Middlebury vs Tufts vs Colgate

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everybody, </p>

<p>I have been accepted by 3 great schools, so making the final choice can be a challenge :)</p>

<p>As an international student I am looking for strong and inspiring academics, planning to major in Economics and minor in arts, and wishing to make great college friends!</p>

<p>If anyone has comments or opinion that can help me with choice I would be very glad to get them.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>What type of environment are you looking for? I don’t know much about Middlebury, but I am familiar with Tufts and Colgate. </p>

<p>Colgate is in a middle of no where in upstate NY. Students tend to be sporty, clean cut and preppy. They are more pre-professional, many students go into law, medicine and finance later. The facility is top notch with outstanding economics department. </p>

<p>Tufts is little bit outside of Boston. If you like more of a city life, Tufts would be a better choice. The school is a little/big school. What I mean is it is small enough to give you an experience of LAC, but it is also an university, which would give you more research opportunity. They tend to attract more quirky students, one could tell just by their essays. They are also into “citizen of the world” concept. In the sense it maybe good for you as you are an international student.</p>

<p>They are all good schools. I think it really comes down to fit for you.</p>

3

<p>I’ve never visited Colgate, but I know a lot about Midd (in the interest of full disclosure, I attended Midd) and Tufts. I have a good friend who attended Tufts for Grad School (Fletcher School). Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great school, but it is not a pretty campus. Middlebury has a beautiful campus and while they’re all great schools, I think if we’re entirely honest, Midd is viewed as being the best academically.</p>

4

<p>For an international student, it may be important to know that Midd and Colgate are in small, isolated towns with no public transportation. Nearly all the American students will bring their own cars, but internationals may feel somewhat stranded. </p>

<p>Tufts is on the Boston subway and bus system which connects to trains that can take you anywhere. And BTW, I think Tufts has a beautiful campus!</p>

5

<p>My impression is that a fair number of students at Midd have cars, but not all by any means. And its easy enough to get a ride with someone else into Burlington or elsewhere. I don’t know why international students in particular would be stranded. On a vibrant campus, though, most students don’t seem to want to be gone for long. There is so much happening on a campus like Middlebury’s.</p>

6

<p>Middlebury or Tufts. Tufts if you’re interested in city access, Middlebury if an isolated but very pretty campus setting sounds right.</p>

7

<p>Thanks to everybody for the responses above, I am getting the location/size/academics picture.</p>

<p>What about social scene, open environment, quality of people and realtionships? Does any of the 3 schools (Middlebury, Cogate, Tufts) stand out?
Thanks!</p>

8

<p>Tufts a 10000 times over, unless you are very big on languages. You will get better opportunities too after college. I have friends who go to Tufts and they have done very well.</p>

9

<p>I applied to both Middlebury and Tufts, but was waitlisted at both (=[). Of the two I felt that Midd. was more close knit and vibrant. Since Midd. is not in a city the campus does seem to provide a lot of entertainment. I feel that being so close to Boston could limit the community feel of the campus since so many kids can go into the city/other campuses nearby. So if its the community feel you want I would do to Middlebury. Actually could you not? I want a spot…=P</p>

10

<p>Thanks, raison_d’erte and thatpersonphil!</p>

<p>I am deciding between Midd and Tufts (not Colgate anymore). If Midd would be not that far away it would be my definte choice, so still thinking…</p>

<p>thatpersonphil, best of luck and thanks for your advise! I am sure it will work out the best way for you :slight_smile: and may be I’ll see you at Midd )</p>

11

<p>Colgate would have the prettiest campus of the 3:</p>

<p><a href=“http://hcap.artstor.org/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/i140.dir/Central%20Quadrangle%20(ca.%201990),%20Colgate%20University-medium.jpg[/url]”>http://hcap.artstor.org/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/i140.dir/Central%20Quadrangle%20(ca.%201990),%20Colgate%20University-medium.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>academically, it would prabably fall slighty behind the other two…</p>

<p>so do you want to study out in the country at a top liberal arts school (Middlebury)</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>in the city at a top research university in the city (Tufts)?</p>

<p>Middlebury has had more success in sending graduates to the top Med, law and business schools than Tufts by a factor of 2x:</p>

<p><a href=“WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights”>WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights;

<p>Middlebury’s alumni seem to be happier with their school compared to Tufts, resulting in a more than doubling of the alumni giving rate, 58% to 23%:</p>

<p>[USNWR</a> 2009: Looking at the Top Strata VI (Alumni Giving) - College Confidential](<a href=“http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:NvHZsg_rycsJ:talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/569540-usnwr-2009-looking-top-strata-vi-alumni-giving.html+top+alumni+giving+rate&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us]USNWR”>http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:NvHZsg_rycsJ:talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/569540-usnwr-2009-looking-top-strata-vi-alumni-giving.html+top+alumni+giving+rate&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>Not so fast!</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/48671/large/Fall_in_Vermont.jpg[/url]”>http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/48671/large/Fall_in_Vermont.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://farm1.static.■■■■■■■■■■/107/268834700_a57b28f225.jpg[/url]”>http://farm1.static.■■■■■■■■■■/107/268834700_a57b28f225.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>arcadia, I stand corrected</p>

<p>ha!</p>

14

<p>Thanks JohnAdams12!</p>

<p>The links were a great help, especially the Grad School data. </p>

<p>I am also wondering how and why the Alumni giving rate could be so different for those 2 schools? They seem to be quite similar in student body, opportunities after graduation, etc. No?</p>

15

<p>Hello and thanks to everybody!</p>

<p>I have chosen Middlebury and I am very excited about this!</p>