ED2: Midd or Bowdoin? Please help :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
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<p>Hi guys.
I am an international applicant from China mainland. I know there are countless similar threads but I really can't decide which to choose. So I would love to talk more about myself and see if you have any advice for me.</p>

<p>I love both schools and I know I'll be happy in either one so it is hard for me to make a decision. I am passionate about social justice, but it will be somehow hard to find a job especially for an international students. So I think I am going to double major, one in economics, one in social science. I know both schools have prestigious economics programs and are targets for some consulting companies and banks but 'm not sure if it's the same for international students.</p>

<p>For Midd, I really like the language department. I'll absolutely learn another language, maybe French or Germany, during my college. But I'm not sure if Midd has a significant advantage over Bowdoin. I love skiing so Midd is perfect. I just don't know how much time do students spend on skiing since I heard Midd has a comparatively heavy workload. Any current students? What worries me is that there are many Chinese applying for Midd too and for ED1, only 1 is admitted. I think Midd is a reach for me so...</p>

<p>That being said, Bowdoin is also a reach for me, but it is not that popular among Chinese so I think I might have a shot in ED2. To me, Bowdoin's location is better than Midd. The committment to community really touches me. The food and dorms there are very attractve as well.I just wanna ask how is the language department in Bowdoin? Is it convenient for skiing?</p>

<p>Here are some questions that I really value:
1) What's the biggest difference in social life and student body? What's the atmosphere like?
2) Which school has a better social science department?
3) In which school are international students more likely to find an intern?
4) Which school has a better study abroad program?</p>

<p>I'll be sooooo appreciated if anyone could give me some advice or comments :)</p>

<p>Here are some statistics and facts.
ACT: April 30
I took the October test but somehow the scores are still not available, which ruins my ED1 :(. I think I'll probably get a 32 or above.</p>

<p>SAT2: Math 790 Phy 770 Chem 770
I know it's bad for Asians...</p>

<p>TOEFL:110 </p>

<p>GPA: We don't count GPA but I am 8/350 so I guess I'm fine.</p>

<p>EC:
Illustrator of a book written by an Austrian. I have about 20 drawings in it.
Illustrator of China Youth Daily, the second largest newspaper in China. I'm working for it for about 2 years and have about 40 illustrations.
Illustrator of a set a bookmarks for China Finance Museum. At least 500 sets are sold.
Founder of the first business competition in Beijing with about 60 participants and now preparing for the second one.
MUN blablaba...</p>

<p>Volunteer: this is absolutly my weakness. In China we have little time to do voluntary work since it is not required.
Worked in China Finance Museum and China Foundation Museum for about 80hs.
Volunteered in an orphanage for about 90hs.</p>

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<p>…no comment.</p>

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<p>I’m a little exaggerated… don’t worry about that :)</p>

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<p>Middlebury</p>

<p>Seriously though, It’s hard to find two schools that are more similar than Middlebury and Bowdoin, perhaps Middlebury and Williams. </p>

<p>Yes, Middlebury has a great language program. I doubt you’d notice much of a step down at Bowdoin in terms of the quality of the education, however if your major is in a language it will be held in higher regard if it’s coming from Middlebury. That may not be fair, but it’s likely true. Both schools have great study abroad programs, but again, that’s one of Middlebury’s strengths, so Middlebury’s is probably the better of the two. The two schools have equal social science departments and you’re equally likely to find an internship from either school.</p>

<p>If you want to have time to ski, you will have it. Middlebury has a tri-mester system, so during the month of January (one of the best months for skiing) you’ll only be taking one class. Plus, the ski area is less than a half hour away. I skied a LOT while in college. You can easily get to good skiing while at Bowdoin, but it’s on the coast rather than in the mountains, so skiing’s a little further away. I also find it hard to believe that Bowdoin has a better commitment to community. Middlebury is known as “The Town’s College” and strongly promotes social justice. </p>

<p>Yes, I hear the food is great at Bowdoin, but Middlebury’s food isn’t bad. I suspect the dorms at the two schools are basically equal. Middlebury has done a ton of building over the last ten years and so many of the dorms are fairly new. </p>

<p>Finally, your chances at the two schools are probably equal. Apply to the one you like the most. The two schools are so similar that it would be crazy to apply based on where you think you’ll get in or which will offer a better education, they’re virtually equal.</p>

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<p>-urbanslaughter
Thanks a lot for your opinions. </p>

<p>What do you mean by “much of a step down at Bowdoin in terms of the quality of the education?” Based on my research, both schools are equally strong on the overall quality of the education, but different in some departments like language.</p>

<p>What do think about the location? This is my only concern about Midd. My friend visited Midd and she said it was very secluded. So I’m not sure if it is too isolated.</p>

<p>I also heard that Midd is kinda lack of diversity. What exactly does that mean? How was your social life experience in college?</p>

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<p>Zombiec, when I said you wouldn’t notice much of a step down in the quality of education, I was referring to the quality of language education. Sorry I didn’t make myself clear. In terms of location. all NESCAC schools are fairly remote or isolated. Middlebury is less than an hour from Burlington, VT. Bowdoin is less than an hour from Portland, ME. The isolation can be seen as a good thing because it forces you to interact with your classmates and allows you the time to focus on your education. All of these schools will provide plenty of distractions, whether they be athletic, intellectual, or cultural, by bringing in outside “entertainment”. I don’t think that if you find Middlebury to be isolated you’ll find that Bowdoin is not isolated. I would also say the same thing about the two schools’ level of diversity. Middlebury is more diverse than the average school in America, however, it is not as diverse as many of the Universities it competes with for applicants (but you could also say that about a lot of other NESCAC schools). If you’re struck by the fact that Middlebury is not diverse you will also be struck by that same fact at Bowdoin. I’m a white male from the Northeast, so I never felt in the minority there. Some of my best friends were in minorities and I never got the impression that they felt excluded there either. One of the great things about Middlebury is that it is very inclusive. My social life at Middlebury was great. I’m still great friends with many of them and several of my friends attended my recent wedding.</p>

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<p>@zombiec – the advice given by both Urban and Karatedad is great. however, I would argue that Bowdoin is less secluded than Middlebury. They now have a train service to Portland and it connects on down to Boston. I have friends whose older son went to Bowdoin and their younger son went to Middlebury. They both felt their school was the best! As KarateDad says, the test scores are looked at, but the entire person is much more important. I do, however, think that you should pay attention to how many students from your country you are competing against. If, as you say, Bowdoin has less Chinese applicants, and you can present yourself well, it might be better to apply to Bowdoin, because you will stand out more, especially if you managed to represent yourself well in the essays. Good luck!</p>

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<p>-urbanslaughter
Thanks for your information. I have friends from both schools and their experiences attract me to Midd and Bowdoin. As you said befor, these schools are so similar so I think I’ll be happy in either one. Since I don’t have the oppurtunity to go to the US and visit these colleges, I can only make my decision based on what I hear from friends and websites. Thanks a lot for your opinion. It really helps me to understand more about these two schools.</p>

<p>-KarateDad
Thanks. I definitely agree that statistics doesn’t count that much as it is in China. It’s said that in China, students are evaluated only by scores regardless of their experience, personalities or potentials. I really think that US colleges did a much better job at admission. Since Midd don’t have supplement essays, I am a little bit worried because all Chinese applicants have great scores and ECs. But I will keep revising my short answear and main essay so that it can reveal more about myself. Thanks a lot for your advice :)</p>

<p>-GvaMom
That what I heard from my Bowdoin friends about the location. But it seems that the majority of Midd’s students are quite content with their location. And yes,the number of applicants is a really important thing to me. I believe most US schools are reducing the number of Chinese students, or say the admission has become really rigorious becouse of the huge applicant population. I might have to discuss more with my counselor about the final decision but thanks a lot for your comment.</p>

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<p>-KarateDad
Again,thank you for answering it. Sorry I didn’t make my self clear by saying “I believe most US schools are reducing the number of Chinese students.” Yes, Midd did join the LACs tour in China and Midd is absolutely one of the top LACs that admit a large number of Chinese applicant. What I am trying to say is that since they would like to add more diversity, they want to admit students from different Asian countries instead of China or Korea. They have visited many Asian countries this year which means that they are likely to have more Asian applicants. So for Chinese students, the quota might be smaller. In fact, the number of Chinese students admitted to Midd last year(2016er) was fewer than 2011(2015er.) Hope I make myself clear this time :)</p>