<p>They seem to be really similar in a lot of aspects. I'm looking to major in international studies. There really are a lot of great and unique aspects to each of them. Does anybody have any insight as to the campus life, academics, area, student body, etc?</p>
<p>Cost would be exactly the same. What I have come up with so far:</p>
<p>Midd:</p>
<p>Pros:
Better reputation (I guess...according to US News, not that I care about that too much)
Fantastic language programs
'Commons' system seems really cool
Has an awesome outdoor hiking/climbing/skiing type of program
Has its own golf course and ski resort
Has more classes in international studies and a geography program
Kind of close to Montreal and Boston</p>
<p>Cons:
In the middle of nowhere
Really expensive
Maybe too preppy? or too elitist?</p>
<p>Colby:</p>
<p>Pros:
Great study abroad options
I think the 'Jan plan' is a great concept and would be a good break
Cool area with a lot of outdoor stuff to do
Great international studies program
Campus is awesome</p>
<p>Cons:
Technically not as good a reputation as Midd, maybe not as well known
Really far away from any big city
Not that many international studies-specific classes
Possibly a little too small
Also maybe too preppy?</p>
<p>That's about all I've got, give me any insight or opinions you might have about the differences. I don't think I'll be able to visit, so if you have any info about what the campuses, campus life, or student body are like, that would be great too. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I don't have any first hand experience with either.
That said, they are thought to draw very similar students by economics and academic accomplishment. I would opt for the slightly more prestigious school (Middlebury), with a bit brighter students, by the numbers.
I wouldn't be a "prestige whore" on this, except that the schools are so similar otherwise.</p>
<p>That's honestly the way I was leaning just because they seem to be so similar in other aspects. Plus I think Midd has better class offerings for the areas I am interested in.</p>
<p>Anybody else have any experience or opinions on this?</p>
<p>Middlebury hands down, unless something from Colby really attracts you. Like danas said, the schools are pretty similar and i believe middlebury is ranked 7 and colby is rankied 22(?). IMO thats a decent enough of a difference to make a decision off prestige. (I'm not putting colby down its a very fine school, i just believe midd is in a different league).</p>
<p>Have you visited both? They truly are so similar that it might come down to where "feels right" to you..</p>
<p>At Colby, Jan Plan is a great option ---you can travel abroad, do an internship, take one intense course. </p>
<p>Frankly I think the stats/ranks of both schools are insignificantly different so if you were my child, I would send you where you felt you would be most happy</p>
<p>I agree, the difference between a #7 ranking and a #22 ranking is insignificant. It's like if one car's top speed is 122 MPH and another's is 119 MPH. Make the decision based on other factors.</p>
<p>It definitely seems like there isn't much of a difference in ranking or prestige and I don't care about it that much. I just don't think I will be able to visit them although I would love to--I'm in the midwest so how would I get there? Fly to Boston and rent a car? I'm still in school and I'm already taking off a bunch for ECs this month. I'll try to find time though.</p>
<p>TourGuide (or others) when you say 'other factors' what would you look at? What are some of the differences between two very similar schools?</p>
<p>i'm going to say Middlebury. i worked for a company that hired 10 people (that's a lot!)from Colby every year, so I've been around quite a few Colby grads, while i have never met a middlebury alum. They are preppy and have a very cliquish thing going all the time, most of them are the same type of people, from very similar backgrounds, personally i found it pretty annoying. from what I hear, recruiting isn't that great either at that school.</p>
<p>I wouldn't be using proximity to Boston or Montreal as any type of criteria since it is unlikely to be relevant very often; especially since (according to mapquest) Waterville, ME is actually 36 minutes closer to Boston than is Middlebury, VT anyway. There is, at least, somewhat of a difference in perceived quality between these two, although it is somewhat of a moving target and the service academies and a few women's schools are in between the two in USNWR, so in comparable schools it's more of a 7 vs 17 kind of comparison. Middlebury is known to be a little more diverse than Colby as an above poster alludes to, although not necessarily by a whole lot. I know in looking at Bloomberg profiles, that 64% of Middlebury grads that obtained an MBA went to a top 10 school vs 42% of Colby grads. By way of comparison, Williams came in at 78%, Bowdoin 72%, Colgate 61%, Hamilton 45%.</p>
<p>In this instance I would go with Middlebury for more widespread reputation and the fact that Middlebury is a charming little town while Waterville is not. </p>
<p>Colby is a good school, but Middlebury is a close-to-the-top school</p>
<p>OK, you guys have been pretty much just reinforcing what I was already thinking. Everything about Middlebury seems really awesome and I will probably end up there next year. Thanks for all the input, everyone, although I would certainly appreciate more if anyone has anything else to say--especially any students, alumni, or employers with direct experience.</p>
<p>Much of whatever the drivers of the difference in USNWR rankings between the two are not based on student quality as the SAT avg for Middlebury and Colby are within five points of each other. While Midd is #5 in the latest USNWR overall, it is not even in the top 10 for SAT avg.</p>
<p>Middlebury all the way. It is a great school, GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME, with very loyal and committed alums--committed to making school better plus helping students upon graduation. Wonderful professors, coaches and students who are more diverse than one might think. Finally, while some say reputation doesn't matter, I disagree and Middlebury wins hands down. I think its is fast approaching Williams/Amherst territory (if it's not already there) and leaving the other New England small LACs in the dust. P.S. I am not a current student nor am I going there, just think it is a great place. At the end of the day, it's your decision and it sounds like you can't go wrong with those choices.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Much of whatever the drivers of the difference in USNWR rankings between the two are not based on student quality as the SAT avg for Middlebury and Colby are within five points of each other. While Midd is #5 in the latest USNWR overall, it is not even in the top 10 for SAT avg.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This difference is due to the fact that Middlebury is SAT 1 optional. Middlebury's reported scores are for all students, regardless of whether they were used in admissions or not.</p>
<p>The SAT score difference is not within 5 points.
At the 75th percentile (according to the Common Data Sets for 2007-2008 found on the schools' websites), Colby is 720 CR, 720 Math and 710 Writing. Middlebury is 750 CR, 740 Math and 730 Writing.
There is also evidence that Colby may be cherry picking its students' best SAT or ACT to report. Colby reports 76% of students reported SATs, 33% ACTs. Middlebury reports 88% submitted SATs and 24% ACTs.</p>
<p>If you base your college choice on whether or not a 740 is significantly better than a 720 SAT then pick Midd
It seems to me that you would be better served by choosing the place you will be happiest and where you will thrive and grow personally, socially, academically
I don't think that can be trivialized to a USNWR ranking or SAT score of 720 versus 740</p>