<p>I'm a senior in high school who will be playing baseball at Middlebury or Amherst next year, but I cannot decide which one to go to. I must start by saying that I love Middlebury. However, I am worried about saying no to the reputation of Amherst. I know the rank similarly, but is there any real difference between Middlebury and Amherst in terms of prestige and getting into graduate school/getting a job later on? How do these two schools compare to the Ivies?</p>
<p>Amherst kids will tell you there’s a big difference in prestige. Middlebury kids will tell you there isn’t much difference at all. Not surprising, considering that there are competing interests at play. </p>
<p>You might find this thread interesting:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/804465-does-middlebury-compare-amherst-williams.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/804465-does-middlebury-compare-amherst-williams.html</a></p>
<p>Whether Amherst is “far” more prestigous than Middlebury as some would contend or “moderately” more prestigous (my point of view), I just can’t imagine making the decision between the 2 schools on that basis.</p>
<p>I went to Middlebury and I think very highly of Amherst. </p>
<p>The schools are so similar, that I’m confident you can achieve whatever your life goals are equally well from either place. </p>
<p>That said, there are differences in size, location, curriculum and feel between the 2 schools, any one of which is a perfectly sensible reason to prefer one to the other. </p>
<p>I suppose if after evaluating the differences, you are still undecided, maybe prestige could be a tie breaking factor.</p>
<p>You may also want to look at facilities for areas of interest that you have. For example, I have seen the science facilities at Middlebury, which are tremendous. I have heard that the science facilities at Amherst are not as good.</p>
<p>I will agree with MidwesternDad… Amherst was very high on S’s list and then when the economic crash occurred prompting Amherst to put updates to its sciences on hold indefinitely, he was not as smitten. As it turned out, he was actually waitlisted at Amherst, but once he set foot on Middlebury’s campus he didn’t even accept a place on Amherst’s waiting list. He really really liked Amherst, but loves Midd and can’t imagine being as happy anywhere else. HOWEVER… I think everyone who has choices such as his are pretty happy wherever they land and the two boys I know at Amherst who play sports (one hockey, and another baseball) as happy where they are. Both are also science majors.</p>
<p>Does one or the other have a better baseball team? Have you met both coaches? I would make baseball more of a factor in the decision-making process than prestige. Maybe the campus and location should be factored in too… you can’t go wrong with either school, so choose the one you like better!</p>
<p>If you want to go to Midd because you love it and want to go to Amherst for prestige I would go to Midd.</p>
<p>Son’s roommate plays baseball at Midd… loves the coach. (just throwing that out there)</p>
<p>Due to the long winter, Midd’s baseball season lasts about 5 days, whereas Amherst, being further south, enjoys about 6 days. Just throwing THAT out there.</p>
<p>LOL – Pretty funny. I was curious though, when the lacrosse team says it starts practice Feb 16, do they have indoor turf? I know they have indoor courts and turf fields outside, but I never saw an indoor turf field.</p>
<p>My S picked Middlebury over Amherst a couple of years ago and does not regret it. It seemed just a better fit. I do not see much difference between schools for graduate school placement or job opportunities.</p>
<p>I believe Amherst has had the better teams. However, that does not mean this will be the case over your 4 years. Good luck with your choice between these great schools.</p>
<p>^MidwesternDad,
Hmm… I have a friend who turned down Middlebury for Grinnell specifically because she felt that Middlebury didn’t have great sciences (she was a bio major). This doesn’t mean than Middlebury’s science programs aren’t good, of course, and at the time especially Grinnell was ridiculously rich which led to good research opportunities/internships.</p>
<p>My son attends Williams not Middlebury. I was only commenting on the state of the respective facilities at Middlebury and Amherst, based on our visit to the former and what I have heard about the latter. I am not familiar with the quality of the program at Middlebury. I would defer to Modadunn based on her son’s experiences at Middlebury.</p>
<p>I know nothing of Grinnell sciences or otherwise (except in knowing of a student or two attending), but I do know that Middlebury’s sciences (facilities and opportunities) are really quite stellar. Often there can be such a focus on environmental studies, languages and international studies that the sciences end up being more of real regarded secret vs a reputation as a CLA “science school.”</p>
<p>I always laugh when I see comments about the relative prestige of liberal arts colleges. Having lived in several different regions of the US and in a couple other countries I think I can offer a different perspective on this. Within the US, whether you went to Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Grinnell or Bates does NOT seem to matter in terms of prestige. No one outside of the Northeast, top graduate schools, or some job placement organizations really knows the top LACs. The people who really matter know these schools, but they’re HIGHLY unlikely to see any difference between Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, or even Bates (not to pick on Bates - it’s a fine school, but commonly viewed as “less prestigious” than the other three). Outside of the Northeast, Top graduate schools or job placement organizations, unless you went to HYP or some big state school with great athletics (Ohio State, Florida, UNC) people are likely to look at you blankly when you tell them where you went to school. So I wouldn’t base a lot on perceived relative prestige between Midd and Amherst. You’re going to spend a fortune either way. That should not be the determining factor for the next four years.</p>
<p>Middlebury is a bit remote – from everything – and hard to get to and from, by car or public tranportation, and there’s not much there. Amherst is accessible by 4-lane highways, bus, train, has 4 exchange colleges nearby, and has some charming towns nearby and plenty of malls. M is well-known for language study.</p>
<p>Just curious… what do the Midd Alum think of the song that’s now gone viral on YouTube? Personally, I think it speaks to huge creativity, originality and just plan good humor! And if I could download this to my IPOD, I would!</p>
<p>Search: Midd Kid - The Allen Jokers
[YouTube</a> - Midd Kid - The Allen Jokers](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRdjPn44GE&feature=player_embedded]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRdjPn44GE&feature=player_embedded)</p>
<p>illustrative, derivative, and entertaining, for sure, creative ?? not really. my kids, while home for Thanksgiving, had to explain what ‘bro’ meant – actually, one tried to explain it while the other just said ‘look it up’ 
– but kids at these schools (amherst, middlebury) certainly know how to have fun and they are, clearly, smart and take initiative. kudos!</p>
<p>p.s. i still don’t know if ‘bro’ is a good thing or not!</p>
<p>Well… I think any kind of melodic talent is creative thru and thru, but too, anyone who can make a hip rhyme out of the lore of quidditch is pretty creative to me. However, I am surprised that of all the lyrics, “bro” would catch some radar. Unless you were reading some online version of an urban dictionary I know nothing about, I’d say bro is just short for brother, as in … good friends, close as family, etc. Not derogatory. In fact, the keg pump line seems far more offensive if you’re really looking. :)</p>
<p>And not sure what was meant by derivative, but it’s not a cover (ripped from another song). Music and lyrics ARE original. So not sure of your use of the word. You might not find it inspired, but that doesn’t make it plagiarized.</p>