Campus Visits & Events
Fall Open House
Take a closer look at Bates College this fall! Fall Open House is a special opportunity for you and your supporters, including family members to take a tour, dine in our award-winning Dining Commons, and hear from current students and campus partners who help shape the student experience.
Registration is at capacity for this event and closed, at this time. If you would like to join a waitlist, please email admission@bates.edu. Please note that the waitlist is limited to students who plan on applying for the Fall 2025 term.
Schedule Your Campus Visit
Spending time on campus is a great way to get to know Bates. During your visit, observe the day-to-day life of students here. Take in views of the historic quad, the glass walls of our new Bonney Science Center, and the natural beauty of Lake Andrews (affectionately known as the Puddle).
Bates is a community known for opening doors – you’ll find that we’re eager to strike up a conversation. You can find more information about on-campus offerings below.
We offer information sessions and guided campus tours throughout the calendar year. Find open dates and details by scheduling your visit via the button below.
Want more time on campus? Our office provides meal tickets to eat in Bates’ Commons at 11:00am or 1:00pm. We recommend checking Commons’ hours to make sure it is open on the day of your visit.
In-Person Guided Tours
Bates offers in-person campus tours guided by a current student to provide greater insight on our campus and community.
Campus tours are typically offered daily, Monday-Friday, and the occasional Saturday, and you can schedule an information session via the button below.
See details below on downloading the Visit Bates app to enhance your in-person tour of campus.
Information Sessions
Join our admission staff and a current senior for an information session that provides greater insight to our campus, community, and holistic admission process. You can schedule attending an information session via the button below.
For information about the Bates Campus location, the Admission office building (Lindholm House), driving directions, or other transportation options, see our getting to campus page.
Prologue to Bates
At Bates, we value the diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, and engage in the transformative power of our differences. Our commitment to equity and inclusion is the guiding principle behind Prologue to Bates, a program geared towards students who express interest in being a part of our inclusive and pluralistic community.
All students intending to enter college in Fall 2025 who are US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented/DACA students living in the US are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to students who are historically underrepresented from higher education, such as first-generation-to-college and low-income students.
Group Visits
The Office of Admission welcomes schools and organizations to visit and learn more about the college and our admission process. We ask that requests be made at one to two months prior to your desired date of visit; we will try our best to accommodate your request.
Due to limited availability, our office is only able to accommodate groups of sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school. If you are a non-high school student group (i.e. school counselors, transfer students, etc.) interested in scheduling a group visit, please email groupvisits@bates.edu. Your request will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
As our office typically sees a high volume of visitors on Mondays and Friday, we limit group visits to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We cannot guarantee our ability to offer lunch in Commons for group visits. Please see our list of dining options in the Lewiston/Auburn area as you plan your visit to campus.
Unable to visit us in Maine?
- Chat with your regional admission representative via email
- Connect with our staff at regional or virtual events
- Reach out to a current student
- Register for a virtual Information Session, a student-only Bobcat Chat, or an Alumni Conversation on our Live Virtual Programming page.
- Request Information
- Take a self-guided virtual tour
Download our Visit Bates App
Download our Visit Bates app for greater ease when navigating, visiting, or learning more about the Bates campus. Use the links below to download the app on your mobile device. If you’re visiting for a special event, check your event emails for special app instructions.
Directions and Visiting Information
Please see our Getting to Campus page for more information on directions, parking, and visiting our greater community.
Contact Us for Help
We want to ensure that campus visits and events are inclusive for all. If you anticipate a barrier or need to request an accommodation, please contact the Office of Admission at 207-786-6000 or admission@bates.edu. To ensure there is enough time to make appropriate arrangements, please contacts us one week prior to your visit, when possible.