Middlebury vs. Wesleyan…Plus A Waitlist Dilemma (Urgent)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
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<p>Hello people of CollegeConfidential! I’m in a bit of a dilemma here, and I would really love some advice. I posted this on the Wesleyan forum, too, but I figured getting the other side's POV would be beneficial, too.</p>

<p>I was accepted off the waitlist at Wesleyan a few weeks ago. However, because of a complication with the financial aid process, they delayed the matriculation deadline for me until they got everything straightened out for me. I was very much interested in attending, and I had intended to say yes as long as the financial aid was good (I come from a lower-income background, so this is crucial for me), but I still haven’t heard back from them, so I have not committed yet.</p>

<p>However, a few days ago, I got a call from Middlebury saying I had been accepted off of their waitlist. I checked my financial aid estimate yesterday, and they have been VERY generous with the aid. What worries me is that Middlebury is only giving me until Tuesday to make a decision, and I still haven’t heard back from the financial aid office at Wesleyan. Though I really love Wesleyan, I don’t know if I’m willing to take the risk of accepting their offer without knowing exactly how much financial aid I’ll get. At this point, I'm strongly considering just taking Middlebury's offer and being done with it, although I was set on attending Wesleyan up until just a few days ago.</p>

<p>I love both colleges, though, and I don’t know what to do. From what I hear, the two sound FAIRLY similar, but there are big pros and cons for me for both, I think—I prefer the proximity, accessibility, and relatively fair weather of Wesleyan (I didn’t even have the chance to visit Midd because of the distance), but was really underwhelmed by the campus and setting. My possible major tells me to go with Wesleyan, too, but I’m absolutely in LOVE with the facilities at Middlebury. (I am planning on majoring in either chemistry or physics with a possible double major in the arts or social sciences; economics or geography, maybe). I don’t really identify with the strong athletic culture of Middlebury, but I’m not sure I’m ready to handle the radically liberal side of Wesleyan, either.</p>

<p>Also—and this is important—is accepting a spot off the waitlist a binding decision? As in, if I say yes to either Wes or Midd, will I not be able to change my mind about this later? And do I then have to withdraw from all other waitlists I’m still waiting for? (As of today, there are three more I have yet to hear from.)</p>

<p>I know I am very fortunate to be able to make this decision, and I'm very grateful for both offers, but I really am stuck, here. What would you do in my situation?</p>

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<p>Accepting a spot off the wait list is not binding but you will lose the deposit that you pay Middlebury to hold that spot for you.</p>

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<p>And the same answer applies to whether you stay on wait lists at those other three schools. You may stay on them as long as you are willing to forego your deposit to Middlebury (or any other school to whom you pay a deposit) if you get accepted by one of your wait list schools and decide to enroll at it.</p>

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<p>Wait, I’m confused. Why would someone want go to Wesleyan over Midd?</p>

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<p>Daysixteen, illgive a more complete response when I have more time, but it will be before Tuesday.</p>

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<p>@torasee: Thank you, that was never made clear to me. That’s good to know.</p>

<p>@urbanslaughter: I’m not sure if your question was facetious or not, but I just always got the impression that Wesleyan put a much greater emphasis on the sciences–more funding, more opportunities for research, etc. Maybe I’m wrong about that. Plus it’s about three hours closer to where I live and closer to major cities, which is a big plus for me.</p>

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<p>I believe that because Wesleyan has graduate programs, more research takes place. However, you would be competing with graduate students for these opportunities. Whereas, I believe Middlebury would not have such competition.</p>

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<p>Wesleyan is a Baccalaureate Level I (Bac-A&S) institution, the same category occupied by Middlebury, Williams, Colby and most LACs, as defined by the Carnegie Foundation, but for reasons of history and good fortune, it is the only one with doctoral programs in the hard sciences and math. What sets it apart from a research university are the small number of actual graduate students. At a graduation rate of something like sixteen or seventeen Ph.Ds a year, undergraduates are absolutely needed.</p>

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<p>Actually, that is not such a small number of PhD’s given that their only distributed among the hard sciences. Let’s say 18 are distributed across three disciplines, we have only a slightly small graduation rate unless you are talking about humongous research institutions.</p>

<p>However, the school that gets points for the most supported undergraduate research is Stony Brook with many PhD students, so there is not necessarily a correlate.</p>

<p>I am sure the OP has wonderful reasons to go to Wes, but the research issue is a bit bogus.</p>

<p>For instance, at Williams most students can can a research spot (I hesitate to say all, but I think it’s closer to all.) My S wanted to spend the summer doing research IN CLASSICS. One of the professors let him help her reach articles on Seneca and summarize them. He read them in languages he’d never looked at before like German, and yes, it was funded.</p>

<p>So, Wesleyan onward and upward if it’s the right school for you. But I am sure the research opportunities don’t differ substantially from Midd.</p>

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<p>The difference in research opportunities are especially striking between Middlebury and Wesleyan; they are similarly sized and yet the difference in federally funded research between 2002-2006) was on the order of three-to one:</p>

<p>Wesleyan - $25,000,000</p>

<p>Middlebury - $ 8,000,000</p>

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<p>You can see the effect of this lopsided access to basic science funding in the number of articles published by the faculty of the two schools and the number of times a faculty member’s work is cited in others in their field. It’s a difference of two-to-one:</p>

<p>Wesleyan - H-Index - 55</p>

<p>Middlebury - H-Index - 28</p>

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<p>@urban: Wesleyan ranks 22 in the revealed preference rankings, whereas Middlebury ranks 26. So while the difference is minimal and should not impact a personal decision, apparently plenty of people choose Wesleyan over Middlebury.</p>

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<p>I hope everyone at Wesleyan is not so literal. Anyway, this is last minute, but I’m beating my self-assigned deadline. </p>

<p>Middlebury and Wesleyan are extremely similar schools in the universe of all schools (very different in the NESCAC or Private LAC universe). You can get a great education at both of them and you’ll probably be happy at both of them. I’d want to save the money since you’re buying virtually the same product. </p>

<p>Having said that, the two schools do have a different feel, although, not as different as many would try to make you believe. If you’re in love with Wes, but not so much with Midd, then go with Wes. If you love them both, then save yourself some money.</p>

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<p>I was accepted off the waitlist at Middlebury this year so I think I can help you out on how their process works. You should definitely accept your place at Middlebury, and here’s why: you don’t have to place your deposit to them for two weeks!! So say yes, then wait till you hear back from Wesleyan (effectively this is buying you another two weeks to decide). You won’t lose any money if you wait to place the deposit. Hope this helps</p>

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<p>I’m sorry you took my my comment personally. I will certainly attempt to be more figurative in the future. ( I love the internet ) Also, I’m not from Wesleyan. Anyway, the study I cited earlier surprised me with its results. Bearing contrast with the USNWR rankings, which I thought would be semi-mirrored, Wesleyan outperforms many of its counterpart LACs. I think this may originate in its unique campus culture. As such, I recommend spending time delving into the Wesleyan campus culture, as it appears to be a place that is wonderful for some, but not well-suited for others. I do not want to give in to purporting the veracity of stereotypes, and I’m sure that many current students and alumni will say that no “typical” Wesleyan student exists. Nevertheless, the institution does have a reputation for being “artsy” and out of the mainstream. Being outside of your comfort zone may serve to enhance your intellectual journey.</p>

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<p>[Why</a> Science at Wes?, Sciences at Wesleyan - Wesleyan University](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/sciences/why-science-at-wes.html]Why”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/sciences/why-science-at-wes.html)</p>

<p>I find it interesting Wes is only using those specific 4 years of statistics for comparison and the college hasn’t updated their claim of federal funding superiority with more recent data. Certainly the National Science Foundation didn’t stop compiling funding data 6 years ago. :)</p>

<p>Also, the research funding statistics are for federal grants. Many science grants are awarded by private, (e.g. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Gates Foundation, BD Biosciences Research, et cetera) and state organizations. Yale, for example, receives a significant percentage of their research funding from non-federal sources.</p>

<p>While not a research grant, Midd received a 50mm private donation to build a new science building. Smith built a new science and engineering facility with funds donated by Ford Motor Corp.</p>

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<p>^^Crewdad - You have a point, in that clearly one of the reasons Wesleyan is in no hurry to change that graphic is that it includes two of its banner years, in terms of federal funding: >$8,000,000 in fy05 and fy06. It beat Harvey Mudd on a per capita basis (I gave HMC a generous 4:1 handicap) in <code>05 and nearly matched it in</code>06.</p>

<p>OTOH, in Wesleyan’s defense I have to say that navigating the NSF site is a little daunting, even for a geek like me. It’s not clear that they <em>do</em> compile these statistics on a yearly basis, or at least, publish them on that basis:<a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf11313/pdf/tab27.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf11313/pdf/tab27.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>What is happening here on CC? All this even-handedness. I hardly recognize this place anymore. First it was all the praise heaped on Midd from Bowdoin Alums (and vice versa). Now it’s admission of (slightly) biased stats. Have we all decided that Williams and Amherst are the enemy, so we’ve agreed to peace with each other? The enemy of my enemy is my friend? I’m not sure what to think anymore. I remember when I was a Freshman at Midd I had to see a specialist in Boston. He was reading my records and said, “Middlebury, huh . . . couldn’t get into a good school?”. He then told me he had graduated from Williams. It was that good-natured ribbing that let me know I was part of the NESCAC club and that we all respected each other for the similar experience we shared. I have to say, I appreciate the honesty and even handed approach to these very similar schools, but I miss some of the well-intentioned ribbing.</p>

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<p>^ haha, I appreciate your perspective. I do give plenty of well-intentioned ribbing in my daily life (mostly to Cornell alums… gosh they suck! jk), but very recent experience on CC has told me that some people cannot deal with anything negative regarding their alma mater.
Anyway, I try to give some good advice because these threads will be accessed for years to come when future students are trying to make similar decisions.</p>

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<p>Welcome to NESCAC, dcsmiss!</p>

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<p>So day16, what did you do? Don’t keep us hanging.</p>