<p>I will be a senior in high school this fall and am currently being recruited to play field hockey at either Amherst or Middlebury.
I have visited both campuses multiple times and it seems as though each time I visit one, it becomes my favorite. I need to decide in a few days and need your help! I plan on majoring in the natural sciences particularly Biology/Chemistry to pursue a medical degree.
I love both coaches (and have met teams) and can see myself playing on either team (although seemed to click with the Amherst team more naturally)...so it really comes down to the college itself.
As an athlete, I will be spending much time in the athletic facilities which I have noticed are much nicer at Midd (esp. fields). (Midd has a specific field hockey turf whereas Amherst does not.)
Also, this may seem a bit odd, but school spirit is a major factor in my decision process...do a lot of students cheer at football games/do students wear the school's t-shirts on a daily basis?
It seems as though Amherst is more prestigiously ranked academically, but I obviously wouldn't have that affect my decision as I know they are both unbelievably amazing institutions.
Does anyone have any inside knowledge on the social life at either school (preppiness, jockiness, partying, workload, etc.)?
I love both campuses but they aren't really comparable...what makes one campus "prettier" than the other, and vice versa? I like the cold so that isn't a negative factor for me at all. I also love to ski which is a definite plus at Midd. I live on Long Island which is about a 3 hour drive to Amherst and a quick plane ride to Burlington for Midd (or 5 1/2 hour drive).
It'd be really helpful to hear from any current/former students/parents at either institution especially student-athletes to get a feel of what I will soon be getting myself in to.
It's great to get feedback from those of you who seem to know the best secrets about both institutions. :)
Thanks so much for all your help!</p>
<p>Look, both schools are great schools. You can get a top notch education at either one. They’re both pretty similar. Amherst may be SLIGHTLY more prestigious, but it’s a tiny degree that no employer or graduate school will care about. Middlebury may be SLIGHTLY better at sports, but it’s a tiny degree as well. As an alum, I’m biased toward Midd, but I can’t say there are big aspects of either school that make them better than the other. Middlebury is a fair amount bigger - that may affect the social scene there, but of course, Amherst is in a bigger college town, so it probably evens out. I loved my experience at Midd, but I’m sure you’ll find plenty of Lord Jeffs who loved their experience. That leads me to an important distinction. The kids at Midd (at least while I was there) always wear Midd-gear. They’re extremely proud of their school (they’re one of the top schools in the country (a couple years ago, they were THE top school) for alumni participation in terms of donations. Also, Middlebury is the Panthers - now wouldn’t you rather be a Panther than a Lord Jeff???</p>
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>I haven’t posted before but found myself inclined to offer my two cents given that I was once in a similar situation as you are in now! (Athlete recruited by Midd, Amherst, all other NESCAC schools, Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, and others.) I am currently a student at Middlebury, and you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to leave for somewhere else, including any of the above. I love Middlebury. You’ll notice this is a theme among Midd students and alumns. See perennially lofty giving rates–this is maybe the best indicator of all.</p>
<p>I’ll digress from my sappy rant to remind you that, while my heart lies at Midd, you need to realize how lucky you are to have two phenomenal options, and that you’ll “survive” no matter what your choice. You are lucky!</p>
<p>That being said, I’m here to offer what I can–a perspective on the school I know best:</p>
<p>I’ll start by addressing your comments directly:</p>
<p>Campuses: This was a no-brainer for me. Maybe some would disagree, but I haven’t met them. I fell for the majesty of the mountains big time (many do). There is nothing like a mid-autumn study break walk at sunset with the Adirondacks as your backdrop. Amazing. The changing of the seasons here, Fall, Winter, Winter, Winter, Spring, and Summer, are quite a spectacle to witness. Amherst is certainly quaint and a larger college town, but it just can’t compete with Middlebury’s unique beauty. If you value the outdoors, you won’t beat Midd. (Outdoor opportunities is a longer discussion for later…I’ll just say I ski and hike frequently here. Avid skier. Andddd we own and operate our own mountain. It’s the real deal. Do some research on the “J-term” course schedules and you’ll get why we have it made.)</p>
<p>The town is small, but not too small. And what it lacks in urban variety it makes up for in charm… it has been described as the “quintessential New England town.” A number of excellent dining options are out there if you for some reason find the need to stray from the much envied all-you-can-eat-whenever-you-want meal plan. (The food is really really good compared to others. My friends from Dartmouth and UVM always get jealous when they visit.) </p>
<p>Obviously, there isn’t much nightlife in town, which, for an urbanite could be a tough transition. The occasional local party can be an absolute blast, but you’ll find more reliable bets in one of the palatial social houses behind Proctor (think inclusive, much cleaner frats–in mansions). These are really fun. Your team will keep you plenty busy on the party circuit, so I wouldn’t worry about anything in that department.</p>
<p>Team/Coaches: Definitely don’t make a decision based on coaches, players, or team talent. I’m sure you’ve heard this before. People come and go. I’m sure you’ll meet lovely people on both teams, and all you’ll get is a superficial snapshot by visiting, so I wouldn’t take this category into too much consideration unless you meet some serious losers (unlikely) at one school or the other. Not sure where the two school stand currently in the NESCAC ranking for field hockey, but the NESCAC is fiercely competitive and things change on a dime every year, so don’t place your bets on sustained dominance just because there are one or two national championship trophies in the bank from the mid-00s</p>
<p>Facilities: Win: Middlebury. This goes for the academic buildings as well. Midd invested ~$500,000,000 (not kidding) in infrastructure before the recession, and it shows. Call it luck or brilliant planning, but it worked, and applicants have taken notice.
School Spirit: Win: Middlebury. This mattered for me as well. I have friends (former teammates) who go to Amherst, and it’s not much of a contest. We play each other now and our crowds always outdo theirs.</p>
<p>Prestige: Yes, the US News magazine lists Amherst two spots above Middlebury. I wish I could say that people by and large understand the valuelessness of such a statistic, but some still hedge their bets on it. Let me put it this way: if I lined up 20 accepted seniors for you at random, half of whom are Jeffs, and half Panthers, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart if you combed over every application in detail. I entered Middlebury with strong grades and scores (3.6 uwgpa at rigorous HS, 2250 SAT, 32 ACT, and have never once felt unchallenged by my professors or peers. They amaze me. Student creativity is off the charts. There are so many exceptional initiatives. Here are just some small snapshots:</p>
<p><a href=“MiddStart”>MiddStart;
<a href=“http://blogs.middlebury.edu/middlab/[/url]”>http://blogs.middlebury.edu/middlab/</a></p>
<p>More importantly, though, is the community. You can’t really get this until you’re there. I had an idea, but didn’t grasp it until I met people associated with the school. And then…you’ll appreciate the FULL value of this once you’re staring a dreary job market in the face. That passion for Middlebury you see on other students’ faces when you get there never leaves. They become alumns who love Middlebury and love you for having gone there. I have had more alumns reach out to me for job support and advising than I can count. THIS MATTERS. A lot. Being an athlete will only help your cause. The network will blow your mind…it’s infectious. Your community will see that you succeed at whatever it is you want to do…at all costs.</p>
<p>Social life will be pretty similar. I wouldn’t factor this in. Midd is larger, but both are small. Either way, you’re gonna see your mistake the next morning in the dining hall. Most people like this culture…it keeps people honest, necessitating respect. You’ll be drinking beers in dorm rooms at either school. I won’t waste time by citing my own trivial partialities to Midd w/r/t social life. It’s really apples to apples.</p>
<p>Hope all this helps… throw it out there if you have more specific questions…let’s keep it going as I’m sure this exchange is useful to others making similar decisions!</p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much!!
^advice was exactly what I was looking for!
I love the fact that Midd students are proud to wear Midd-gear and represent such a phenomenal college.
I know that wherever I end up, it will be the right choice for me.
It’s very helpful to get an inside look from students who are/were in the same position as I am.
It seems that I could really see myself fitting in at Middlebury.</p>
<p>Although athletics are very important to me, academics have and always will be my priority, which, I think, will ultimately reign as the deciding factor for me.
Do you have anything to share about your personal experiences academically at Midd?</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your advice; you guys are so helpful!!</p>
<p>I think one thing you’ll find with all Midd students is that we truly value our academic experience (see Princeton Review “Quality of Professor” ratings). Obviously, Midd is best known for languages, international studies and Environmental Studies, but all the programs are very strong (you’ll find that overall strength at Amherst and most other NESCAC schools too though). I attended two other schools for graduate school (including an Ivy and a large Pac-10 University) and never felt nearly as challenged (nor as supported) as I was at Middlebury. </p>
<p>One more thing . . . regarding prestige, recognize that comparing the relative prestige of the two schools is the same as comparing Princeton and Stanford. Sure Princeton may be SLIGHTLY more prestigious, but seriously, do you believe one offers a better education than the other? Go with the one that feels right.</p>
<p>“Although athletics are very important to me, academics have and always will be my priority, which, I think, will ultimately reign as the deciding factor for me.
Do you have anything to share about your personal experiences academically at Midd?”</p>
<p>All athletes who end up at Middlebury (or Amherst) feel the same way you do. Your coaches, of course, also agree. Academics always take priority…the only time you will ever miss a class for athletics is on gameday. Class > practice every time.</p>
<p>You will be enormously challenged by your academics…I don’t know a student who feels any less than very challenged. You’ll find students in the library at all hours…even on Friday and Saturday evenings. It can be a bit of a wake up call to suddenly not be the “smartest,” (and you won’t be…trust me) but you’ll get used to it. Motivation is contagious… there’s certainly a surplus of it at Midd.</p>
<p>The professors are truly first rate. I have developed close friendships with a handful, and we will be in touch, I hope, for as long as I live! This is very common. The great thing about tiny classes is that you can’t just slouch in the back and get away with it. Your professors expect passionate dedication to what you do, and they will reward you for it tenfold. Making the effort to get to know them is well worth it! Do this! I have spent plenty of evenings at profs’ houses watching movies, cooking dinners, being fed dinners, and just socializing. The language culture is phenomenal. (I can speak to this because I study language, although I have friends in the sciences who always have equally positive experiences to report.) The most fun, I would say, are Italian, German, and Russian. Also arguably the strongest. Great food nights/culturally themed parties. The point here is that your academic world and your social world will become less distinguishable from one another…this is a really good thing.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.
Go Panthers!</p>
<p>I have to agree with Atwater. At Middlebury there has always been a culture of Professors and students developing long term relationships. I’m still in contact with many of them. I worked extremely closely with many of them while I wrote my thesis and I still discuss current issues with them through email or whenever I visit. This is a huge part of academic life at Middlebury.</p>
<p>I know this isn’t exactly the right thread to post on but I wanted a thread that already had replies. I hope that I’m not too brash in reviving this post with my own question. What do you think my chances for Middlebury are? I’m going into my Junior Year of High School</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Hispanic
School Size: 1900
Freshman GPA: 3.5
Sophomore GPA: 3.7 (3.8w)
Class Rank: 39/497
Junior Course-load:
AP Biology
AP US History
Honors English 11
Honors Algebra II
Spanish III Accelerated
French II Independent Study</p>
<p>I haven’t taken my SAT yet, but my projected scores are (By PSAT):
Verbal: 750
Math: 610
Writing: 730</p>
<p>I also plan to take my SAT Subject tests for Spanish and French. (These are definitely my strongest subjects, A+'s in both at the accelerated level. Looking between 650-800) By the way, I want to go to Middlebury for their language program. Best in the country by my reckoning. :P</p>
<p>ECs:
Varsity Track and Field (10, 11)
Varsity Debate Team (10, 11)
Math Team (11)
FBLA (11)
Volunteer at local cat sanctuary
AFJROTC Drill Team and Flight Commander</p>
<p>Awards:
Military Order of World Wars Award
1st Place Speaker Rhode Island Urban Debate League
1st Place Triple Jump @ State Track Meet</p>
<p>On another non-thread-stealing note: I’d have to agree with what atwater said. Amherst may seem a little more prestigious, but if you want to be challenged athletically and academically, in an environment were everyone supports the school, Middlebury is definitely the right choice. That being said, you’re incredibly lucky to have been recruited by these schools, not to mention others on your list.</p>
<p>PM if you want some field hockey recruiting info…my daughter reports for her freshman year this week - D1. She was also recruited by NESCAC schools. I have a cautionary tale about their recruiting.</p>
<p>Pardullet – do you have any older posts on this issue (NESCAC recruiting)? Please share any advice you have when it comes toNESCAC recruiting…there are many rising seniors in the thick of recruitment and it would be helpful.</p>
<p>Because field hockey is such a small world, I only feel comfortable commenting via PM on this issue.</p>
<p>Also, should really post on the College Admissions, specialty topics, athletic recruits boards-LOTS of D3 info-<a href=“Athletic Recruits - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/athletic-recruits/</a></p>
<p>D3 is tricky with no LL, but my S experience w/Midd coach was excellent.</p>
<p>thank you everyone for all your help!
I am looking forward to making my decision, which has become that much easier thanks to you guys! :)</p>
<p>Both excellent colleges. Be aware that although both are in rural areas, Middlebury is isolated and the roads in and out are a slow go. Traveling with a team is going to be more time consuming. There are many colleges in the Amherst area and the roads well developed.</p>
<p>pardullet are you still active on CC and accepting PMs regarding field hockey recruiting?</p>