Interested in learning about LACs. Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

<p>I am a rising Junior. I am interested in exploring the possibility of Liberal Arts Colleges. I like the fact that there are small classes and a tight community. </p>

<ul>
<li>How does Middlesbury compare to Swarthmore, Amherst and Williams?</li>
<li>How do the top LACs compare to the Ivies? In other words, what is the reputation of the top LACs in relation to ivies?</li>
<li>How is the science program at Middlesbury?</li>
</ul>

<p>What are my chances to Middlesbury if I apply ED? RD?</p>

<p>Is there anything I should work on to make my EC's stand out more?</p>

<p>Chinese Male (living in HK)
Lived in London for 3 years
Not Applying for Financial Aid </p>

<p>Projected Cumulative GPA (Unweighted) 4.0/4.0</p>

<p>SATs: 2100-2300 (Depending on how much I prep, probably 2200+ if I invest time)</p>

<p>APs (All 5s):
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
US Government and Politics
Comparative Government and Politics </p>

<p>Calculus BC
Statistics</p>

<p>Biology
Chemistry
Physics B</p>

<p>Chinese Language and Culture</p>

<p>Senior Year APs:
Physics C
Environmental Science
Psychology</p>

<p>Self Study: Multivariable Calculus</p>

<p>Should I self-study APES and AP Psychology and take AP World and AP Human Geo even though I may not get an A in AP World? Should I take AP English if I know I will not get an A or a 5 on the AP Exam?</p>

<p>ECs:
Math and Science Center (Leader - 2 Years)
TA</p>

<p>Sports:
Tennis (Recreational - Twice a week)</p>

<p>Music:
Piano (10 years...dropped Freshman year - Should I include this and just say 10 years?)
Violin (3 years...dropped Freshman year - Should i include this and just say 3 years?)</p>

<p>Service:
NHS
Cheshire Home - Elderly Home for the Disable (Hong Kong Hospital Authority) (Leader)
Z Club (Director - 2 Years)
UNICEF
Heifer (Leader - 1 Year)
Interim (One week long school service trips - incl. India and South Africa)
Teach Elementary School Students English (Bring a class of Freshman) (Leader - 4 years)</p>

<p>Job Experience:
Kumon Instructor (After I completed the program in Freshman year) of English and Mathematics - Twice a week for 3-4 hours each time</p>

<p>Internship:
Summer after Junior year</p>

<p>Awards:
COMAP High School Contest in Mathematical Modeling (National Outstanding)
Mathematics Department Award
Science Department Award
Bausch Lomb Award (Possibly - Partial Scholarship for Rochester University)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award ("")
AIME</p>

2

<p>Middlebury, Amherst, Williams and Swarthmore are the 4 best LACs in the nation… That being said they can be related with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford… They aren’t as well known as the Ivies, but the education quality can be even higher…</p>

<p>I assume you know the concept of a liberal arts education : apart from a major you explore other fields too. eg learning a language, getting an intro to political science or psycology ect… </p>

<p>I chose Middlebury College cause it provides everything on a balance… not too small for a LAC yet not too big as a University… The location is great… and it is considered among the 10 most academically rigorous institutions in the US.</p>

<p>I know that Middlebury is famous for the language prrograms (which you can take a great advantage of) but the sciences here are great as well… The new science building is top-notch and among the best in US…Great professors and a new college policy in favor of research programs…</p>

<p>Your stats look good… but again admission is getting really hard the recent years… so you never know… </p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>At least according to Middlebury students :wink: </p>

<p>I just gave someone grief over on the Pomona board for saying something similar, so I’ll chime in here as well. I wouldn’t say that there’s enough of a distinction between Middlebury and the like of Pomona, Wesleyan, and Bowdoin to say that one is better than the other. You’re of course welcome to your own opinion, though.</p>

4

<p>and according to US news rankings…
…however, you cannot really rank colleges… but it is for sure that Midd is among the very top ones… no matter if you put it third, fourth or tenth.</p>

5

<p>Williams, Amherst and Swarthmore seem to be clearly sitting at the top of the LAC universe. Middlebury is an excellent school but you could easily argue that any of the following are better based upon different criteria:</p>

<p>Wellesley
Haverford
Carleton
Wesleyan
Pomona
Vassar
Claremont McKenna
Bowdoin
Harvey Mudd
Whitman
Smith
Wash & Lee
Davidson
Colgate</p>

<p>You might find more detailed information in this CC discussion (which covers science in general and not only math as the title implies):</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/906140-best-lac-math-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/906140-best-lac-math-programs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Rankings are another very interesting topic. As MiddKidGR noted, Middlebury ranks 4th among LACs from US News. However, Kiplinger ranks Middlebury 20th among LACs, Washingtom Monthly ranks Middlebury 23rd, and Forbes has Middlebury 26th among all colleges (where it has many other LACs rated higher). All ratings and rankings are useful as information but there is much more to consider.</p>

7

<p>I never chance on theoretical SAT scores…everyone has great practice scores, I want to know what you really get…</p>

8

<p>@englishjw–better? What are you talking about? Better for whom? Any rankings are instructive but not determinative. Perhaps your list reflects which colleges would be best for you?</p>

9

<p>@English --sorry. Upon a more careful read I see that you were making the same point as I was attempting to make.</p>

10

<p>@bellybones</p>

<p>No problem.</p>