<p>Midd has a better rank, but the kids seem too preppy/concerned with being cool. Wes is almost as well known, but the kids also seem too caught up with being counterculture and different, even though, ironically, they all are like that.</p>
<p>In terms of education and academics, both are fantastic, and I have no real passions like languages or anything that would lean me towards either one.</p>
<p>I'm naturally going to go to both of their visiting days, which I'm sure will help me confirm/unprove all of these things.</p>
<p>Judging by your s/n, your top choice was Brown? :D Anyways, some people have said that those that don't get into Brown go to Wesleyan. That is not to imply that Wes is full of Brown rejects or that getting into Brown guarantees admission to Wes, but the schools are very similar. You'd probably thus be happiest at Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Both are ranked highly enough that that shouldn't make a differeance. I think you're right to visit both. I think you'll find at Wes that not everyone is activily TRYING to be countercultural (though some are), and my guess (though I've enver been) is that not eveyone at Middleburry will be concerned with being "cool" (and I know a very non-preppy person who goes there and loves it).</p>
<p>That said, they do have very different atmospheres, and visiting will help you decide which fits you best. They are both great schools, so you can't go too wrong!</p>
<p>(Brand is right that Brown is often considered much more like Wes than Middleburry socially...but OTOH, I don't think it is as counter-cultural as Wes/does have more "preppy" kids than Wes)</p>
<p>Be proud of yourself for having two great choices. Base your decision on the feel of the campus, the location, size. Don't make it on rank, because imagine how you'd feel if the schools switched places next year? It should be all about the school that will best stoke your creativity and intellectual growth.</p>
<p>I think, that unless and until global warming equalizes the severity of the winters between the two locations, to a certain extent, the social life of the two schools will continue to reflect how much snow is on the ground at any given time. I know, I know -- the <em>mean</em> temperature between Middletown and Middlebury is not that great (only a few degrees), but it's enough to make the difference between taking a short cut across the campus green or having to stick to the plowed roads when deciding to leave your room at night. There are too many stories about Middlebury students too bored to do anything but stay in their rooms, drinking surrepticiously, not to have some truth to them.</p>
<p>Why would Middletown keep someone indoors? Yes kids stay on campus, but that's not the same thing as staying indoors...</p>
<p>I personally think that the fact that most of the student body stays on campus is a plus, which lots of LACs have. Not everyone agrees, but that's all a matter of what you want out of the college experiance. I like having a campus-centric social life. And when deciding between Middleburry and Wes, I think it's a given that that is what whichever school BrownPlease goes to is going to have.</p>
<p>Based on my experiences with Weslyan (not a grad myself) and Middlebury, Wesleyan has always seemed like a much more intellectual place. I've known a slew a grads from both schools and Wesleyan grads have always seemed significanty more learned and intellectually curious. And, yes, to stereotype Middlebury is "preppy" and Wesleyan is "politically progressive." Also, Middletown has changed quite a bit in the last ten years. The downtown is almost unrecognizable from years past - lots of new ethnic restaurants and bars. It all comes down to who you are and what your looking for. The inane and misleading USNWR rankings aside, I actually consider Wes to be a higher tier school.</p>
<p>yeah poor reed- its like a totally amazing school and its ranked what, 53rd or something, right between lawrence and st. olaf! its a good thing they dont care about rankings there! and neither should we, really</p>
<p>just to make fun of how totally inaccurate and over-rated rankings our me and me friends set up "fantasy college admission" and drafted a team of 10 students, and then gave ourselves points based on the rankings. haha.</p>