<p>I see that no one has really stepped up to answer your questions, and so I will try to pass on what I know - although it is mostly hearsay from my own kid.</p>
<p>Workload - yes, it’s tough. However, my own S also went to a pretty rigorous prep school and felt the work at Midd was definitely do-able. Some people were really taken back, but honestly? Of all the things that required a learning curve to grasp, the work load was not one of them for him. He was used to lots of reading and lots of writing in HS, so the jump to college level work wasn’t as extreme for him as it was for some of his new friends. At its simplest, you will have to make choices, prioritize and use excellent time management, but those are the tribulations of every student. However, S found the whole academic experience very rewarding because the teachers are fabulous and the content (as he found it freshman year anyway) pretty stimulating. He is a Bio Chem/Molecular Bio major and while A’s have been achieved in some (A-'s too), none were any kind of slam dunk. </p>
<p>But here’s a little advice there - enjoy and engage in the process and don’t be obsessive about every grade earned. If you are a dedicated student, it will show. Not sure, but I don’t think A’s are ever handed out like candy at Midd. And while not in his major, S got the first C of his life at Midd and still survived to tell the tale. Seems to me there wasn’t much of a curve ever used along the way in any of his classes either, so if you HAVE to have A’s, Midd might not be the best fit for you. Academic challenge and actually learning (instead of regurgitating) seems to be the name of the Midd game.</p>
<p>Partying… plenty of it, but it isn’t the “only” form of entertainment on campus or off. Son spent plenty of winter weekends (and almost all of J-term) skiing, etc. And, he never really pushed to get off campus on the weekends either (although a few friends came up to visit him there). But I am not stupid either. As in all things, I think it’s important to find balance in all things, and that includes partying. </p>
<p>Ski team… I will say that if Midd has a varsity team, it doesn’t seem to be a priority to support too many additional club teams at Midd, which is a little disappointing. However, you definitely will have the option of skiing since the school has it’s own slopes where a season pass is really quite reasonable (and boosted by the free transportation to get there).</p>
<p>Can’t help you on the job front. But S’s summer job seemed to keep him in reasonable amounts of cash throughout the year (not really scrapping the barrel until almost year end). With an all you can eat meal plan, the need to spend copious amounts of cash on food isn’t really necessary like it seems to be for so many other schools (which, as a parent, I would hate and have heard plenty of horror stories about bad food, extra cash needed just to eat decently etc. From MOST accounts, the food is actually good at Midd). But this was about jobs and I would rather let someone else comment (beyond those with work study). </p>
<p>Size of school and location: Son is actually from a fairly metro area and felt he had his whole life to live in a big city if he wants to, but the truth is, he didn’t really leave campus much to be entertained. Yes, he went with friends here and there over certain breaks due to travel distance to home, but whereas a few friends came to visit him, he did not go stir crazy, not even close. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
