<p>I am trying to decide between Middlebury and Colby for Early Decision. If anyone has any insight or would like to compare/contrast the schools that would be wonderful!</p>
<p>Based on the numbers I have a better chance of getting into Colby but, for me, Middlebury has a few more draws than Colby. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Neither one. ED should be used only at that one dream school above all others. It’s a looooong time from November to September to make such a commitment to a school that you only “like” at the moment; there’s plenty of time to regret the decision. Decide in late April instead, if you’re fortunate to be admitted to both.</p>
<p>The thing about early decision is that admission percentages are higher so I would like to optimize on the opportunity to get into a school early decision.</p>
<p>Well, Colby is so far away from anything, it makes Midd look almost metropolitan! Both are good schools for nature lovers and skiers. Waterville doesn’t have a lot, and Portland is HOURS away.
Both are small LACs with a personal touch, small classes, committed teachers and a strong student body. Midd is more selective, more of the “beautiful people” because of the name recognition…
I haven’t been to Colby for many years, so can’t be all that helpful.</p>
<p>I agree with vossron. If you can’t choose between the 2, then you’re not ready for ED.</p>
<p>go with Middlebury, it has a better reputation and name recognition, altho Colby may be a close second</p>
<p>I disagree on the ED comments, both schools are quality (though I suspect Midd. is harder to get into). There is nothing to be gained by comparing the schools in April that you can’t decide now. ED gives you an edge which you cannot give up on schools of this caliber. The only reason not to go ED is to compare financial aid offers.
Guidance Depts. should be telling their kids they need to make up their minds for ED and start the process earlier.</p>
<p>I agree with musicislove123 – D has same thought process (using ED’s higher acceptance rates strategically). D is deciding between 2 schools (Midd is one of them). She would be happy at either one if she got in. I’m sure some kids absolutely love 1 school and 1 school above and beyond all others, so for them the choice of where to apply ED is easy, but that’s not the only way to feel.</p>
<p>“ED gives you an edge which you cannot give up on schools of this caliber.”</p>
<p>The higher the caliber, the lower the edge. The ED and RD pools are quite different. The ED pool is highly self-selecting, with a high percentage of applicants who would have been admitted RD. The RD pool includes many more “reach” apps because so many can be sent to many schools, but only one “reach” app can be sent at ED time, making the ED acceptance rate appear higher for such apps.</p>
<p>Midd. is bigger, Colby perhaps more intimate–though it’s been decades since I visited Midd., it was gorgeous back then and I’m sure it still is! My current ecstatically happy Colby D rejected Midd. for a number of reasons (without looking at it), mostly b/c it was bigger than she wanted. But both are great–is there time for a last visit before deciding the ED question? (Oh–and Portland is just over an hour from Colby’s campus–they travel there and to Bar Harbor/coastal towns pretty regularly and easily).</p>
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<p>Old Port (Portland Waterfront and Starbucks) is less than 1 1/2 hours. Bowdoin and Brunswick, a short 1 hour. Both are easy drives on the interstate. Bar Harbour and the amazing Acadia National Park is 2 hrs. Augusta is 30 minutes.</p>
<p>The drive from Midd to Burlington (Church Street Taverns) is an hour, usually more, depending on traffic, tourists and troopers.</p>
<p>Waterville, as with most industrial towns, has seen better days. The town has made impressive improvements over the years, but a Middlebury it’s not.</p>
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<p>What is that supposed to mean? 
Hmm, Harvard ranks numero uno in selectivity and name recognition, ergo the university must enroll the greatest percentage of “beautiful people.” Oui? ;)</p>
<p>While on the subject of “beautiful people”-- I recently spent an afternoon at Hamilton College, and without exception almost every kid appeared as if they stepped off the pages of a J.Crew or Vineyard Vines catalog. Surreal. </p>
<p>Musicislove, don’t allow name recognition or perceived prestige cloud your decision.
I’ve yet to meet anyone who if they have heard of Midd doesn’t know of Colby–or Bowdoin, Bates, Colgate, et cetera. The students and cultures between Midd and Colby are more or less interchangeable. </p>
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<p>Well stated, Class, which is why a significant number of colleges, including Middlebury, have ED1 and ED11. Many students who apply ED11 were rejected or deferred from their ED1 choice. The top LACs are littered with kids rejected or deferred ED1/EA from an Ivy, Stanford, Williams, etc, who were subsequently accepted ED11 to their second choice school.</p>
<p>Vassron’s comments are also accurate. ED students are self-selecting (especially full-pay) and a significant number of recruited athletes apply ED</p>
<p>Some of my comments are at least semi-sarcastic…I remember driving from Bates to Colby, and it seemed to take FOREVER. Possibly because the Maine turnpike has only 2 lanes, and you can get stuck behind self-righteous non-speeders.
I also remember Augusta as a really depressed ex-mill town, capital or not…Very good doughnuts, tho. And of course the seafood is better…(than in VT) Ice cream, probably a toss-up.</p>
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<p>LOL- Time does seem to stand still when young…and fly by when old(er) ;)</p>
<p>Doughnuts, ice cream? I wish you were my Doc.</p>
<p>I only eat the real stuff…rarely.
There’s nothing like a home-made fried cake. Then of course the seafood chowder at Harraseekit lobster and lunch in Freeport, or the frozen custard at the stand near Greene.</p>
<p>You forget Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. Best lobster shack in Maine.</p>
<p>I’ll have to try it, thanks. Going up for NESCACs in Feb.</p>
<p>Oldbatesie, mmmmm, I LOVE cake donuts! How do I get some of your homemade goods? (I also appreciate your comments - along with Modadunn and the recently rare Arcadia, but neither of them has mentioned donuts).</p>
<p>I think we’ve hijacked this thread, officially.</p>
<p>Does it count as hijacking if the subject is donuts? ;)</p>
<p>No. Donuts are king. Not that I have them very often either.</p>
<p>Have dear friends at both schools. Colby’s student body is smaller and slightly closer knit. Middlebury might be, and I say might, be a tad more cosmopolitan, but they’re both wonderful, rural schools with access to larger towns.</p>
<p>Colby is brick and Middlebury is granite if that matters to anyone. Both campuses are breathtaking.</p>
<p>And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming: donuts.</p>