<p>I was lucky enough to get in to both of these fantastic schools, but am having a hard time deciding which school I should go to. </p>
<p>One thing that makes the choice especially difficult is that I really have no idea what I want to major in. I definitely won't be doing art and have no intentions of studying medicine at any point. </p>
<p>Majors that attract me most are (in no order): </p>
<p>Physics (though other sciences aren't out)
Film or Media Studies
Economics or Business</p>
<p>One program that particularly excites me at Wesleyan is the film program, which has a great reputation and has a great alumni network, though the film industry does scare me and I'm not sure if I actually want to go into Film as a career. The fact that I could major in film and double major in something that is more versatile is also appealing. I have also heard great things about Wesleyan's economics program. How do Wesleyan and Middlebury compare in terms of Business and economics?</p>
<p>The things I love most about Middlebury are its beautiful campus, the professors, and the alumni network/career services. I found Wesleyan's campus to be underwhelming when I visited, but maybe it was just a mistaken impression. The relatively higher prestige of the school also attracts me for career purposes and getting into graduate schools. The isolation of the school does scare me a bit. </p>
<p>I would love to hear about the students and overall cultures of the schools. </p>
<p>(An added bonus of Wesleyan is that it's only about 1h 40 min from Providence so I could visit my best friend (we're very close) at Brown more often, though this is obviously not nearly as important as the other factors.)</p>
<p>How did you come to the conclusion Midd has more prestige? You couldn’t be more incorrect. Both colleges are held in equally high esteem. There are many valid reasons for choosing one college over the other but prestige isn’t one of them. </p>
<p>I have no doubt JohnWesley will soon chime in to answer your other queries.</p>
<p>Well my reasoning I suppose was that it has consistently higher rankings on college rankings, but I think I was giving to much credence to them. I do agree with you though. They are roughly equal.</p>
<p>We prefer the word, “understated” It’s true that a good deal of the Wesleyan campus is hidden in plain sight. Over the space of 181 years, they’ve adaptively re-used virtually every residence in the neighborhood instead of erecting a vast array of “collegiate” looking buildings. The admissions building, most of the humanities, language and area studies faculty, have their offices and teach many of their classes in stately homes that line High Street. Moreover, there are something like 200 university-owned houses all around campus that have obviated the need to construct conventional dormitories over the space of the last thirty years (expect to learn addresses, instead of building names over the next year, or so.) </p>
<p>Even the modern architecture tends not to call attention to itself, snaking along a hill, or tucked behind the backyards some High Street mansions, or squeezed between two older buildings. The result is that, with the exception of the eight story Exley Science Tower, much of the area around Wesleyan leaves the same impression that it did in the 1950s when the school was barely a thousand students. But, don’t let that fool you. Wesleyan is one of the most exciting universities in the country.</p>
<p>When I was a student at Middlebury one popular magazine (USN&WR) ranked Wesleyan one spot ahead of Middlebury. That led me to the mistaken belief that Wesleyan was a better school. Today those same rankings would lead one to the mistaken belief that Midd was the better school. You have to remember that all the schools among the top ten are comparable schools with slight differences in particular programs (Williams in art history, Midd in languages and enviro/International studies). Even the Middlebury is - in my opinion - clearly the best among all of them, they ech offer comparable educations and, essentially, the same level of prestige.</p>
<p>I would say that the campus environment is really more important as both schools are academically stellar.</p>
<p>Sciences at Middlebury are truly top notch; I honestly do not know why people bash them. The building is state of the art, and the school is constantly investing in the sciences. The departments are increasing in size and research is constantly being conducted. Physics is a great department, albeit a lot of work, but students love the professors and courses available. Film and Media Cultures at Middlebury is definitely not as big as Wesleyan’s film Studies department, but the quality of student work is really great. Also, the Axinn Center’s film labs are really nice and the equipment that the film students work with is state of the art. Film is really interdisciplinary at Middlebury (I can’t speak to Wesleyan’s approach) and students tend to be introduced to all sides of the film industry (including acting, directing and analyzing). Econ is also a big department at Midd, but I would assume that it is at Wesleyan too.</p>
<p>When I visited, I fell in love with Middlebury’s campus, facilities, professors and students. I can’t say the same about my experience visiting Wesleyan. But, I am sure the experience of students there is great just as it is at Midd. I would say come to Middlebury; it will be a great place for you to explore your interests, become close with great faculty and meet awesome people all in a beautiful environment.</p>
It’s true that a good deal of the Wesleyan campus is hidden in plain sight. Over the space of 181 years, they’ve adaptively re-used virtually every residence in the neighborhood instead of erecting a vast array of “collegiate” looking buildings. The admissions building, most of the humanities, language and area studies faculty, have their offices and teach many of their classes in stately homes that line High Street. Moreover, there are something like 200 university-owned houses all around campus that have obviated the need to construct conventional dormitories over the space of the last thirty years (expect to learn addresses, instead of building names over the next year, or so.) </p>