Questions about Midd - please help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
1

Hi, I have some random questions about Midd and would appreciate it if you could help!

  1. How are academics at Midd, and are students curious/passionate about learning?
  2. Is there a collaborative or competitive environment at Midd? (not counting the pre-med track, because I know that's competitive anywhere)
  3. How are professors? Are they easily accessible and helpful? Are they passionate about teaching along with their research?
  4. I know Midd is in a small town, so what is the social environment like? Does the school host concerts, plays, and other events?
  5. Are students friendly and approachable?
  6. How are the sciences at Midd? I have visited the facilities, and they are beautiful. Does Midd support science research, and how are the physics/astronomy and math departments?

Thanks for your help everyone! You’re awesome :slight_smile:

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Hi! Current Midd student here! I just finished my first year so I am not an expert, but I hope I can help!

  1. Academics are certainly challenging, you'll work in your classes here. I've found the students very passionate. Class conversations continue during the walks to the next class, during meals and into the night. Students are also very engaged in making meaningful discussions happen.
  2. I would say we are much more collaborative than competitive, asking about grades is almost a taboo. Study groups for problem sets and before exams are popular especially in the sciences.
  3. There are some great professors and there are some not so great ones. Personally, I have been very lucky. All my professors knew my name in a few weeks, before I ever attended office hours and they loved to teach. There is certainly a focus on undergrads (as opposed to research) and all professors must have office hours. I thought they were all very accessible.
  4. Midd is very self-contained, but don't worry, there's plenty to do. We've had T-Paine and Misterwives, there are so many student and faculty run plays that I could not attend all the ones I wanted to, there are awesome weekly/monthly events like MOTH storytelling, open mic nights and poetry slams which are mid-week and tons of other one-time events. Midd certainly does not have a wild party scene, but there is always something if you are into that. If you get a little cabin fever, Burlington is fun and Midd bands often perform there and Montreal is awesome of course.
  5. I love Middkids. We try to be friendly and ask about each other because we are aware that Midd can be very stressful. I also thought it was very easy to make friends, though everyone is so busy you actually have to make time for your friends if you want to foster close relationships.
  6. Midd has more kids and is stronger in the sciences than you would think. Our physics and maths departments are known to be tough. Our observatory is awesome. I've been told (as a prospective chem major) that "you're going to do research" no question.

Overall, I have never been happier than I was at Midd. I love the everything from the beautiful surroundings to the interesting people.

Hope that helps! Feel free to message me if you would like to know more.

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  1. There will always be someone as curious as you are and you can find outlets both in your peers and professors to have off topic conversations about anything your interested it. The classes almost always also provide a forum for you to go deeper into the subject then just what is presented. In my experience Math classes let this happen in the classroom more than physics, but I have experienced more conversations about physics outside the classroom.
  2. Definitely collaborative.
  3. The professors are incredibly accessible both about academic things and as advisers.
  4. School regularly has Plays and concerts, and hosts comedians as well. Burlington hosts a far more concerts however, and isn't far away. By no stretch however is Middlebury a grand social hub
  5. I think we are
  6. How are the sciences at Midd? I have visited the facilities, and they are beautiful. Does Midd support science research, and how are the physics/astronomy and math departments? Physics and Math both have great professors and are accessible. Middlebury has a new(ish) STEM initiative to provide more opportunities for research for math and physics. There is more physics research than math, but that is the general case for undergrads and why math grad schools place less emphasis on research for admissions.
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I’m not sure if this is still relevant but since if you’re a freshman you have a few more weeks so I’ll answer anyway.

  1. Students have a lotnof different interests, but people are usually passionate about whatever they're learning. Academics are tough but you learn a lot.
  2. Definitely collaborative. People aren't really as concerned with grades, since in most classes if you work hard you can earn a B for sure, but almost never an A. People tend to help each other out and are more concerned with their own performance than other people's.
  3. Pretty much all of the profs I've gotten have been amazing, very willing to help you out outside of class. There are definitely a few to avoid, but you should be fine if you look them up beforehand or ask other students.
  4. The social environment is pretty good. There are always plays, performances, socials, and other events going on. Partoes, if that's your thing, are also easy to find. They pretty much happen every Friday and Saturday night. You won't get bored.
  5. Superficially, yes, especially during the first week. I'd say for the average person it's fairly easy to make friends, and most people are very sociable to an extent.
  6. I'm not sure to he honest but I know the neuroscience department is really good.