<p>This thread was bound to pop up so might as well be in it together. Give a shout out or post any comments questions or concerns about applying RD. March 31st is a LONG way off.</p>
<p>coldharbour,
I feel the same. March 31st is quite a ways away, and I feel like all of my friends are hearing where they are going to go. My mom and I are visiting several schools over spring break (Middlebury, Vassar, Amherst, and Dartmouth), but, being from California, we’re kinda nervous about the weather. I’m really looking forward to comparing Middlebury with Dartmouth, as well as with Whitman College, which is currently my first choice.
Best of luck :)</p>
<p>Just wear layers on your trip and you’ll be fine. Be prepared for cold, windy weather, and maybe rain. Closed-toe shoes are a must. Spring is usually cold, wet, and muddy, or a perfect, warm, sunny day, thus, the layers.</p>
<p>“I’m really looking forward to comparing Middlebury with Dartmouth”</p>
<p>You’ll find them pretty similar. The one difference I found was that Midd had lots more open space on its campus, the buildings were further apart and green space was abundant. Dartmouth, on the other hand, had a nice campus also, but the buildings were much closer together, at least from what I saw on my tour. We only saw the one main green area in the middle. Midd’s architecture was a lot more modern also. Actually, I’m going to say that Midd had my favorite campus out of all that I visited - it’s not my first choice, but still, I loved the feel.</p>
<p>My boys looked at both-pref Midd. They felt the “frat boy” ambiance at Dartmouth was stronger. But they are prob as much alike as any 2 schools in the NE.</p>
<p>Neither liked the mandatory summer term at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I’m a deferred applicant and impatiently awaiting March 31…Anyone know how many students were accepted ED2? I know that after ED1 they filled 45% of the incoming class. Scary stuff.</p>
<p>@theRhino</p>
<p>Did you visit Amherst or Colgate? If so, how does Midd’s layout compare. We also visited Dartmouth and actually liked the atmosphere but it was the very first campus we visited almost 2 years ago(and oh-so-many-campuses ago too) so our impressions are not as sharp as they were. We loved Colgate the campus, but we’re not too keen on the surrounding no-man’s-land, nor are we happy with it’s chem-ladant reputation. Amherst wasn’t too bad either but our D has decided she does not want to go to school in MA.</p>
<p>Anyway, any further campus opinions?</p>
<p>Downeaster-familiar with all your choices-</p>
<p>Amherst smaller, more contained but also part of the 5 college consortium, so buses to other schools and enrollment possibilities. Amherst itself felt “preppier” to my boys, tho it has a strong mission to increase diversity, and the drive in on Rte 9 is congested and unattractive. It also needs a new pool very badly. I’m sure if either had been accepted there(wait-list, and ED swimmer for Midd) it would have been a tough decision, but my wait-listed S had decided he liked Midd better-he’s a writer and skier. And for a swimmer it’s a no brainer.</p>
<p>Colgate easier academically, very sports and party oriented. My boys have friends there from HS, didn’t apply as not into either scene. I know my S is a recruited athlete at Midd, but he is so not a “jock”.</p>
<p>Midd’s well appointed campus with the glowing white and grey local stone buildings on top of a hill over looking a Vermont small town with a river and a steepled church, the green mountains on one side and the Adirondacks on the other, can’t be beat for scenic beauty or level of facilities-arts center, athletic center, science center all brand-spanking new…</p>
<p>@OldBatesieDoc,</p>
<p>I know what you mean when you say the commute/roads to Amherst leave something to be desired. Yes, it did seem a bit preppier and the other “guests/students,” while my D visited seemed more concerned with their resumes and networking/partying than taking in what the school had to offer. </p>
<p>So I gather from what you’ve written that Middlebury’s campus is quite beautiful. We’re kicking ourselves for not making time to visit but it’s not one of my D’s top choices and when we went thru Vermont last spring there was horrible storms and we cut our trip short as we didn’t want to visit the campus under such poor conditions. We always meant to get back there and just never got it done. D likes the concept of the “commons,” but since she’s already been “likely-ed,” by 2 of her top 4 choices we probably will never get out to investigate. Oh well, there’s always our S in 3 years :)</p>
<p>No, I didn’t look at either Colgate or Amherst. Midd and Dartmouth were two of the smaller, more isolated schools that I visited - they probably had more in common with Cornell than any other school I visited. But, rural NY is a different feel than rural VT/NH. Other than that, many of my other choices are within the outskirts of large cities. It’s been hard for me to decide what I like better - the traditional college seclusion feel of Dartmouth and Midd or the opportunities for going downtown of Brown, Tufts, and Northwestern.</p>
<p>@TheRhino</p>
<p>My D thought she wanted something isolated and traditional when we first started her searches but after spending 2 summers at Carnegie Mellon, she’s much more open to the idea of an urban campus. Brown was the last school we “day-visited,” before application season started and we all came away impressed. It’s now 50-50 between campus type. So far she’s been accepted/likely-ed to 4 schools; 1 urban(Columbia), 1 kinda Urban/suburban(UVM), 2 rural and isolated(Dartmouth and Colgate). Being open to any campus type is only making her final decision that much tougher. Among her top 4 choices, 3 are urban and the other is Dartmouth(which is considered one of THE rural college experiences. She’s got choices and I don’t envy her when it comes time to choose because their all fine insitutions.</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck to you and I hope you choose a school that best fits you.</p>
<p>About a month left until we find out, I know it feels forever away but it will probably be here in a jiff.</p>
<p>This thread has died, but I was just popping in to see how prospective students were fairing. Not too much longer… although I absolutely recall the eternity feeling waiting for the end of the month.</p>
<p>Darthmouth v Midd… So actually applied to Dartmouth ED and was rejected, which in hindsight I respect far more than the deferral as he really had to let go. And did. However, he feel in love with no other school in waiting for RD decisions.</p>
<p>Went to visit Colgate and Midd on the same trip out east. When asked by current students at Colgate where he was considering, he mentioned Midd and the majorities response was that it was their first choice, but they hadn’t been accepted. Add that student opinion with the Midd Library and Bi-hall and he got on the plane with his decision made. Has it all been perfect? Nope. But he’s getting a great education and has some of the most amazing friends I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. The wait is worth it, but here’s my advice. Do something special for yourself as a countdown. Like those Christmas advent calendars. You scoff, but it works. :)</p>
<p>Hmmm sounds like a plan!</p>
<p>when do deferred applicants hear back?</p>
<p>We visited Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Middlebury and others last spring break (1st week April)- it snowed 2 inches on the drive from Dartmouth to Middlebury but all melted overnight!</p>
<p>Deferred students enter the regular decision round and will hear a definitive answer the same time as regular decision applicants, which I THINK is April 1 through the portal info (you receive a packet a few days later if accepted). Of course, if you’re wait listed, that’s not so definitive… but you still find that out at the same time.</p>
<p>We are almost there!</p>
<p>(Insert NAILBITING here).</p>
<p>Bit of an ignorant question here, and I apologize in advance if this has been asked, and duly addressed, before. I received an email stating that I needed to submit some additional information before any financial aid could be given. I’m RD, and I know that admissions here is thankfully need blind, so I was wondering if this was a good sign (because they wouldn’t be bothering with Financial Aid for rejected applicants). Does anyone here know if the financial aid is completely independent, or if this could mean that I’m in and simply need to fix up my FAFSA? Thank you.</p>