<p>Not sure if the new numbers will appear in this year's issue of U.S. News. The change in SAT scores likely will be somewhat offset by 2 other factors that have changed since the last ranking. This past year, Midd's student faculty ratio dropped from 11:1 to 9:1. In addition, the % of freshmen in the top 10% of thier class rose to 84%. It'll be interesting to see how these factors affect the rankings...</p>
<p>Trotwood: I agree completely. I think several colleges - Bowdoin, Bates and Mount Holyoke come to mind - have done studies that concluded that there was no significant difference in GPA over the four years at their respective colleges between the group of students who presented SAT I's for admission purposes and the group of students who did not present SAT I's. </p>
<p>That said, USNews should still use the SAT's of all admitted students at colleges that are SAT I Optional, not just the scores of the 50%, or whatever %, who submitted them for evaluation, as part of their definition of selectivity is SAT I scores, whether or not everyone agrees they say much aboaut a person's ability.</p>
<p>Acadia: I'm sure the two improvements you mention will have a positive effect on Midd's overall ranking. 84% in the top 10% is pretty impressive.</p>
<p>In my mind, Bowdoin has always had a stronger academic reputation, although would probably prefer the size, location and culture of Middlebury more.</p>
<p>I completely disagree. Out here on the west coast, the only LAC's people have heard of are Amherst, Williams, and Middlebury.</p>
<p>it seems ludicrous to contend that people on the west coast are familiar with middlebury but not pomona. furthermore, i think it's equally ludicrous to suggest that the "west coast" abides by a singular familiarity with these schools. southern california is different from northern california, which are similarly different from oregon or washington. i think it can be safely assumed that, on average, middlebury fares no better or worse in recognition, generally, than its peers.</p>
<p>Middlebury is somewhat bigger than Bowdoin, but would be surprised if a general consensus on the West Coast were not similar on these two. Bowdoin is rated higher on WSJ feeder and Brody prestige rankings and has been ahead of Midd in at least most of the USN&WR rankings since they started and all this info would be as readily available West coast and East coast.</p>
<p>75% of Middlebury First Year students come from outside of New England. At Bowdoin, it was only 57%.</p>
<p>I think that the state that sends the third most students to Bowdoin is California, so I think people on the West Coast have in fact heard of Bowdoin</p>