<p>How would you advise this perspective student. This student attended a well respected private/catholic high school and did well academically (with one exception). He is quite athletic and well known to the Middlebury coaches (particularly the football coach). The student has also done some wonderful volunteer work in the community.</p>
<p>The problem is with the academic flaw. The student has trouble with language classes. While otherwise an A to A- student, the four language classes taken (Latin & French) average a C+ grade.</p>
<p>We all know that Middlebury is well known for it's wonderful & rigorous language programs. Do you think this student should bypass Middlebury and chalk it up to "just not the right school for him" or not. The student fully expects to take a language in college, but has concerns that the Middlebury language program may be particularly time consuming.</p>
<p>While Midd has an excellent language program, it doesn't seem like you have to spend a lot of time studying language. I wouldn't take a lot of Math classes if my major is literature. However, there are core requirements that refer to a foreign language, but that's the kind of requirement at most schools with core and distribution requirements.</p>
<p>Thank you Modadunn. It is just that it seems that Middlebury is best known for language study and the impression is that language classes at Middlebury are more rigorous than many schools.</p>
<p>Do you attend Middlebury? If so, do you think language at Middlebury is challenging? How about others. Do you think language classes at Middlebury is tougher than other similar schools?</p>
<p>My son is Class of 2012 at Middlebury. He is taking an advanced French course and a second course in German during J-term. He says that there is a lot of homework and reading and writing. His German course is very grammar-intensive and his assessment is that with respect to the German class, Middlebury covers in a week what high schools cover in a month.</p>
<p>I would guess that a C in any high school course would make it difficult to get into Middlebury. But of course there are probably exceptions.</p>
<p>Thank you Master Dad for this valuable insight. This is what I feared and is quite frankly why I am trying to steer him away from the school (I am not his parent. His mother often asks my advice with schools as she is a single mom and no one in the family has attended college).</p>
<p>I am a little surprised, that you feel even one C may keep him out of a top school like Middlebury (by the way I have learned he got a C- in Freshman Latin and B- in both French I & French II). He is not in the top 10%, but he is in the top quarter of a highly regarded high school. I do not know his test scores, but my son tells me they are outstanding (higher than his friend's, who got into Harvard last year). He has been in contact with most of the Ivy League schools (I know he really enjoyed his stay with the Brown players and the coaches were telling him he qualified for the highest aid package. Also, I was a bit surprised that every page of his Brown application was stamped with "Brown Football" on it).</p>
<p>As I am sure you can see, I am trying to steer the young man toward Brown, where he will receive a great education and can steer clear of language classes. His mom seems enamored with the "smaller schools" and particularly loves Middlebury and Davidson.</p>
<p>Yes, certainly your right Modadunn. However try figuring out what this stoic, extremely quiet, wonderful kid is thinking and your in for a struggle. However, he has told me that he appreciates and values my opinion (so I continue to give it when asked).</p>
<p>Weston-I think Mom and S are very lucky to have you in their corner.I also loved Brown,S wanted small LAC. He will be able to play 2 sports and not feel too much pressure from Coaches.</p>
<p>Amherst doesn't have a set curriculum and neither does Hamilton. Schools without a lot of requirements or core curriculum would probably serve him better than some others where years of language or proven proficiency are sometimes required.</p>
<p>Modadunn, thank you for mentioning those schools. Amherst was one of the only NESCAC schools that did not contact him for sports, so they really have not been discussed, much. I also thought Hamilton was good match, no language requirement and his mom thinks he will flourish best in a small school (I know Hamilton is well known for their emphasis on the written and spoken word. I smiled as I thought of his profs trying to get more than a sentence or two out of him). Yes, Hamilton certainly is a consideration.</p>
<p>McDad, it seems you and I think alike and your son and the perspective student's mom think alike. She does not want an overemphasis on sports and likes that he does not have to stick with just one sport as he was captain of the football, indoor track, and baseball teams in HS. She also likes small classes and the emphasis on undergraduate education. As I mentioned Middlebury and Davidson are her favorites (She likes Davidson since it is Div 1 in sports, but still has many students participating in multiple sports and it has a Div 3 size and other positives. She does not like the location as she prefers NE or NY school).</p>
<p>So going back to the original question. Do you feel this perspective student would flourish at Middlebury or do you think it probably is not the best fit?</p>
<p>Weston, the distribution requirements at Midd only require you to take courses in 7 out of the 8 academic categories. Your son can graduate from Midd without ever taking a language class. Read more here:</p>
<p>This is fascinating news AntEater32, all of us believed that there was a language requirement at Middlebury. I will investigate this further. In all honesty, my concern was that he would have to take 4 language classes and figuring 1 per semester, I thought he could get bogged down with this for 4 out of his total 8 semesters. Thank you again AntEater32, as this could be a major consideration for the young man.</p>
<p>Weston-S really liked Middlebury and is a Nat'l Latin scholar so the languages was a big draw for him. In the end he just felt more of a connection at Hamilton.
If Mom and S like Midd.from what AntEater said it sounds like the language req. will not be an issue. It's a great school. It sounds like he has some really good options.</p>
<p>My son is a soph at Middlebury and considers himself "terrible" at learning languages. He took four years of Latin in high school and is avoiding taking any languages at Midd by taking classes in the other 7 of 8 required areas. I would not let the fact that Midd is known as a language school dissuade anyone from applying or attending there. It's a great school in many other areas. Not studying a language can limit your choices for a semester or year abroad, but England, South Africa, and Australia are still options. Has this boy already applied or is he a junior? If coaches want him, it sounds like he will have options.</p>
<p>Football and "first generation college" are strong hooks so if he is an A or A- student in all courses except language and he has high test scores I would think he has a good shot at both Brown and Middlebury. If he prefers a small school and a less intense football program, Middlebury is a great choice. Both schools obviously have great reputations and offer an amazing education. I would note that the Princeton Review Best Colleges Book gives Middlebury a higher "academic rating" than Brown. He could not go wrong with either school so the choice should be his to make. Most football recruits are enouraged to apply ED and generally only a few spots remain aviable to coaches in the RD round.</p>