<p>Details :-
International student.
Financial aid is almost identical which means that I can afford both.
Environmental science + economics major. Would also like to study a language as well….</p>
<p>I have seen both campuses on video and like them both, Vermont (Middlebury) may be a bit too cold but I can handle it.
I’m looking for the college that gives me the best opportunities inside and outside the classroom. I understand that when comparing such elite school, the differences between academics is minimal so I want to know more about student life. I want it to be rigours but not stressful. Fun but not overwhelming. A setting where my individuality can thrive.
Crudely put, what does Lafayette have that should make me choose it over Middlebury? Or vice versa.
Extremely happy with both acceptances!!!!</p>
<p>Lafayette, while a fine institution, simply cannot match Middlebury in terms of reputation, resources, and most other quantifiable measures of quality. Coincidentally, Lafayette’s new president was Middlebury’s provost and taught English at Midd for many years. </p>
Really, @arcadia, and what exactly do you known about Lafayette? You apparently spend much of your time ■■■■■■■■ these forums to boast of Middlebury’s superiority to . . . well, almost all other schools. Your loyalty is admirable and, to use your words, Middlebury is a fine institution, but to compare it to Lafayette, would it not be helpful to have some familiarity with Lafayette? That’s generally a prerequisite for comparison . . .</p>
<p>Congratulations. You can’t make a bad choice. If one school is more well known in your home country than the other that could be a factor. Although I know it is an excellent school, I can’t speak about Middlebury. If you put a lot of value in rankings (which I don’t) Middlebury is somewhat higher ranked, but Lafayette is extremely strong in the STEM fields. My D is at Lafayette and is having a phenomenal experience. She is able to balance great and challenging academics with being very active with activities and clubs on campus, and having a great group of friends and a happy social life. </p>
<p>I actually read quite a bit about Lafayette when one of my former English professors was named president. If you’d like me to present some comparative, objective measures of quality, I can certainly do that. But I’m more inclined to let OP do some research on her/his own. </p>
<p>It’s too bad this thread got waylaid by comments about ranking, prestige, and "other quantifiable measures of quality.” What the OP was asking about are those aspects of student life at Lafayette and Middlebury that are not quantifiable . . . once you walk out of the classroom, how is being a Lafayette student different than being a student at a more traditional liberal arts college such as Middlebury?</p>
<p>The enrollment at the two schools is almost identical, but there are some obvious differences: Middlebury doesn’t have fraternities and sororities, and Lafayette does. Middlebury also doesn’t have Lafayette’s D1 athletic program (including the rivalry with Lehigh!) . . . but it does have really amazing downhill skiing!</p>
<p>What’s not so obvious, though, is how the frat’s and sports program impact day-to-day life for a Lafayette student. And I’m sure there are many less obvious differences, as well. As the parent of a student who’s also trying to decide between Lafayette and another well known LAC, I’d love to know what they are.</p>
<p>For students currently attending Lafayette, and for the parents of those students, if you had to choose today between Lafayette and Middlebury (or the well-known LAC of your choosing), what factors other than curriculum would lead you to choose Lafayette?</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, my D was deciding between Lafayette and another fine LAC. She spent a full day at both schools (shadowing student, attending classes, eating in the cafeteria) and in the end her choice became clear to her. She just gravitated towards the people she met, the professors she came in contact with, and just the overall vibe of Lafayette. In addition, she liked what she felt was an emphasis on STEM fields, the even male/female ratio (to be honest), the availability of Greek LIfe if she wanted it, and even the school spirit that comes with a heated sports rivalry. She also liked the school’s location and has been to NYC at no additional cost with one class and one extracurricular activity (once to see an opera, once for a Broadway show). In the end, Lafayette was the school where she just felt most comfortable. And there is no doubt that it was the right choice for her. But two very reasonable people could look at the same two schools and have a different preference. It is really up to each individual to seek out his or her own best fit from the options available.</p>