Dan

"When looking for colleges I wanted to find a place that had an even mixture of academics and athletics - a place where both mentors and friends could be made. Above all, I wanted to find a place that I could call home and leave after four years with a quality education and cherished memories. Bates was one of many schools that I looked at, but from the first time I set foot on campus I knew that this was where I wanted to go to school.

The Bates cross country guys were the first group of people that I met on campus and I found them to be the eccentric and fun loving group of individuals that I am proud to call my friends. As a senior I will never forget all the times spent with each and every person on the team and how important each and every one of them is to me. Many of the friends I made on the cross team will be lifelong friends.

Another important aspect of Bates is the balance between athletics and academic. Coaches and teachers both understand the conflicts between sports and classes, and they work together with the students to meet their needs. At Bates I was able to pursue my interest in Biology while having a great time running. Bates helped to improve my time management skills by balancing sports with academics.

All in all Bates is a great place. Aside from being one of the best liberal arts schools in the nation, Bates has a proud history of athletics. Going to Bates was one of the best decisions I ever made and I look forward to a great senior year."

p.s. I also came to Bates because of a certain Joel Anderson