I am having trouble deciding between these schools…so I want to study econ/math. I enjoy these subjects and also want to go into finance. I wanted to know…
What school offers more finance opportunities?
What school will better prepare me for what I want?
What schools is recruited heavier and has better networking for finance?
What school has a better social scene?
Thanks!
My S just finished obsessing over these two schools before committing to one, though not specifically with an econ/math focus. Overall they are effectively academically and reputationally comparable. Midd does better in the US News ranks because it has a better endowment but Wes does better in other ranks, including the Forbes one that focused more on “outcomes” (i.e. jobs or grad school). They both are known by and recruited from the same companies, etc. My memory is there are a couple rankings out there specific to investment banking and finance where Midd does better. But I’ll also tell you as someone working in NYC and interacting with lots of bankers, VC’s, start-ups, biz dev, etc., more of the people I came across (because I was always soliciting opinions) had a positive reaction to Wes – that’s not scientific of course. On the other hand, I know more parents with kids at Midd. Again, six-of-one…
I suspect if you conclude one is better than the other in terms of department rep, it will be marginally so. There are real differences with the schools, though, so you might want to focus on those. Midd is obviously far more rural but in my opinion are far more attractive campus with a smaller but nicer adjacent community. Most of Midd’s facilities were newer or better. Their sports complex was spectacular for a school it’s size (or any size really). Their film program while tiny and not as renowned compared to Wes actually had some production facilities and video post production and editing equipment that ironically Wes didn’t. I also got the sense that Midd invests more resources in coddling its students more than Wes, for better and worse. Wes culturally is very much about independence. I would have more faith in Midd helping secure internships that Wes. Midd also has an amazing Leadership program available to all students in their J-term called MiddCore (outside students can pay for a summer version). On the other hand, Wes hands-down has more developed arts programs – music, theater, film. It has the best known film school of the LAC’s, the creator of Hamilton (just nominated for 16 Tonys today) is a theater grad from Wes, etc. It’s student paper published twice a week vs once a month for Midd, etc. Wes is more diverse too.
Social-wise, it depends what appears to you. Midd has a higher ratio of jocks (known there as “Bros”) than Wes. Wes still has a co-ed frat (5% of students participate) and is more known for its party scene and general tolerance of experimentation than Midd (for better and worse). Midd by comparison has banned energy drink sales from campus, if that shows you their level of intervention.
It was a super close decision for a S but I don’t think he could have gone wrong either way.
@citivas , good summary of the two schools, and their distinctions. with a kid at Midd, I can second all of what you said.