Thoughts on Bates or Colby and Bates v. Colby?

[Anonymous]

Our DS is looking at both of these. They seem quite comparable to me. What are your thoughts on either school, or one versus the other?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion Bates skews a bit artsy and alternative; Colby skews more preppy and outdoorsy. Both are in somewhat sketchy towns but Colby campus is gorgeous. Excellent professors and small classes at both schools, excellent graduate school placement at both schools. Identical USnews ranking (#21).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion Bates skews a bit artsy and alternative; Colby skews more preppy and outdoorsy. Both are in somewhat sketchy towns but Colby campus is gorgeous. Excellent professors and small classes at both schools, excellent graduate school placement at both schools. Identical USnews ranking (#21).

Full disclosure...My child is a current Colby student. She also looked at Bates but didn't apply there.

[Anonymous]

I've never been to Colby, but what's sketchy about Lewiston-Auburn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion Bates skews a bit artsy and alternative; Colby skews more preppy and outdoorsy. Both are in somewhat sketchy towns but Colby campus is gorgeous. Excellent professors and small classes at both schools, excellent graduate school placement at both schools. Identical USnews ranking (#21).

I'd say this is a good, general statement about the two schools. I think by "sketchy" PP meant "blue collar," which doesn't necessarily mean sketchy to some of us. My friends who went to Bates (and actually liked it) were very artistic, creative people. Writers, sculptors, poets. They also loved skiing and hiking punctuated by a lot of pot. My friends who went to Colby all (and by all, I mean 5) ended up at law school after their undergrad time. They also loved skiing and hiking punctuated by a lot of booze.

[Anonymous]

The last PP's summary is spot on -- and very funny too -- though I think Bates is becoming more similar to Colby these days. I see a difference between the adults I know who went to Bates, and who track more with PP's description, compared to current students, who tend to be more athletic and preppy. In either case, though, you have to love the rural setting and the wintry weather. Both schools would be a great choice for an outdoorsy kid who doesn't need/love city life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been to Colby, but what's sketchy about Lewiston-Auburn?

Lewiston has a fairly high crime rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion Bates skews a bit artsy and alternative; Colby skews more preppy and outdoorsy. Both are in somewhat sketchy towns but Colby campus is gorgeous. Excellent professors and small classes at both schools, excellent graduate school placement at both schools. Identical USnews ranking (#21).

I'd say this is a good, general statement about the two schools. I think by "sketchy" PP meant "blue collar," which doesn't necessarily mean sketchy to some of us. My friends who went to Bates (and actually liked it) were very artistic, creative people. Writers, sculptors, poets. They also loved skiing and hiking punctuated by a lot of pot. My friends who went to Colby all (and by all, I mean 5) ended up at law school after their undergrad time. They also loved skiing and hiking punctuated by a lot of booze.

I am the person who noted that Waterville and Lewiston are "sketchy". Didn't mean it to come off the wrong way; I didn't use the term out of snobbery. It's actually how my daughter (current Colby student) describes them. She likes the blue collar aspect of Waterville, so much so that the excesses of D.C./Bethesda are pretty apparent to her now. She thinks these Maine towns are far less pretentious and, of course, way more laid back than the D.C. area. She does realize that the towns of Waterville and Lewiston might not be every person's cup of tea though, especially people from this area (they are common if you grew up in New England or in any place that used to have a manufacturing base), so she uses the term sketchy.

That said she loves Colby. She has a great group of friends who like to work hard and party hard. She thinks the professors are top notch. The campus is gorgeous and Colby makes up for the relative isolation by sponsoring lots of clubs and bringing in lots of programs and speakers. She loves the restaurants in Waterville, an occasional road trip to Portland and went to events at both Bate and Bowdoin last year. She likes cold which is a good thing because it's a must if you intend to go to any of the Maine, Vermont or up-state New York colleges.

She also thinks Bates is an excellent school it just wasn't the right fit for her and she just didn't like Lewiston.

[Anonymous]

I went to Bates. It's not all artsy, pot-smoking skiiers, although there are certainly plenty of those. It is laid-back with excellent academics. I'd think either school would be great for someone who loves the outdoors and loves winter sports (I don't love either, but still found plenty to love about living in Maine in the winter).

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Warning - life so good there many graduates figure out how to stay in Maine or get back there. If you love it, nothing compares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Warning - life so good there many graduates figure out how to stay in Maine or get back there. If you love it, nothing compares.

I've heard that too. You sound like an insider - so what's your take on the OP's question?

[Anonymous]

There is a big difference in the financial strength of the two schools. Colby FY 2012 endowment: $599,557,000, Bates: $216,156,000. Colby annual fund raising 2012: $20,299,115, Bates: $11,903,757.


http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2012NCSEPublicTablesEndowmentMarketValuesRevisedFebruary42013.pdf

http://www.cae.org/content/pdf/Top_Twenty_and_By_State_2012.pdf

[Anonymous]

Bates grad here. I loved it. Many if my professors are still there over a decade later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Warning - life so good there many graduates figure out how to stay in Maine or get back there. If you love it, nothing compares.

That's great, because historically a lot of young people who grow up in Maine feel that they need to move out of state for more opportunities. Maine has great colleges and it's good for the state if it can keep more of their graduates.