Bates College Top Questions

While we definitely are a environmental friendly school and have a small percentage of hippies, there is still a large percentage of Batesies that don't fall in these categories.

Not really. The student body is definitely very active and athletic- and while there are people who may be outdoorsy or hippyish...it does not seem as though that is what defines them.

yup

Yeah, pretty much. (we don't all party, though)

Yes.

Yes

Yes (for the most part...not every student is super wealthy--I, for one, couldn't attend Bates without the very generous financial aid I get from the school)

The school is definitely conscious of the environment and other so-called "hippie" subjects. Sustainability is a word that you'll hear a lot. As someone who recycles but is not terribly geared toward the environment, I find that people are significantly more aware of the environment here than they are at home, but pressure to share their views is not overwhelming. As for the students themselves, there's definitely a number of people who are leaders when it comes to environmental issues. I hesitate to call them hippies because they're active in other pursuits as well and don't huddle together 24/7. The friendly thing is certainly true. Of course, anywhere you go, there are going to be some people who, at times, are less approachable. But, for the most part, I would feel comfortable having a conversation with pretty much anyone on campus. A friend of a friend that you've only just met will invite you to a gathering in his room that night. A Commons (dining hall) staff member will joke with you in line at the salad bar.

While there definitely exists a large hippy contingent at Bates(I lived with them in one of our two Environmental Sustainability Houses), the student body represents the entire country and more. I'm from Philadelphia, my girl friend is a Tucson native, the music director of my a capella group calls the Bay Area in California home. However, the New Englanders are overrepresented, and one will often hear about their "just outside Boston" neighborhoods. Beyond all that though, the administration and trustees are working hard to diversify our school, and the success is evident with increasingly diverse incoming classes. I think our football team may have won one game last season, but I can't say I was following their season either... While our winter can drag on in the intense way Maine winters do, Maine offers spectacular beauty throughout the year. In October, our entire campus turns a golden red as the leaves begin to fall. All I can say about winter is that we have a six month ski season. I saved the best for last. In April and May, Bates's Short Term offers students a unique experience to, generally speaking, take a class just because they think it will be interesting. While the classes often require a significant amount of effort put in outside of class (which isn't such a big deal when you're in class six hours a week), there's always plenty of time to get friends together to grill some burgers or hike a mountain. And don't forget about the on campus outdoor concerts and annual lobster bake down at Popham beach state park.

These stereotypes are sort of accurate, but what I was surprised most by was the wide spectrum. The liberal, wild, bearded, outdoorsy Batesie archetype is definitely well-represented on campus. There is a strong contingent of kids who are concerned with their carbon footprint, and deforestation, and making Bates more green - kids who tend to get involved with outing club and major in Environmental Studies and Geology. I love these kids, I'm probably considered one of them, I have a beard. But there are tons of kids who are not towards one end of the social self-definition spectrum. That is to say, there are plenty of great people who chose Bates not because of the Paul Bunyan Bates stereotype but rather for what Bates really is, which is a top echelon liberal arts college. So: most kids are liberal and smart, but aside from that many lifestyles are represented in the student body.