If you’re reading this, you’re likely wondering whether your child has a shot of getting into Bates College. You’ve come to the right place! We’re going to answer all your questions and more. But first, let’s learn a bit more about Bates. 

About Bates College 

Bates College is located in Lewiston, Maine and has around 1,800 undergraduate students. It was founded in 1855 as New England’s first coeducational college. From September through April, Bates students follow the typical semester schedule, but, for the month of May, they embark on “Spring Term,” four weeks for students to take one exploratory course that usually involves engagement with the Maine community. 

With an acceptance rate of 13%, Bates is a really competitive admissions game. Getting in will require strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). 

Bates College Admissions Requirements

Obviously, GPA, standardized testing scores, and extracurricular achievements are the key components of a successful application to Bates College and to any school. That being said, what do these components actually look like for Bates admits? Without further ado, let’s dive in!

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Bates College?

The following is the class rank breakdown of Bates’ Class of 2028 members, as reported in Bates’ 2024-25 Common Data Set. Unfortunately, Bates hasn’t reported any GPA data for recently admitted cohorts, so the class rank data below is the closest available information for gauging the GPA requirements for admission in Bates’ competitive admissions process.

Assessment	Percent
Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class	61%
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class	84%
Percent in top half of high school graduating class	96%
Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class	4%
Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank:	17%

To put this chart in the most blunt terms: solid academic performance is the baseline expected of all competitive applicants to Bates. But perfect grades alone won’t seal the deal. Bates wants to admit students who are movers and shakers, not just good test takers. It’s important that applicants have a story to tell about themselves. 

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Bates College?

For the Bates College Class of 2028, the average SAT score was a 1450 and the average ACT score was a 32. Bates College is test-optional and, that year, only 19% of students submitted test scores. But, at Ivy Coach, we believe that not submitting SAT scores can only ever hurt an applicant’s chances, even to test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Bates College?

While Bates College does not explicitly state any minimum high school course preparation for applicants, we at Ivy Coach know that highly selective colleges like Bates want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Bates College Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means Bates College is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the field hockey team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. Bates College would much rather accept a nationally ranked debate champ than a kid who spent an hour or two on debate a week because he spent the rest forgetting Shakespeare lines and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

Bates College Application Requirements

Bates accepts the Common App. They ask students to send one guidance counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation, and provide the opportunity for students to send an optional third recommendation from a non-academic pursuit. 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Bates? 

Bates applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Bates College Require An Interview? 

Yes, Bates offers alumni interviews to applicants. 

What Are Bates College’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications to Bates College are due Nov. 15. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due Jan. 10. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Bates College 

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Bates College, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Bates College, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.