My d is a graduate of Rochester with a double major in music and the theatre concentration in the English dept. UR not only has one of the best physics departments in the country, the theatre program which is open to non-majors is great. There is also student-run theatre as well.
College Decision. NJIT, Stony Brook, University of Rochester, Grinnell College or Middlebury College
Really, thanks, actually we cannot afford the cost of URoc they give him a dean’s scholarship of 11k and recently a Research and Innovation Grant of 3-4,5k. The problem is that we have a gross income of 100k euros but 70k after taxes, in december 2014 the change was 1€=1,29$ but actually is 1€=1,06$. In the financial department of URoc said that he was not able to have need-aware with the change of december, and they cannot recalculate it with the actual conversion rate, so actually the cost for us is of 53k. So, we really cannot afford it.
In the other side, both Middlebury and Grinnel offered to review his financial aid package and actually we are waiting his notices, but in the worst possibility it would be of 38k, difficult but we can valorate them.
Sincerely, thanks for all yours answers. We will have the answers in the next week and so he will decide between Middlebury and Grinnell. And as you comment @MYOS1634 I think he fits best in Middlebury as he really is “outdorsy”
Excuse me, I would say “but in the worst possibility the Expected Family Contribution would be of 38K”, not the financial aid package
@jandro, you mentioned upstream that your son might be interested in Applied Physics with a renewable energy slant? Certainly Middlebury fits the criteria in that department as well. I am sure he is well aware of the environmental studies program and the different cross curricular opportunities there are to pursue sustainability (both inside and outside the classroom)!
My son goes to Grinnell, and while in terms of academic reputation and opportunities i believe it is an equal choice (the poster who suggests otherwise is conflating US News Ranking with academic reputation…), if your son is outdoorsy, then I, too, would vote for Middlebury. Not that you can’t enjoy the outdoors at Grinnell, but the Green Mountains of VT and the wide-open rolling farmlands of Iowa present two different kinds of experiences.
I also suspect – although I don’t know for sure – that competing in NESCAC vs. the league Grinnell is in (i don’t recall the name) will be a more challenging sports experience in tennis. Although – if he would like to be a bigger fish on the court, then maybe Grinnell would be better. Any idea where he stands vis-a-vis the respective teams in terms of playing opportunities?
Middlebury does have a reasonably complete list of advanced undergraduate physics courses in its catalog, but some (e.g. the second advanced E&M and quantum mechanics courses 302 and 401) are offered infrequently, so he may want to consider whether this is a problem for him.
http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/physics/courses
He may want to investigate this at the other schools as well.
@SDonCC, he would be in the team and he would play. He will have a possition in Grinnell to play all individuals and doubles matches. In Middlebury he will play in the team but he doesn’t know the possition or if he will play all matches. But for him, tennis is not his priority.
He knows that academically both colleges are equal. Curiosly, all advanced courses of physics will be done next academic year, so, I suppse depend more that the location of Middlebury gives him less feeling of isolation also he likes skiing which adds a definite plus and moreover , teachers of theater department have contacted directly with them as he sent an arts supplemental in the common application with a videobook with two monologues. So, I think that in the next two weeks, and depending also in the finnancial aid package, Middlebury is one step ahead. Thanks a lot for all your comments 
One factor to consider between Midd and Grinnell would be the general education requirements. Grinnell only requires the freshman seminar, so for someone interested in both science and theater, they would not need to fill their schedule with other required courses outside their interests. A quick search suggests that Midd requires 1 class in each of 7 areas, likely areas a typical student would wind up exploring anyway. Depends on the student whether that would matter or not.
Hello, thank you for all your comments. Finally my S today has accepted the admision offer of Middlebury College.
It has been a difficult decision as being unable to visit both campuses, but your comments have given him visions unaware respect to both colleges
Thanks again from Barcelona, Spain. Muchas gracias y mucha suerte
Congratulations to your son!
If you find the time, do you think you could open a thread in the international forum in the Fall, titled something like “After 2 months at Middlebury, information for internationals”… It’d be very useful to the international applicants, especially since many don’t know this excellent college.
@MYOS1634 it’s a great idea, I will tell my son to do it. Really when he post last week his decision on instagram some international applicants asked advice to him. He will be delighted to help to other new international applicants.