<p>So I'm in at both schools. I think I'm leaning toward bowdoin, because of it's location and overall reputation, but Midd. gave me a reallly good finaid package. I'm not sure what I'll study, what should I do!??</p>
<p>Both great choices. All things being equal, I would choose Middlebury. I think the location is actually better. ..close to Burlington and w/i 1 1/2 hour of Montreal and they own their own ski hill and golf course. I think the facilities at Midd are better too. The thing I like about Bowdoin, though, is that the students seem to be a bit more edgy. When I visited both schools, I saw myself more with the students at Bowdoin but liked the campus at Middlebury better. If you have visited both, maybe you just need to go with where you felt more comfortable. It would be hard to turn down a better FA package if Midd gave more $$$. Good Luck.</p>
<p>What about Bowdoin's "overall reputation" is better than or different from Middlebury. Despite the minute differences that people may debate about ad nauseum on these boards, they are incredibly similar schools.</p>
<p>middlebury's reputation is really better than bowdoin's. rankings, though not very reliable, show that middlebury is better, and also midd is extremely strong in international affairs, environmental studies, biology, languages and political science. its campus also rocks, so i'd say, definitely midd!</p>
<p>one of my best friends applied to Bowdoin after visiting with a diversity weekend thing. she really didn't seem to like the place very much. as a student they were trying to attract, she was shown a bunch of kids getting drunk.</p>
<h2>Bowdoin's Government Program is internationally ranked. See below. If you are interested in government I'd choose Bowdoin and for languages Midd.</h2>
<p>Bowdoin's Government and Legal Studies Named Top College Political Science Department Worldwide</p>
<p>Bowdoin College's Department of Government and Legal Studies has been ranked the top small college political science department in the world in a study conducted at the London School of Economics and Political Science.</p>
<p>The study was conducted by Dr. Simon Hix at LSE, and results were published in the report "A Global Ranking of Political Science Departments" (February 2003).</p>
<p>Hix's report lists the top 200 departments from colleges and universities worldwide. Bowdoin ranks 123 on the full list, but is the top college named.</p>
<p>The top five on the list are Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Yale University, and UCLA. Among the top non-U.S. institutions are the University of Oxford (11), the University of Toronto (13), the European University Institute in Italy (18), the University of Essex in England (25) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (35).</p>
<p>Bowdoin a top Fulbright producer
January 27, 2006</p>
<p>By Emma Powers
Orient Staff
With five of 16 applicants awarded Fulbright Fellowships last year, Bowdoin has been named a "Top Producer of Fulbright Awards for American Students," according to the Institute of International Education.</p>
<p>Well you can't really beat the coast of Maine for location. Bowdoin's only like a half hour from portland (freeport is like 15 minutes away) and Boston is about 2 hours. The town of Brunswick is great for college kids, much larger than Middlebury, VT. I really like the ocean, and Bowdoin owns several islands of the coast of Maine and Canada, as well as its Coastal Studies Center right off the peninsula Bowdoin is on.
Bowdoin's campus has a bit more character, I thought after visiting both the schools. Everything isn't the same grey-granite like at Midd. I don't know, I liked the Bowdoin campus a lot more, although Midd has some very impressive buildings, but some of them were a bit over-the-top (the science building is ridiculous, as is the new library). But I guess all these kinds of colleges try to one-up each other when the have the opportunity to add on to the campus.
In terms of the reputation, from what I've noticed, Bowdoin just is a little more historically prestigious. I don't look at the rankings, but Bowdoin just seems like it has a little more going for it-- but not really cause Midd. has really stepped it up in recent years. Bowdoin's quite a bit smaller, has a higher endowment per student, and it seems like they know how to get people into top graduate programs, but so does Midd. I guess.<br>
So I guess I really do like Bowdoin better, but the money is sort of an issue. Midd. is much more manageable.</p>
<p>I was at BIMF at Bowdoin for 3 weeks and I live in the town of Middlebury, go to Middlebury high school, and have taken classes at middlebury college this current year. So I may be able to give you some helpful input.</p>
<p>First of all, both of these schools are INCREDIBLY good, and you should feel amazing that you got accepted to both. </p>
<p>I got accepted to Bowdoin, and wait-listed at Middlebury. Having said that, Bowdoin wait-listed our Valedictorian of our high school while Middlebury accepted her.</p>
<p>Location:
The location I would say is around the same. Middlebury is near Burlington, but Bowdoin is near Portland. The towns Brunswick and Middlebury are basically the EXACT same, but Brunswick is a little bigger. Middlebury college owns their own downhill and cross country ski facilities, so if you're into skiing, middlebury is nice. the town brunswick has "more" to it than middlebury, but they're both small so it doesn't really matter.</p>
<p>Facilities:
They both have really nice facilities. Middlebury has a MUCH nicer swimming pool than bowdoin. Bowdoin has nicer dorms (keycard +temperature control in shower!!). Bowdoin has amazzzinggg food. middlebury's music library is much nicer than bowdoins. but bowdoin is getting a new recital hall. Basically, they both have their strenghts and weaknesses, but I have to say after visiting harvard and tufts and tons of other schools that these two campuses are the best i've seen.</p>
<p>Reputation/Exclusiveness:
This is the tricky part. People can argue about this for days, so i'm just going to say that they are really the same.
If you want to get into details,
-Rank
Middlebury happens to be ranked 2 positions above bowdoin (for those of you who don't know- thats NO difference--an example of a 2 position difference on USNEWS rankings would be Stanford to Yale to Princeton. If you're trying to place these schools on a rank..i mean they're all so good already it's basically pointless to try and make one better than the other) But rankings fluctuate and middlebury has been behind bowdoin in past years, plus who knows how it will be in the future years?
-Distinction
If i had to decide, i'd have to say that Middlebury is perhaps "more well-known" than bowdoin. Although I've met lots of people who have asked me what part of Canada Vermont is in, in my opinion Maine is even more seclusive geographically. Also, Middlebury is pretty famous for their language school in the summer and their overall language program, and because middlebury has additional campuses in lots of foreign countries (because of their strong language programs). (then again..Bowdoin is famous for government/politics..these are really small differences)
-Prestige
However, If I had to decide on which college was more exclusive, I'd have to say Bowdoin. Bowdoin is harder to get into. THIS YEAR, Middlebury's acceptance rate (published) was 23%, while Bowdoin's (published) was 18%. Bowdoin also has a higher matriculation rate, or yield, than Middlebury, a very big indicator of "prestige". Bowdoin is also known for rejecting Valedictorians as well as rejecting students accepted to number 1 ranking schools such as Williams and Princeton.</p>
<p>Although I have attempted to break down these "categories" as best as I can, I hope you can see that really, these are both incredibly similar. It's all about how you feel. It might be what you're interested in, in which case all political/government studies at Bowdoin are very strong, where as the CIA are known to train their agents at Middlebury's language program (this is a summer program though (you can go to bowdoin and still take these at Midd)...not the actual academic year, although the language departments are also great during the year). Or nicer dorms (bowdoin) or a REAL nice swimming pool (middlebury) might be something that matters to you.</p>
<p>There's also a lot of..personal opinion about this. Without even realizing after I wrote this I discovered how I was leaning towards Bowdoin..probably because I was accepted there and not Midd. But you're posting this topic in a Middlebury discussion board, so people will generally pull you towards midd. If you post this topic in a Bowdoin board, people will pull you towards Bowdoin.</p>
<p>Anyways. I hope this helped. PM me if you want me AIM or anything. One last thing, you should disregard the previous post about drinking. because 1) drinking is everywhere in college no matter where you go and 2) because i know AS a FACT that middlebury has a lottt more alcoholism than almost anywhere else i've been.</p>
<p>anyways I just asked a friend of mine who also goes to middlebury union high school and is going to Swarthmore...(so this is someone's opinion who is not attending or having to choose between middlebury/bowdoin) and he said (his mom works @ middlebury college, and has taken classes at the college as well) he would choose bowdoin. </p>
<p>bowdoin also makes much nicer sweatpants and college clothing than middlebury. i'd say that should be one of the most important factors.</p>
<p>Wow
"2) because i know AS a FACT that middlebury has a lottt more alcoholism than almost anywhere else i've been."</p>
<p>i think it's worth noting, and it will likely be brought up, that middlebury, though perhaps not as historically prestigious as bowdoin, is currently more popular. the common admit data set indicates that those admitted to both schools would more likely than not chose middlebury over bowdoin. things other than quality explain this, (i think things that cut to the differences between the two schools and the differences in the applicant pools), but it's certainly a good piece of information. while i wouldn't recommend going to the most popular school, middlebury's trajectory over the past 10 years, and the fact that it's established itself among the best colleges in the country shouldn't be dismissed only because it's recent. witness NYU law school...</p>
<p>anyway, i would choose bowdoin (did choose bowdoin), but in this decision there is no wrong choice. if you don't lean a certain way, flip a coin, but it sounds like you're leaning a certain way...so...contact the FA office at bowdoin and explain your situation.</p>
<p>I had to make this decision in deciding where to apply. I sort of "reserved" a spot on my college application list for either Bowdoin or Middlebury, seeing as, in my opinion, the two schools are basically identical.</p>
<p>I chose Bowdoin, but for a few more atypical factors. First, a lot of people form my school were applying to Midd whereas no one applied to Bowdoin, so I thought my chances would be greater.</p>
<p>However, other than that, I think I'd like Middlebury more. I didn't really love either, (didn't visit either - probably had something to do with being waitlisted at Bowdoin), both were kinda in a less-than-exciting area. Middlebury, however, seems to have people who are more artsy than preppy whereas Bowdoin is more preppy than artsy. I consider myself more artsy than preppy so I thought Middlebury was a better fit. Also, Middlebury is one of the more socially liberal liberal arts colleges (probably only a little less liberal than Wesleyan), so I thought I'd like it there.</p>
<p>But again, I didn't really LOVE either, so I applied to Bowdoin basically for the sake of applying. Looking back, I think I should have done Midd instead, but oh well.</p>
<p>kev07wan, you say you hadn't visited either middlebury or bowdoin, but your characterizations of both campuses imply that you have, in fact, had contact with student bodies and not just through reputation on these boards and elsewhere...i find it interesting that you think bowdoin is far less artsy and alternative than middlebury. having spent time at both places, i come to the opposite conclusion. i wonder if your perspective on bowdoin has shifted because of your being waitlisted...or, if it hasn't shifted, i'm curious to know where the above characterizations of these schools come from...</p>
<p>kev..it's funny you say Midd seems more artsy and Bowdoin seems more preppy. Before I applied to school I went East to look at all the LAC'a and when I was on both of those campuses I felt just the opposite. Looking back on my ^^ post, I think my reasons for recommending Midd are very superficial..not a good thing. Bottom line...good position to be in, can't go wrong with either school.</p>
<p>I'm more interested in science, hasn't Bowdoin a better reputation than Middlebury for science (research opportunities, labs...)?</p>
<p>I got waitlisted at Middlebury, so GO TO BOWDOIN, please.</p>
<p>well i've lived in middlebury all my life..and i have to say, middlebury IS more artsy than bowdoin..which i've spent an entire summer at.</p>
<p>Middlebury!</p>
<p>I didn't visit either campus, but did extensive research on both, and came to those conclusions rather easily through research.</p>
<p>Bowdoin was, by almost every account I read, characterized as a place of J-Crew, Abercrombie, etc. Middlebury, not so much. Bowdoin also seemed to be a place more apt to embrace traditional athletic culture, much in the way of Williams. I still hold that I think Middlebury is a more artsy place than Bowdoin. In fact, the other day, talking with classmates, we discussed the differences of Middlebury and Williams. We all agreed Middlebury was a "crunchy," sort of artsy, place. </p>
<p>As to the respective school's science reputation. I'd say Bowdoin. Middlebury is known for its language, and its arts moreso than science. Granted, both schools are great for just about everything, but I think Bowdoin gets the edge on science, Middlebury for the arts.</p>
<p>The choice really depends on more personal preferences. The schools are so similar that you could probably just go with Midd based on the financial situation, as that makes sense. Or, an overnight at both certainly can't hurt. Ask students on campus about the sciences, the culture, the student body, and I'm sure you'll find all the answers you're looking for.</p>
<p>I had to make this decision last year, but it wasn't really that hard for me. I chose Middlebury for several reasons. I'm really into languages and have been really impressed by the french and chinese departments so far (spanish... not so much, but it's the language I'm least interested in of the three I'm taking). Also, the students that Bowdoin admitted from my school overall weren't as strong as the students Middlebury admitted (they're both extremely popular schools at my high school). From my visits to both schools I liked Middlebury more (buildings, facilities, vibe, etc.). Overall Middlebury just clicked for me. During April I got a call from someone at Bowdoin (a nice touch), but I told them that I had decided on Middlebury. They offered me congratulations, and were very sincere. Both schools are great; I just happen to like Middlebury more.</p>