<p>I want to major in International Politics/Relations and I know that Midd has a fantastic IR and language program. But at Dartmouth, I could also major in Government with a focus in IR. </p>
<p>I'm really not an athletic person, and I know that both schools attract a lot of outdoorsy, athletic people. I'm gay and I'm wondering whether there'd be a difference in acceptance at either school. </p>
<p>Both schools have a similar environment and atmosphere, and after visiting, I could really see myself at either of them. I just really don't know where to go. Financial aid came through equally well, so that's not a deciding factor either. And both schools have excellent study abroad programs. </p>
<p>Maybe I should just go to Vassar? Please help me out, I know that Midd and Dartmouth are my top two right now, but I'm having a lot of trouble deciding.</p>
<p>It’s a tough decision because the two schools are very similar. I’m sure you’d be comfortable at both schools, but size may be the determining factor. Ultimately it has to come down to where you feel the best fit. Honestly, can’t go wrong with either. I always like to suggest, when such a dilemma arises, go to an LAC for undergrad and a larger University for grad school. That way you can experience the best of both.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. CrewDad, when I said both schools have a similar environment, I should have been more specific. I meant environment like location, New England, sort of middle-of-nowhere, frigid winters, etc. When I went to visit, both schools attracted a lot of rich, prep school kids- but of course you’re going to get that at any top school. </p>
<p>I am concerned with the active Greek life system at Dartmouth and how I would fit in I guess, but Dartmouth is a very good school. It’s really down to the wire and I don’t have a lot of time to decide. Perhaps it will just come to me, like in a dream or something. </p>
Dartmouth has 4200 undergraduates and 6000 total students.
Middlebury has 2300 undergraduates.</p>
<p>Your dating options are much better at Dartmouth. It’s also more selective, more diverse, has better placement, and has the better reputation. If you liked both, Dartmouth is a no-brainer.</p>
<p>First off, Midd has closer to 2400 students and let’s not confuse quantity with quality. Midd IS known as the home of the beautiful people ;). Dartmouth may be more selective, but it is only slightly. Certainly not enough to be a factor especially when considering the applicant’s field of interest. See PR’s selectivity rankings. I’m not sure why you believe Dartmouth has better placement. Dartmouth may have a better rep among the uninformed general public, but by that standard both Ohio State and Florida would be better than Dartmouth or Midd. Do you believe that to be the case? Among graduate schools and those doing the hiring at major firms Midd has a great reputation - see the final paragraph of this article [Jobs:</a> The Economy, Killing Liberal Arts Education? - Newsweek.com](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/id/235894]Jobs:”>Jobs: The Economy, Killing Liberal Arts Education?)</p>
<p>Urbanslaughter if you look at the WSJ grad placement survey, placement into top grad programs like Yale or Harvard Law (available on their websites), Penn med, etc Dartmouth seems to have a significant edge in terms of the percentage of its grads at these schools. Also in terms of recruiting Dartmouth is much stronger, just look at any list of consulting core schools or banking lists.</p>
<p>Choose the one you will be happiest at. That is the most important thing right now.
You can do well at either, and receive the same education.
But it will be the school community, your friends there, that will push you toward becoming the successful person you may become.</p>
<p>the WSJ grad placement survey is at least four years old now - maybe five? At schools as small as Middlebury (which was even smaller back then) one student deciding not to apply to those schools, would DRASTICALLY impact the results of the survey. I’d be surprised if you saw a "significant edge for Dartmouth today. Not to mention the fact that the Ivies have the advantage of taking some of those students who don’t know what they want to do with their lives so they stick around their school and attend one of those grad schools. At LAC’s those same kids are forced out into the real world and do something with their lives. Not to say the won’t ultimately return to one of those same Ivies to study at one of those grad schools several years later (after getting real world experience) and fail to be counted by WSJ. </p>
<p>Of course the Banking programs flock to a school like Dartmouth - it has a business school. I know this because so many of my classmates attended the Tuck School. But the candidate was asking more about IP or IR programs. And trust me, plenty of Banks recruit at Midd too. Does anyone go into consulting anymore? I thought those firms were dying with the economy.</p>
<p>Urbanslaughter elite consulting firms like McKinsey and Bain couldn’t be flying higher. The reality is that in almost every placement survey Dartmouth does much better. You can look anywhere, at any stat out there, and see this.</p>
<p>I mean just look it up. Here for example Harvard law school last published undergraduate representation for the 2006-2007 school year. Dartmouth had 35 grads, Midd had 6. Similar at Yale law, Wharton, etc. Where do you like your odds?</p>
<p>I don’t agree about the school cultures being similar, at all. I think I would urge my child, if he/she were gay, to go to Vassar–it lacks the Greek system machismo among the male population, and, for my money, Vassar has much greater academic gravitas than Middlebury, which in my day was a ski school for rich kids who couldn’t get into the UCs.</p>
<p>And, by the way, Tufts has better IR than all of the schools you are considering and is, famously, gay-tolerant/supportive in case transferring becomes an issue.</p>
<p>SWHarborfan You must be very old. So much has changed since your day. Pity. Among the many changes is the fact that midd no longer has fraternities and many at midd have never been on skis. ps Did you mean rich kids in terms of finances or intellect and experience? I would agree with you on the latter.</p>
<p>slipper, that tells me nothing other than that many students attend those grad schools. It tells you nothing about how many students from the respective schools applied and therefore gives no indication about actual placement odds.</p>
<p>Yes, I am decrepit and ancient at age 43. I can only speak to my experience of who went to Middlebury in my day, pre-Industrialization–non-academic kids who skied; I don’t know that to be the case, anymore. And, I am well aware that Middlebury does not have the Greek system<–that reference was to Dartmouth. And I own that so much has changed since my turn-of-the-century days. USC is another one that will always serve to conjure up kids in my neighborhood who chose 'SC over junior college. I maintain, however, that USC continues to be mostly unintellectual–academic is a whole 'nother animal.</p>