Apply

How to get started

Bates’ unique personality rests on the bedrock values of academic excellence, diversity, inclusivity, and social responsibility.

The first step to becoming part of this community is your application. See below for your application checklist or, if you’re ready to begin, start your Common Application or Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir.

And as you complete your college application, take advantage of our tips and tricks to putting your best foot forward!

Application Checklist

1. Create an Application Account & Add Bates

Go to CommonApp.org to create your account. Once you have created your account, add Bates College to your “My Colleges” list. CommonApp submissions begin August 1 and remain open until the application deadline.

OR

Go to app.scoir.com/signign to create your account. Once you have created your account, you may start your application to Bates on Scoir.

2. Submit Additional Documents

School Transcript
Must be an official transcript sent by your secondary school. Bates accepts a wide range of school transcripts if they meet our stated admission requirements and provide a full and accurate presentation of what an applicant has learned and accomplished. Applicants from schools with proficiency-based transcripts will receive full consideration for admission.

School Report or Profile
This form provides context for your school’s demographics, curriculum, and offerings.

1 counselor recommendation
Recommendation forms are included in the Common Application or Coalition Application.

1 teacher recommendation
Recommendation forms are included in the Common Application or Coalition Application. Applicants are required to submit 1 teacher recommendation and may submit up to 2.

Additional Recommendations
Applicants may wish to submit an additional recommendation from a non-academic experience, such as an extracurricular activity or employment. Please note that Bates will only accept one additional recommendation.

Mid-Year Grades
A mid-year transcript report of the current academic year is due by February 15. Reports should be submitted by your school counselor electronically.

Standardized Test Scores (Optional)
The SAT and the ACT is optional for all students applying to Bates. Read more about our test-optional policy.

For applicants who would like their testing to be considered, Bates will accept both official and self-reported test scores.

Official test scores can be submitted in any of the following ways:

  • Sent directly from the testing agency (SAT and ACT). Bates’ testing codes are 3076 (SAT) and 1634 (ACT)
  • Sent by the student’s school counselor via email to admission@bates.edu
  • Sent by the student’s school counselor via official transcript

Self-reported test scores can be submitted in any of the following ways:

  • Enter scores in the testing section of the Common Application or Coalition Application
  • Submit screenshots or scanned copies of score reports via email to admission@bates.edu

For applicants who would like their testing to be considered and submitted self-reported scores, please note that official test scores will be required upon enrollment. Any discrepancies from self-reported test scores may result in rescinding your offer of admission.

Early Decision Agreement (If applying Early Decision)
This Early Decision Agreement (PDF via the Common Application site) must be signed by the applicant, parent/guardian, and school counselor. 

Arts Supplement (Optional)
Music, theater, art, dance, film, and creative writing supplements may be included in your application portfolio. Supplementary materials can be uploaded after submitting your application to Bates and receiving a PIN for online access to your application status portal. See our detailed guidelines regarding the submission of each of these supplements.

Prospective students will be able to submit arts supplements after August 1, and up until the following dates:
Early Decision I: November 20, 2023
Early Decision II: January 15, 2024
Regular Decision: January 15, 2024
Transfer Applicants: March 6, 2024

3. Submit your application fee

The application fee for Bates is U.S. $60, and can be submitted via the Common Application or Coalition Application. Eligible students can obtain and submit a fee waiver from the Common Application, Coalition Application, ACT, College Board, or NACAC. Because the Common Application and the College Board offer a limited number of fee waivers per student, applicants are also able to ask a third party, such as a school counselor, to write on their behalf to request that the application fee be waived. If the applicant chooses to ask a third party to write on their behalf, the applicant should select the last option on the Common App Fee Waiver list: “I can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.” Please see eligibility guidelines for use of this waiver.

The application fee is automatically waived for non-U.S. citizens applying to Bates for first-year admission – no requests for fee waivers or additional financial documents are needed. Non-U.S. citizens applying for financial aid and seeking transfer admission are eligible for a fee waiver. To receive a fee waiver code, please email Margaret Galligan-Schmoll at mgalliga@bates.edu.

4. Apply for Financial Aid (Optional)

We want to ensure that a Bates education is accessible for every admitted student. Learn more about our commitment to meeting your full financial need.

Bates requires applicants who are eligible citizens or noncitizens to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to calculate an applicant’s eligibility for federal financial aid. While the 2024-25 FAFSA is now available on the studentaid.gov website, there have been reports of delays in accessing the form. To allow families sufficient time to complete the FAFSA, and in recognition of the fact that FAFSA data will not be sent to colleges until the end of January, Bates has established February 15 as our FAFSA filing deadline

In the meantime, Bates financial aid applicants and their families should submit the CSS Profile and provide requested tax documentation by the applicable deadline, as this is the information Bates will use to calculate eligibility for need-based institutional grant financial aid. Applicants can review the status of their requirements on the financial aid checklist of their application status page at any time.

For more information about the FAFSA, please visit the Federal Student Aid FAFSA website. These short videos can also help you prepare to complete the FAFSA.

Special Information for:

What happens next?

Once you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email that your application was sent to Bates. When your application has been processed, the Office of Admission will send you an email to the address on your application with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which can be used to check on your application status. Due to high volume, it may take two weeks to process your application. Our office will contact you if any application items are missing.