This is mostly hypothetical not that I’ve actually been accepted or anything! I was just wondering about some pros/cons if they were to be compared as I don’t know that much about either. I know amherst is smaller, has much better diversity and is in a less rural area? But I haven’t visited either and if anyone has more insight into real social/environment differences I would really appreciate it!
Volleyball,
Hard to answer this question: both are great schools, but they have different strengths. Have a good look at both, work out what it is you want in a school and then take it from there.
The only thing I would say is that either would be a great experience, but as is true for all of the top institutions, what you get out of one versus another is at least as much down to what you as an individual put into it rather than the institution itself. What I mean by this is that I know Middkids who went through four years and did fine but didn’t exert themselves who have had a tougher time in graduate school and the job market than those who went to a less selective place as an undergrad but worked really hard.
I disagree with some of the above. These schools are equally diverse, having made significant efforts to admit student bodies with over 30% diverse and international students. Amherst is part of a cluster of colleges in its general area, so there’s a more active social scene between area colleges. Middlebury is the only school for miles, and the anchor to its beautiful New England town, so students tend to stay on campus and occasionally drive 30 minutes north to Burlington. Some people would say that Amherst students are more buttoned down (and conservative) while Midd students are more laid back (and liberal) – but those are generalizations that have floated around for years. I know great people who’ve gone to both schools.
Thanks so much!!
By percentages though Amherst is significantly more diverse both racially and socioeconomically. I just included that because it’s one of the only differences I knew between them and it is important to me
On a recent tour of colleges, though, we noticed that, at many colleges, there were separate tables of Asian Americans, African Americans, etc., in the dining halls. At Middlebury, the tables were truly integrated and the friends seemed to be having a good time together. That’s what college diversity should be like!
We visited Amherst over the summer when the dining hall was closed, so I cannot directly compare the two.
Kids who love Midd, really embrace the outdoor culture and love to ski, hike etc. if that doesn’t sound like you, it may not be the right place for you.
On socioeconomic diversity, this from the NY Times may be useful: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/25/sunday-review/opinion-pell-table.html?_r=0
Amherst is at #7, Midd at #33.
This may also be helpful: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/18/upshot/some-colleges-have-more-students-from-the-top-1-percent-than-the-bottom-60.html
(Midd #9 “more students from the top 1 percent than the bottom 60 percent”)
Amherst is also more racially diverse. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=amherst&s=all&fv=230959+164465&cp=1&sl=164465+230959
Undergraduates by Race / ethnicity Amherst/Midd
American Indian or Alaska Native 0% 0%
Asian 14% 6%
Black or African American 12% 3%
Hispanic/Latino 13% 9%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0% 0%
White 42% 64%
Two or more races 5% 5%
Race/ethnicity unknown 4% 1%
Non-resident alien 10% 11%
Thanks everyone!
Amherst and Swarthmore are the most diverse of the top-ranked LAC’s, then there’s a bunch like Middlebury that are in the 60% range.