<p>Alright what is your opinion? Penn College of Arts and Sciences vs. Middlebury. I'm interested in 'International Relations'-type courses: history, economics, political science, maybe continue with some language. What are your opinions when comparing these academic programs, prestige, job opportunities after graduation, and perhaps more importantly campus life - housing, dining, social, 'college feel'. In particular, what is the feel of Penn being in a big city? Thanks for your contributions!!!</p>
<p>i don't know, i would never go to middlebury. also the dude i know that went there says that lots of people in vermont want to form their own country and secede from the U.S. maybe philly isn't the best city but i think it's better than middlebury. at the same time, the intellectual field at middlebury is maybe a little more positive but penn's program is pretty crunk and better in most other ways. i don't know how the ladies are at middlebury but probably not very good</p>
<p>Middleburry is extraordinary for foreign languages. How it fares in the IR subfields I don't know. As a Penn IR grad who has loved his time, learned a ton, and done very well in using his Penn IR degree to get internships and jobs, I can say that Penn's IR program is excellent and rigorous.</p>
<p>We have Truman scholars, Fulbright scholars, at least one Rhodes scholar, and a great record of alumni success in getting internships as well as careers in law, government, academia, and all forms of business like banking and consulting.</p>
<p>Penn being in a big city is wonderful, IMHO. Will there be more crime in Philly than Middlebury? Surely. But in exchange you get a great college city with rich history and an abundance of cultural assets, bars, restaurants, etc. It's the timeless tradeoff of urban living.</p>
<p>The amazing thing about Penn is that while it is in a huge city (America's 5th or 6th largest), it still has a contiguous campus with ample greenspace (and biopond! <3) and maintains a strong sense of on-campus community. Go with Penn, you won't regret it.</p>
<p>And I would never go to Penn for undergrad (to each their own). Middlebury excels in every field you mention and is characterized by an intimate learning environment. Job opportunities for graduates of both schools are roughly equal. Although more people on the street have heard of Penn (when not confusing it with Penn State), those in the fields you are interested in will have heard of Middlebury.</p>
<p>Many of Penn's liberal arts departments--including history, economics, and several foreign languages--are ranked in the top 10 or 20 in the nation. In addition, though, an undergrad in the College gets to take advantage of Penn's vaunted "One University" policy, which encourages undergrads to take classes in more than one of the 4 undergraduate schools (the College, the #1 ranked Wharton School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the top-ranked Nursing School), and in most of Penn's eminent graduate and professional schools (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Law School, Annenberg School for Communication, School of Design, School of Social Policy and Practice, Graduate School of Education, etc.), without the need for any special dispensation. It offers an undergraduate program of extraordinary diversity, breadth, and depth that goes way beyond the traditional liberal arts curriculum offered at a school like Middlebury, and is really unparalleled at any other college or university.</p>
<p>Further, I'd echo ilovebagels' comments about Penn's campus--it truly offers the best of both worlds. It's a self-contained 260-acre campus of lovely greens, courtyards, shaded walkways, and plazas. Much of it is closed off from city streets to create almost a cloistered feel, yet it's only a mile or so from the hustle and bustle of Center City Philadelpphia, with the plethora of cultural attractions, historic sites and neighborhoods, restaurants and dining (over 200 sidewalk cafes, the amazing Reading Terminal Market, etc.), entertainment, and nightlife that it has to offer.</p>
<p>If you haven't already done so, you really should visit both schools to determine which feels like the best fit for YOU.</p>