<p>This title suggests everything I want to say. I know this is so cliche and im no expert in colleges. First, definitely do campus visits. And more importantly, reach out to the professors and STUDENTS there, try to spend AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE with them. This sounds impossible, but the sense of excitement of being a pre-college freshman can blind your eyes. The longer the time you spend with the students, the less distracted judgement you can make about whether or not you fit in well with them, or say whether they make you feel “comfortable”, if that makes sense. I’m saying this because while I didn’t encounter much bias, oftentimes I felt “discomfort” on a subconscious level simply from a normal chat with some people AFTER spending some time at college (a friend of mine said exactly the same thing today...so im not being cynical in any way). you see, the students can be the source of your being unhappy and so it is in your interest to find out the student body of the college that you are considering. This is especially important for internationals, LGBT and any minority students. Usually the more diverse the campus, the better.
You don’t want to be unhappy and end up wanting to leave (I intend to use this word here instead of, say, transferring). The process is painful and you don’t want to do that to yourself. Another suggestion would be to talk to a RECENT alumni of that college. Current students of the college that you are considering may be a bit defensive about their college- my experience tells me that some frank opinions, often evaluative ones, from a recent alumni can be much more valuable than what current students has to say about their college experiences in those short propaganda clips you saw in admission houses.( an alumni once told me about someone he knew transferring out and why while he made sure that he personally LOVED his college. It’s always interesting to know, just saying).
No college is perfect of course. And maybe you already have a professional goal of becoming a doctor and so you will probably choose the college with the most prestigious med program. But still i can’t tell you enough how important it is to stay happy for the next four years and im saying this from the perspective of an already college student. Something bad happened today that really made me feel uncomfortable and almost made me cry at the scene so im being bit wordy here. Midd is indeed a great school, and i wish all the students best in choosing a college.</p>
<p>Just to be clear–you don’t attend Midd, right?</p>
<p>OK, I just finally made the decision that I will accept Middlebury’s offer and now I read this and is thinking reconsidering… again! I wouldn’t be able to attend preview day… can some one please elaborate on Dufour’s claim please?</p>
<p>Dufour goes to Connecticut College.</p>
<p>sorry didn’t think of this before…im not a midd kid and dont take me wrong! I said “the more diverse the campus, the better” and I dont think there is any campus more diverse than midd.</p>
<p>Sorry Coolkh, I’d help, but I have no idea what Dufour is trying to say.</p>
<p>Dufour is trying to say that people of color, people along the LGBT spectrum or any other marginalized group may feel excited with their first encounter with a school but may find that people are being merely polite and s/he isn’t really comfortable with the people and there will be some distance that impacts happiness.</p>
<p>That is, if I’m reading Dufour right.</p>
<p>If I am reading this right, s/he is also not talking about Midd, which s/he sees as a diverse campus but about his/her own campus, CT College, which seems a less diverse campus.</p>
<p>But this issue is being offered for consideration.</p>
<p>This is the gist I can make out. My apologies to all if this is incorrect.</p>
<p>thanks mythmom that’s my point…and im def not talking about Midd which in fact is very diverse.</p>
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<p>That’s not correct, Midd is great college but many are more diverse. e.g., Wesleyan, Amherst, Swarthmore, et cetera.</p>
<p>Dufour, I’m sorry for the past and present experiences that have saddened and upset you. Colleges are to some degree a mirror of society as a whole, and no campus is exempt from racism, classism and homophobia…diverse or not.
As an example, Smith, which is by any definition far more diverse than Midd, recently had a disgusting incident take place on campus.</p>
<p>
[Pearls</a> and Cashmere | Open Letter to the Smith Community](<a href=“http://pearlsandcashmere.■■■■■■■■■■/post/20630665784/open-letter-to-the-smith-community]Pearls”>http://pearlsandcashmere.■■■■■■■■■■/post/20630665784/open-letter-to-the-smith-community)</p>
<p>Williams is by some measures more diverse than Midd and has had inexcusable incidents occur.
[Important</a> Message on Racist Hate Speech | Office of the President](<a href=“http://president.williams.edu/letters-from-the-president/1174/]Important”>http://president.williams.edu/letters-from-the-president/1174/)</p>
<p>The details are unimportant, but Midd isn’t exempt from unfortunate events occurring that are related to race, sexual preference and so forth.</p>
<p>Dufour, you can’t always control the actions and the beliefs of those around you, however, you can control your thinking and how you react to the ignorance and cruelty of others. Believing Midd is a panacea for the issues you’re facing is wrong and self-defeating. And if I read your post correctly, considering leaving Connecticut College is equally wrong and self-defeating. </p>
<p>Lastly, many years ago, a good friend and a Wesleyan alum named Joshua informed me he was applying for a teaching position at a very rural Vermont elementary school. Being familiar with the area, I asked Josh why in heaven’s name do want to teach in a rural Vermont town and subject yourself to issues one can only imagine? He said because someone has to educate those who through no fault of their own are uneducated. Perplexed, I quipped of course the kids are uneducated, hence, the need for you. To which he replied, I’m referring to the parents and local residents, not the kids. </p>
<p>Josh is Black. Think about it, Dufour.</p>