<p>Pomona has its sponsor groups and Williams does the cluster system, but what about Midd? Does the college do anything special, housing wise, to build early relationships amongst freshmen?</p>
<p>The commons system...(basically identitcal to the Williams Cluster system and predating it by about 12 years). And all freshman are placed in a hallway with two JCs (junior counselor)...a similar idea to the pomona sponsor system and Williams entry system. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife%5B/url%5D">http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife</a></p>
<p>read halfway down the page.</p>
<p>Do most Midd kids have good things to say about the system? I was just at Pomona and everyone i met absolutely loved the sponsor system there</p>
<p>bump this thread</p>
<p>Yes, most people have good things to say, although I've never heard people rave about it. Some commons (there are five) are considered better than others because some students have closer relationships with the deans or because some commons have better senior housing. The thing with the senior housing is that Ross and Atwater recently got renovated senior housing, so it is the turn of another commons to get more senior housing--eventually all the commons will have great senior housing. Personally, I quite like the commons system. As a freshman, many of the people in your first year seminar are in your commons and hence in your dorm, so it's nice to see a familiar face in the hallway. That being said, the commons in no way detracts from people making friends with people in other commons. The commons often co-sponsor events, and of course, you make friends with people in your classes and clubs regardless of what commons they are in. And you can always change commons if you want to live in a suite with your friends.</p>