Greetings, Class of 2030 Families!

We hope you’re enjoying the summer! Incoming students recently received another edition of First Things First from the First-Year Experience (FYE) team, and we’re sharing a few highlights to keep you in the loop.

First Things First

The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ 101 July resources are now available in Garnet Gateway for all incoming students.

This month’s release focuses on Perspectives, a required online program that students will complete before arriving on campus to develop skills for navigating the conversations, learning, and community they’ll encounter at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½.

Students are encouraged to complete the Introduction and Lessons 1–3 by August 3, followed by Lessons 4–6 by August 19. Students who meet these recommended milestones will be entered into prize drawings throughout the summer.

Course Registration: Round Two

The second round of course registration opened Wednesday, July 15 at 9 a.m., and will close Friday, July 24 at 4 p.m. ET.

During this round, students rank additional course preferences for the fall semester. Before submitting their rankings, students should review their Round One registration results and connect with their Summer Registration Consultant if they have questions.

Key Dates & Upcoming Events

• July 24: Round Two Course Preference Ranking Closes
• July 26: Seattle Summer Welcome ReceptionÌýÌý
• August 6: Washington, D.C. Summer Welcome Reception
• August 8: Maine Summer Welcome Reception
• August 8: Los Angeles Summer Welcome Reception
• August 17: Round Two Course Registration Results Available
• August 19: Final New Student Forms Deadline
• August 27: Arrival Day
• October 2–4: Back to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½: Alumni & Family Weekend

Stay Connected

• If you haven’t already, check out , and join the conversation in the Class of 2030 Parents and Families .
• Look back at our archive of summer email updates to families, and check in with your Bobcat about incoming student emails.
• Looking for updates in another language? Look for the translation tool at the top of our site.

Questions? We’re here to help!

You can reach the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team at parents@bates.edu or by calling 207-786-6242.

Best from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

We hope you and your Bobcat are enjoying the summer so far. All incoming students have received important updates from the First-Year Experience (FYE) team regarding New Student Forms, course registration, and summer resources. We wanted to share a few highlights, so you know what’s coming up in the weeks ahead.

First Things First

Mandatory New Student Forms are now available through the New Student Forms card in Garnet Gateway. 

These forms are needed before your student’s arrival, and include health information, AESOP trip preferences, and the First-Year Housing Application.

Students have also been reminded that future editions of First Things First and other important communications will be sent only to their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ email account. If they aren’t already checking their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ inbox regularly, now is a great time to start.

Course Registration: Round One

Course registration has begun! Incoming students rank their course preferences in two rounds. Round One is open from Wednesday, June 17 at 9 a.m. ET through Friday, June 26 at 4 p.m. ET. The process is not first-come, first-served, so students have the full registration period to thoughtfully submit their preferences.

During Round One, students will:
• Rank their top four First-Year Seminars (FYS)
• Rank six to twelve additional courses
• Receive registration for two fall courses based on their selections

To help prepare, students have access to:
• ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ 101 June resources in Lyceum
• Course registration webinar recordings
• Summer Registration Consultants who can provide guidance throughout the process

Key Dates & Upcoming Events

• June 26: Round One Course Preference Ranking closes at 4 p.m. ET
• June 29: Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) enroll/waive deadline; several New Student Forms due
• July 10: Round One Course Registration Results Available
• July 11: Chicago Summer Welcome Reception
• August 19: Final New Student Forms Deadline
• August 27: Arrival Day
• October 2–4: Back to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½: Alumni & Family Weekend

Stay Connected

• Catch up on all our summer email updates to families, and check out emails to incoming students as well. We archive all our communications on our website so that you never miss a beat.
• Looking for updates in another language? Look for the translation tool at the top of our site.
• RSVP for a Summer Welcome Reception to meet other Bobcat families and build your local ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ network.

Questions? We’re here to help!

You can always reach the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team at parents@bates.edu or by calling 207-786-6242.

Best from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

We’re thrilled to welcome your student to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, and to welcome you to the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ family. As your student begins preparing for the fall, they’ve also started receiving their first official summer communications from the First-Year Experience (FYE) team, outlining important next steps in the months ahead.

First Things First

Your student received instructions earlier this week to claim their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ account and begin using their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ email, which will be their primary form of communication with the college.

Claiming their account also gives them access to important ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ systems, including Garnet Gateway and Lyceum. Once your student has accessed the Garnet Gateway portal, they will also be able to to view grades, transcripts, and other student information.

Helpful reminder: Your student will take the lead on these steps, but your encouragement behind the scenes can make a big difference.

On the To-Do List

All ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students are required to either enroll in or waive the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Student Health Insurance Plan each year. For entering students, the Enroll–Waive process will be available through Garnet Gateway from June 9–29.

Families wishing to waive the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ SHIP must provide proof of comparable health insurance coverage through the Wellfleet Insurance Group portal. Students who do not complete the process by the deadline will be automatically enrolled in the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ SHIP. Questions about the Enroll-Waive process can be directed to Lisa Farrington at Cross Insurance at Lisa.Farrington@crossagency.com.

Key Dates & Upcoming Events

• June 9: New Student Forms become available in Garnet Gateway; several important forms are due June 29, with remaining forms due August 19.
• June 8 & 15: Course registration webinars for incoming students and families
• June 29: Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) enroll/waive deadline
• August 27: Arrival Day
• October 2–4: Back to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½: Alumni & Family Weekend

Stay Connected

• We’ll send monthly updates throughout the summer so you can stay informed. Have a co-parent who didn’t receive this email? Please share the Parent Contact Update form.
• Join our official .
• RSVP for a Summer Welcome Reception to meet other Bobcat families and build your local ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ network.

Questions? We’re here to help!

You can always reach the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team at parents@bates.edu or by calling 207-786-6242.

Best from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

Congratulations on your student’s acceptance into ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½! We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to your new Bobcat, and to you as well! Your student will soon join a vibrant campus community that encourages exploration, growth, and excellence. At the same time, you’ll become part of our ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ family community, and valued partners in supporting each student’s success.

While Fall 2026 and Arrival Day may be months away, your journey as a ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ family begins now.

What to expect next:

• From now until early May, your student will continue hearing from the Admission team via their Admission portal. Additional resources for admitted students and their families can be found at the Admitted Students site. This site is also the place to register for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Beginnings, our admitted student visit days (March 27 and April 17), sign up for the virtual parent panel (April 7), and check out a number of virtual offerings for students.

• In late spring 2026, once the full class is finalized, students will begin receiving regular communication from the First-Year Experience team. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College is proud to be a national leader in first-year experience programs, and this team will support students in preparing throughout the summer and in navigating their arrival to campus in the fall.

• As a ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ family, you will also begin hearing from the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team this spring. In addition to regular updates throughout the summer, incoming families can look forward to in-person welcome events, virtual information sessions, and other opportunities to connect with the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ community.

In the meantime:

We invite you to explore our Family Resources to learn more about the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ student experience. Fill out our Parent Contact Update Form to ensure that we can reach you with all the information you need to support your Bobcat, not just in the months ahead, but throughout their time at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. Show your school spirit and gear up in garnet through the .

Most importantly, take a moment to celebrate this exciting accomplishment with your student. We are so excited to welcome the newest Bobcats to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, and can’t wait to share the next four years with them—and with you, the families of the Class of 2030. Welcome to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½!

Best from campus,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

Gina Nordini
Director of Parent Giving and Engagement

Meg Hoppe
Assistant Director of Parent Giving and Engagement

Joe Massa
Assistant Director of Operations for Parent Giving and Engagement

(Updated March 16, 2026)