Application Checklist
1) Application
- Submit the Common Application online.
- Submit the Bates Supplement to the Common Application. This includes an additional essay and the option to submit test scores.
- Transfer Personal Essay. The Common Application requires an essay concerning your motivation for transferring from your current institution. This essay must be separate from the Bates Supplement essay. The Common Application Personal Essay is on page 5 of the application.
- A non-refundable $60 application fee. We accept requests for fee waivers from appropriate school officials. Students who aren’t US citizens aren’t required to submit a fee or fee waiver request.
2) College Information
- Two copies of your official college transcript. This should be sent directly from the Office of the Registrar and bear the college or university seal. If you’ve attended more than one college or university, we need two official transcripts from each institution. Your application won’t be reviewed until we receive two copies of your official transcript from each institution you’ve attended.
- College course descriptions. You may highlight each relevant course description in the college catalog or print course descriptions from your institution’s on-line catalog. Your application won’t be reviewed until we receive your course descriptions.
- Three letters of recommendation (two from college professors, one from college advisor/counselor or high school guidance counselor). Please use the College Instructor Evaluation form provided by the Common Application. If you don’t know your professors personally, you can submit recommendations from college teaching assistants or discussions leaders. Non-traditional students who cannot supply professor recommendations may submit employer or personal recommendations.
- College Official’s Report. You must include a statement of good standing from the Dean of Students Office from each institution you have attended. The statement can be brief and must confirm your good academic and social standing at each college.
- Mid-Semester Grade Report. For Fall semester applicants, mid-semester grade estimates are due March 1 even if mid-semester exams occur after the March 1 deadline. For Winter semester applicants, mid-semester grade estimate are due November 1st (same as the application deadline) for Winter semester applicants.
3) High School Information
- Final High School Official Transcript. This should be sent directly from the high school and bear its official seal.
- Standardized test scores. The submission of standardized testing, such as the SAT I, SAT II, and the ACT, is optional. Students who speak English as a second language are required to submit their scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or similar test. This includes non-native English speakers who attend English-medium schools or live in the US. Bates does not offer courses for intensive English or English as a second language. While we have no minimum for the TOEFL score, the average score of the international students at Bates is 637 on the paper-based scale, 270 on the computer-based scale, and 100 on the Internet-based scale.
4) Other
- Financial Aid Application: All students intending to apply for financial assistance from Bates should refer to our schedule of financial aid deadlines.
- For non-US citizens, the Bates Financial Statement for International Students. This is required whether or not you plan to apply for financial assistance, and deadlines vary
- Early Decision Contract — Only for students applying Early Decision. Must be signed by applicant, parent(s), and counselor(s).
- Optional Arts Form — Use this Bates-specific form instead of the standard form offered by the Common Application.
- Optional Athletics Form
- CommonApp.org — If you exceed the character limit on the essay set forth by CommonApp.org, your essay may be cut off. We recommend that you “preview” your application prior to submission. To ensure that we read your entire essay, you can submit a paper copy by mail with your application fee.