火爆社区

Maine鈥檚 Bates College is a small liberal arts college that celebrates an 鈥渦nbelievably tightknit community鈥� of students, professors, and the surrounding area. In fact, half of all students participate in a community-engaged, hands-on course each year, such as one where 鈥淔rench-speaking African immigrants met with Franco-Americans and we worked with the two groups to help the New Mainers learn English.鈥� Bates offers a 鈥渧ery holistic education鈥� with an emphasis on critical thinking where everyone is 鈥渃hallenged to express their opinions, try something new, and stand up for a cause.鈥� As one student observes, 鈥淭he most important thing I鈥檝e learned so far is how to come up with an intelligent stance on an issue or idea.鈥� The opportunity for such realizations comes because 鈥渃lasses are mostly centered around personal progress rather than comparing students to one another.鈥� The 鈥渇lexible calendar鈥� at Bates includes a springtime Short Term, in which students have four weeks to travel off-campus, complete fieldwork, or focus on just one class (the school says that 鈥減rofessors have a blast coming up with the topics鈥�). Professors are universally beloved and 鈥渓ike to challenge students, and ask questions to encourage students to flesh out their opinions,鈥� and 鈥渕ake you think and come up with your own opinion about issues.鈥� A student sums up their Bates experience: 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 ask for more helpful professors, a more helpful administration, or a variety of classes that suit the needs and requirements of my major.鈥�

As one student notes, 鈥淢y peers are enthusiastic about learning, being outdoors, and making connections.鈥� Students are very scholastically motivated and there is 鈥渁 lot of variability in academic interests and how people spend their time.鈥� While 鈥渆veryone has their own passions and is very chill at the same time,鈥� students say that 鈥渙ne of [Bates鈥橾 most unique features鈥� is that 鈥渟tudents are also extremely social鈥� with the result being an atmosphere that is 鈥渧ery collaborative and kind.鈥� With such a focus on community engagement, this is a group that is 鈥渋ncredibly curious, friendly, and involved around campus and the greater Lewiston area.鈥� Most everyone is 鈥渋nvolved in things outside of academics, whether that be sports teams, volunteering, or extracurricular clubs,鈥� and there 鈥渋s a ton of crossover and interaction between different people.鈥� All in all, Bates holds a special place in the hearts of its classes, a college that in turn helps to make 鈥渆veryone very special.鈥�

For the entertainment-minded, Bates features 鈥渁 multitude of...events to go to any day of the week,鈥� including 鈥渨orkshops for dance, fashion shows, and awesome days for food where the culinary staff brings themed food.鈥� Speaking of which, for those into food, the school鈥檚 one dining hall is not only 鈥渁bsolutely amazing鈥� but is also a popular gathering place 鈥渨here students spend hours per day talking to many different people.鈥� And as for those focused on socializing or studying, the 鈥渓ibrary is also a large social hub where people like to talk while doing work.鈥� Above all, students are 鈥渁lways balancing academics with extracurriculars,鈥� and for them, there鈥檚 a 鈥渉uge amount of clubs and opportunities to get involved in the community,鈥� as well as traditions such as the Village Club Series on Thursdays, when musical groups play on campus. 鈥淓very time there is an a cappella concert, you will see the seats packed, and everyone cheering for each group.鈥� Portland and Boston are close by, so 鈥測ou can always switch up your scenery when you need city life.鈥� Students also 鈥渞egularly explore other parts of Maine,鈥� both on their own and through organizations like the Outing Club, which 鈥渉osts events every weekend, from skiing at our nearby mountains to sunrise paddles to backpacking trips鈥� and 鈥渉as a room full of gear that鈥檚 free to check out.鈥�

The Bates Center for Purposeful Work offers a four-year holistic approach to helping students find their purpose and vocation. Along with help creating a personalized path to determining a student鈥檚 future career, there are workshops available, like How to Adult, and seminars featuring notable alumni discussing their career paths, in addition to many other events and opportunities. The center also helps prepare Batesies for the real world with job shadowing and internships. And upper-level students considering grad school can attend the annual graduate and professional school fair; the event typically brings around 100 admissions representatives to campus. Bates grads who visited PayScale.com report a median starting salary of $68,400 and mid-career salary of $143,400.