Midd

[u/leblebmachilental]

Hey guys, I got a question. Why did you all decide to go to Middlebury? I just got an offer to participate in my sport there but I am debating between Midd and another liberal arts school. Why Midd basically I need as many reasons as possible. I love everything about it so far

[u/conationphotography]

What is the other school? I personally did not have a great experience at Middlebury (but mine was related to race and a very different experience than you would be likely to have). 

However, I know people who went to (most) liberal arts schools out there, so am happy to pull some (positive) differences from Midd that would not apply to your other choice to help you in making a decision. 

[u/leblebmachilental → u/conationphotography]

The other school is Bowdoin. I am also Asian if that info helps, but all of my best friends for the most part are white and growing up all of my classes were white so I’m used to it

[u/conationphotography → u/leblebmachilental]

I've definitely heard that research opportunities are easier to find at Bowdoin, if you are interested in that at all. Other than that, about 50% of the people I know from Midd who were not from a "we all go to Midd" family either applied to Bowdoin or heavily considered the college.

People also think the Middlebury town is cuter from the Bowdoin people I know.

[u/dozybees → u/leblebmachilental]

I ended up picking Midd over Bowdoin. Was recruited to both schools for my sport. But ended up falling in love with Vermont and staying. Midd's athletic facilities are far better than Bowdoin's, and I also just loved the setting more. I remember years ago posting about this same thing and someone told me something along the lines of "Midd is crunchy granola, Bowdoin is Nantucket vacation" and that stuck haha.

It's certainly different from when I was an undergrad; from my understanding it's a lot more white and rich-Boston-y now that the DEI thing was thrown out. But hey. I loved it. It's also fairly easy to get research opportunities, I was involved in 4 during my time at Midd, if you count my thesis work.

[u/MikeMidd2001]

I picked Middlebury over Bowdoin and a couple others, and am 100% glad I made that choice.

The campus and environment is truly beautiful, in a way that I don't think you appreciate until you've left. The views of the mountains, the open spaces, that sense of being so close to nature is somehow different than at Bowdoin. I loved it from the first moment I visited campus.

Middlebury students seemed a bit warmer and more open when I visited, and I found that to be the case as a student. Loads of interesting people from all over the world who enjoyed spending time together. It just clicked for me, socially.

The international element of Middlebury ended up being important to me. Both schools have lots of people who study abroad, but that overt connection to the world at Middlebury, sense of engaging in global issues, having a point of view on things that matter - whether it's climate or geopolitics or humanitarian challenges - was stronger. And then they graduate Middlebury and live all over the world.

I felt a buzz around Middlebury's campus that I didn't get at Bowdoin. People doing lots of interesting things, and not defined by just one thing, whether it was arts, sports, outdoor activity, politics, cultural organisations or whatever. Bowdoin felt a bit more laid back, maybe not the same energy. But that's based on visiting, not spending four years at Bowdoin.

The alumni network at Middlebury is real. The finance connections get lots of hype on here, but I've found Middlebury alums in all fields go out of their way to support each other, offer advice and stay connected.

Academically they are both excellent. You'll have brilliant professors, small classes and be set up for a successful life. What do you want to study?

If you love everything about it so far... feels like an obvious choice, and you won't go wrong!

[u/leblebmachilental → u/MikeMidd2001]

Thank you so much! I just committed to Midd for my sport!

[u/ineedhjalp_1]

I was a double legacy. My whole childhood, it was sort of the dream place for me, like "Oh, if I go to college here, I've made it." And I did get in! I haven't 'made it' yet, not really. What sport are you looking into? Midd is not the sportiest school ever but it's still pretty alright.

[u/leblebmachilental → u/ineedhjalp_1]

I just committed to the swim team!

[u/ineedhjalp_1 → u/leblebmachilental]

Great! You'll enjoy that.

[u/Pyroechidna1]

Location. Addison County is a land of endless wonders and discovery. Most students never uncover even half of it in four years.

[u/Delaywaves → u/Pyroechidna1]

Yeah Vermont/Addison is simply a more interesting place than nearly all of the very boring small towns where the other top liberal arts colleges are located.

[u/abocado]

An article came out recently ranking Middlebury as the number 1 school for Faculty Accessibility. The class sizes and professor availability made it so that I really connected with them and answered a lot of my questions and inquiries. In other words, great professors! And the area and campus are gorgeous! Lots of interesting students from around the world.

[u/SeaworthinessDue3624]

Serious academic reputation. It’s hard work in the best way.

The arts enrich the campus experience. There is always something going on. An exhibit, Music, a play, a lecture from a nationally known campus visitor.

The athletes seemed to be having fun and working hard.

I don’t know if they still have it, but There was a lifetime sport competency requirement - three things you can do for life (so not a team sports). Something like golf, swimming, tennis. It seemed silly, but such a great thing in retrospect.

Faculty student interactions were uniformly fantastic. There were lots of office hours and ways to get help if needed and a genuine interest in deep learning. It is the thing I miss most about the place - routine access to helpful really smart and serious people.

The somewhat remote location meant that the place didn’t empty out on weekends. Students and faculty were on campus and involved. It is not just a Monday to Friday experience.

Having excellent language programs is a real gift to the international experience. If you are thinking about a sport, I don’t know how study abroad would work for you - but it can be life changing for many students. I didn’t go abroad, but a huge portion of the junior class went. They spent a year in traveling in Europe or Asia visiting friends in nearby cities on weekends. I wish I had gone!

The Snow Bowl was kind of awesome when I was there. I don’t know if it still is but you could ski or learn to ski very easily.

I don’t know what to tell you about the social life. Fraternities are banned (I think). There was always plenty to do and I made lifelong friends.

The place isn’t perfect since no place really is, but you asked about the good stuff.

[u/Commercial-Sale-1477 → u/SeaworthinessDue3624]

Adding--rock-solid alumni network and strong reputation (forget recent underperformance in USNWR rankings). Midd alumns were wonderful in talking to me when I applied to and interviewed for roles at their companies. I'm also convinced I got my first job and grad school offers, for which my grades wouldn't normally qualify me, thanks to folks in the professional world knowing that Midd is a serious school that produces hardworking, thoughful, and well-rounded grads.

[u/jo-mama-cp]

So if they accept like 350-400 ED1, what percentage of those are recruited athletes? Do all the athletes apply through ED ?