • Includes cultural showcases, a cappella groups, and affinity groups.
    • Outing Club: One of the oldest in the country; organizes nature trips every weekend.
    • Ski Club: Students can ski for free at Lost Valley, a small local mountain.
  • Athletics:
    • Member of the NCAA Division III and the NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference).
    • 3131 varsity teams and 1313 club teams.
    • Recent achievements: 33 national titles and 44 conference championships in one year.
    • Women's Crew: NCAA runner-ups, recently competing globally in London, England.

Center for Purposeful Work

  • Philosophy: Focuses on aligning student passion with career paths, rather than just matching majors to job titles.
  • Services and Funding:
    • Job shadowing: Up to 33 times per year with alumni or parents.
    • Funding: Up to $5,000\$5,000 in competitive funding provided for unpaid or underpaid internships.
    • Reserved Internships: Certain organizations and government agencies reserve specific spots exclusively for Bates students to reduce competition from outside pools.

Admissions and Financial Aid

  • Class of 2028 Profile:
    • Acceptance Rate: Approximately 14%14\% to 15%15\%.
    • Diversity: 32%32\% U.S. students of color, 12%12\% first-generation students, and 10%10\% international students.
    • Geographic Reach: 8787 countries and 4949 U.S. states (missing only North Dakota).
    • Origin: 70%70\% of students come from outside New England.
  • Application Policies:
    • Three Rounds: Early Decision I (ED1), Early Decision II (ED2), and Regular Decision (RD).
    • Fees: Free to apply; no application fee.
    • Requirements: No supplemental essays.
    • Test-Optional: Since 19841984.
    • ED Admissions: Approximately 60%60\% of the class is admitted through early decision rounds.
  • Financial Aid:
    • Meets 100%100\% of demonstrated need.
    • Need-based aid only; no merit-based scholarships.
    • Annual aid total: Over $40,000,000\$40,000,000.
    • Average need-based grant: Close to $60,000\$60,000.
  • Prologue to Bates:
    • A "fly-in" program for prospective students from October 11th11^\text{th} to 13th13^\text{th}.
    • All-expenses-paid trip to attend the fall open house.
    • Application deadline: August 7th7^\text{th}.

Questions & Discussion

  • Question: If I am a STEM major (e.g., Biology), can I take studio art like pottery and ceramics?
    • Response: Yes. Students can minor in Studio Art or Fine Arts with a focus on pottery. About 40%40\% of students double major. STEM students often major in their field and take a minor or second major in the arts.
  • Question: Does Bates only recruit for sports, or can students walk on?
    • Response: Both. While recruitment exists, students can walk on. Some teams rely on walk-ons to fill their rosters, though selectivity varies by team.
  • Question: What is the availability of combined/dual degree programs (e.g., with Dartmouth)?
    • Response: Bates offers a "3-2" engineering plan.
      • Students spend 33 years at Bates (usually majoring in Math or Physics) and 22 years at a partner institution (Columbia, WashU, RPI, Case Western Reserve).
      • Dartmouth Program: A "2-1-1-1" program where students spend their 3rd3^\text{rd} year at Dartmouth, 4th4^\text{th} year at Bates to graduate with their class, and a 5th5^\text{th} year at Dartmouth to finish the engineering degree.
      • Result: Two bachelor's degrees (one from Bates, one in engineering) in 55 years.
  • Question: Is there a Physical Therapy (PT) program?
    • Response: Bates is an undergraduate-only institution and does not have a graduate PT program. Students typically follow a pre-med track (Biology or Biochemistry) and luego move on to a master's or doctoral program in Physical Therapy elsewhere.