<p>Hi,
My name is Vladimir and I am an international student from Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted to both Middlebury and Bennington, and am supposed to decide soon. However, seeing as I don’t live in the US, the only way to get a personal, first-hand input for any of these schools is through forums like this one, so I’d be extremely grateful if you could share your experiences and/or observations for these schools on any of the following topics. (I’ll write them in ascending order of importance.)</p>
<p>First of all, I’m a smoker, so share with me is there a smoking population at these schools and what are the rules about smoking on campus, or are there pubs or something where it’s allowed. I do realize it’s bad for me and everything, so this is the least important since I want to quit sometime during college, but I’m still interested. Just realize that smoking is a huge part of the culture in the Balkans, so please try not to judge me based on this.</p>
<p>Second of all, I’m gay and am interested in what is the situation with the gay-dating scene at both schools. I know both are very accepting and liberal, so you don’t need to comment on that. Nevertheless, I come from an EXTREMELY conservative and homophobic society, and would enjoy getting to know a milieu where it is completely open and transparent, so where would be a better place to do so? Moreover, I am interested in LGBTQ activism, so please also comment on the excellence and efforts of LGBTQ organizations and initiatives at these schools.</p>
<p>Third of all, I will major in Film and Video/Film or Media at Bennington or Film and Media Culture at Middlebury, so please comment on general quality of courses and MOST IMPORTANTLY the teaching staff in these programs. </p>
<p>Fourth of all, please tell me more about the breadth and presence of alumni from these schools in the field of TV or Film Production.</p>
<p>Fifth of all, I would like to tell you more about me and my interests so you would get a better feeling of what I’m looking for and which school would fit me better.
I am still quite torn between directing and production, but more importantly, between a career in TV of film. Is there any difference between the opportunities for internship (and co-funding for them) in these fields offered at these two schools? </p>
<p>Furthermore, what are the employment opportunities in these fields after I finish my undergraduate studies? Somehow, I got a feeling that Bennington puts more emphasis on internships than Middlebury, so even though Middlebury might be a better school on paper, what is more important when looking for a job. The employment opporrtunities are very important, because my Visa will expire the minute I finish school, so in order to stay in the US, I will already need to find some work in the field by the middle of my senior year.</p>
<p>And lastly, in case I choose to pursue graduate studies, which school offers me a better chance of getting in some program after I graduate?</p>
<p>Finally, I am aware that Middlebury might me a better name on my diploma, but then again, I feel Bennington would be a better fit since I’m quite artsy and don’t know if I’d fit in with the WASP, athletic population at Middlebury, so be so kind to comment on that as well.</p>
<p>I will add if I think of something else, but for now, please be so kind to give me your input in ANY of the above topics.</p>
<p>Thank you very much in advance.</p>
<p>Kind regards from Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p>