<p>JVH, I was originally choosing between Middlebury and Cornell, and now after being chosen off the Duke waitlist i am choosing between Cornell and Duke. the reasons i turned down Middlebury mostly had to do with the kids attending. I mean, I'm a jewish kid from Long Island so i didnt fit in too well with the prep school types that i tended to find at middlebury. I was recruited for tennis and I had every reason to love middlebury, but I found that the kids there weren't as intellectually curious as I would have liked them to be. And what really sealed it for me was the library, I personally view college as an opportunity to learn with a plethora of resources at your fingertips, and while Middlebury does have a wide array of resources they can in no way compare to those of a university like Duke. I mean, I'm going to be an econ major, and the econ department at middlebury isnt that strong, so that factored in largely into my decision. If you want to major in a language or environmental sciences middlebury would be perfect, but if you want to major in a science or social science, I would definitely say go to duke.</p>
<p>My reasons for advising you to choose duke are purely academic, if you don't want to be in the south, or if you really want an outdoorsy type of school, or if you don't want to be in a frat, but want a social life, don't even bother with duke, because while it may fit your academic needs, you will do best where you are most comfortable, and no one will look at you and say "you went to middlebury over duke...you moron." It is all about comfort at this point.</p>
<p>As for me, i think im going to stay with cornell because i dont like duke because of the reasons i mentioned in the above paragraph. I'm a new yorker through and through and i need the fast paced high intensity new york lifestyle</p>
<p>to address your concerns, duke has something like 93 percent of its classes with under 20 kids, so you shouldn't worry about class size.</p>
<p>However, on the same token, Middlebury may actually increase your chances of getting into grad school because your professors will be able to write more personal/glowing recommendations.</p>
<p>like i said before though it is all the same at this point, go where you'll be comfortable. Good luck with your choice.</p>
<p>skyman--like I said, I ATTENDED both Duke and Middlebury, and I found the level of intellectual stimulation to be higher at Midd than at Duke. More than half the kids at Middlebury went to public school, and there's a sizable Jewish population on campus. Did you see the same Middlebury that I went to? Talking about libraries--Midd's new library is amazing. I challenge anyone to visit Perkins and the Midd library and tell me that they liked Perkins better. </p>
<p>Middlebury is a wonderful place to go to school I am sure. I love everything about it - except the truth is it is too small to have much of a reputation. Few people know the school. Tha alum base is quite small.</p>
<p>Cornell is too mixed a population. There are so many schools, many of which are baiscally NY state schools. I fear this has clearly devalued the name. Also Cornell has a big rep as the Ivy league safety. Few people choose it as a first choice. Major weather problem - there is no spring. It is winter than classes are over. Way too isolated. I don't know what is meant by the fast place NY lif style at COrnell - that is dreaming in my opinion. </p>
<p>Duke - it is no brainer over these two schools.</p>
<p>still on the fence. if i'm going to grad school after college, i dont believe either choice will have a greater advantage over the other. but, i dont know if im going to grad school.</p>
<p>duke is clearly more prestigious, but i have to ask myself: will i sacrifice small classes and great student-prof interaction for prestige?</p>
<p>also, does south vs. north have an effect on me, which i think it does. i dont know if i'd feel comfortable in the south...being a white, jewish, not so rich kid...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I'm a white, Jewish, not so rich kid too (from LI). Duke is not Southern. I was soooo anti-coming-to-the-South until I visited and realized that it's so not like the "South" at all. The only thing Southern about Duke is the weather (which is AWESOME). Don't worry about it at all - plus, Duke has a HUMONGOUS Jewish population (and most of the people who aren't Jewish eat at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life anyway).</p></li>
<li><p>I was thisclose to going to Amherst for that very same reason (I thought that the "right" way to do the undergrad route was small classes and student-prof interaction). Long story short, don't overgeneralize the situation to prestige vs. small classes. Duke has it all. I don't know the exact number so I won't bluff and make one up, but a frighteningly humongous percentage of Duke's classes are under 30 people. During my first year, I only had 3 classes with 75+ students, and all 3 of these broke down into discussion sections of about 20 people. I mean, during my first semester I built up such a rapport with one of my professors and exchanged so many e-mails with her about papers I was writing that she once sought me out to ask me if I was OK because she hadn't heard from me all day. That's about as much personal attention as one can GET.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>When it comes down to it, I have to say -- I think Amherst's a great place (Sorry, I'm using Amherst in place of Middlebury because that's the choice that I made, but Middlebury is a great place too). But a day hasn't gone by when I haven't thanked God that I chose Duke instead. It really comes down to the resources, opportunties, chances to get involved, and -- yes -- the prestige. Once you're in college, you'll truly realize what a huge difference it makes. I mean, if you want to be pre-med, as soon as your 2nd semester of freshman year you're allowed to intern in the Duke Med Center - which is right smack in the middle of campus. I was initially told by a hospital nearby that they weren't looking for any more interns this summer, but as soon as I mentioned that I go to Duke, all of a sudden the director wanted to read my resume. Duke MAJORLY opens doors. Don't underestimate the importance of that - I'm sure as hell glad I didn't.</p>
<p>(Plus, coming from a girl who used to hate sports so much she'd bring along a bag full of books when her dad dragged her to baseball games, basketball is SO FUN!! Alright, that was just something I had to throw in. You're not a Dukie until you live in a tent in the middle of January. It's awesome).</p>
<p>Hi Maxy,
I am from Brazil yes. I did not apply for financial aid and after being waitlisted I didn't send Duke anything else, only the reply form to continue on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Well, I am still on the international waitlist, and I didn't get an e-mail until now...so I am expecting a rejection... where are you heading? I saw you got into Huntsman...tough decision for you, but then again I don't pity you. :)</p>
<p>I was accepted off of the waitlist, but I have decided to stick with my RD choice. This is crazy for me, because Duke was way up there on my initial college list. I will continue to cheer for Blue Devil Bball.</p>
<p>1) Financially not feasible/reasonable</p>
<p>2) I want a a real Southern school - thanks for the further clarity BandCampGirl, etc.</p>
<p>W&L '10!</p>
<p>But Duke Law will certainly see my application in four years.</p>
<p>congrats..... i am also on the waitlist, no news yet.. by the way, i have applied for a little aid... will that matter??? and do u think any moe intels. will be taken , and till when??</p>
<p>another thing is, i play ice hockey. at duke, since they only have a DII club team, im pretty sure i wouldnt be able to make it, which would therefore make it impossible for me to play hockey at all in college. im not like a hockey star, but i do love playing hockey, and itd suck to not be able to play. </p>
<p>i got my financial aid today - duke is giving me more than midd.</p>
<p>my decision is brinking impossible. can i go to both?</p>
<p>although i cant deny that duke has a far better reputation, and turning it down seems like sheer lunacy, i feel like middlebury is a better fit. it seems like a bit of a gamble though, what with midds far smaller alum base, small recognition, etc. would i have trouble getting a job with a midd degree vs a duke one?</p>
<p>I'm still waiting on housing and I got my confirmation from my wait list enrollment May 10th. I did get the email address this weekend though. I live on the west coast.</p>