<p>anyone with knowledge of middlebury- how would you describe the student body in general? are the students friendly? and i mean this in a social way as well..are parties or whatever exclusive or very open? </p>
<p>thanks for any help! i visited campus and it was obviously beautiful but i dont want to make a decision just based on looks!</p>
<p>While you’re waiting for a current student or alum to comment you could check out some of the Midd. vs. XYZ threads (under college search) which often have helpful comments. I found, for example, “close knit and vibrant” student body which is very true in my parent experience. Another “vs.” thread mentioned Midd as having the friendliest people. And another pointed to the “very sporty” feeling. You could also search the Midd forum for “social” and “parties”. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have 2 sons at Midd-both smart but very different interests and personalities. What they like about Midd is that everyone is really friendly. I think you will find that to be a common thread.
One is a political science junkie and computer whizz; he spends time with the campus dems, and the the newspaper, and has a job working on a department website and doing research. He feels lucky to be at Midd. He is not athletic or particularly into partying.He loves to ski, and the ski area was a big plus for him.
The other is a recruited athlete, not political, and very health conscious. He is into environmental studies and foreign language.
They are from public school and receive financial aid. They were both shocked at how rich some of the students are, but noted that “even people I don’t want to be friends with are nice”. That being said, they both have to work on campus and some of their friends are clueless about that aspect of life.
They love their challenging, interesting classes and have both made lots of friends from all over the world.</p>
<p>Oldbatsie, I think that has long been the situation at Midd. That being said, I think that (the existence of wealthy students who have no understanding of the value of a dollar) is a common trait at a lot of schools - especially the elite colleges and universities throughout the nation. I don’t mean to defend that point of view, just the presence of that perspective at schools like Middlebury.</p>
<p>It was the same at Bates. I was a public school girl on scholarship, and instead of to the Bahamas, Iwent to work for break-and all year, that matter. It may bother some people more than others, but I don’t think it detracted from the education in any way.</p>
<p>Let’s see… how would I describe my own middkid… </p>
<p>A very serious student but a retired athletic star who has friends of all kinds at Midd. He does indeed enjoy a good party, is relatively open minded but somewhat apathetic in his political leanings. He is a science guy who also dabbles in the arts, likes to camp, work out regularly in the very fine facilities provided and attend the events -whether they be on the field or the stage - of his friends. He comes from neither wealth nor poverty, attended private school, is not on financial aid, but recognizes the value of a dollar, as do most of his friends based on their welcome of a free bed and board when they can get it. I suppose it may appear that he has the ability of living the high life, but that would discount the 30 hour work weeks during the summer of his doing back-breaking labor at a job that assures he will stay in college. He saves his money and always calculates his expenditures in a risk/reward kind of way. He too enjoys the skiing and the great outdoors that seem to be a regular draw to Midd, but he is not of the granola crunching variety that is often times the opposite stereotype. </p>
<p>Of the three other students from his high school that have chosen Middlebury, each can be described differently. One, a girl, didn’t like the school much her freshman year, but has really blossomed this year getting involved in common’s life and being a good connection for other similarly lost first years as the physical proof that you can come into your own if given a little breathing room. Another is a recruited athlete who is enjoy the benefits of “team” and being ridiculously good looking. He might be one of those kids who doesn’t overtly recognize the plight of those with thinner wallets, but was raised in a way that still labels him, “a nice boy.” And if someone else said, “I can’t afford to do that,” his first inclination would be to open himself freely to whatever idea is offered as a replacement. The third is very studious, in an almost socially inept way, but he tries very hard, and the niceness of the kids at Midd seems a very good fit for him. Not much of an athlete himself, he will undoubtedly still be at every football and hockey game he can get to.</p>
<p>I think it’s also important to note, the type of student changes over time. What I mean by that is the students themselves will be quite different upon graduating, from the student they were upon matriculating. I know I was a totally different person when I arrived at Middlebury, from the person I was when I graduated from Middlebury. It’s that kind of school. Hopefully, you’ll grow and develop emotionally and intellectually during your time there. Most students go through quite a transformation. I take for example, Modadunn’s third friend of her son - the socially inept one. I was probably closest to that “type” when I arrived. By the time I graduated, I was physically bulkier, very gregarious, extremely inquisitive, and significantly more confident. All the changes were the result of my years at a school that taught me to be open, creative, and curious.</p>
<p>My older son is insanely happy at Midd, and he has always been hard to please.</p>
<p>He is so happy to be surrounded by people interested in learning and ideas, and intellectual and political discussions. After 12 years in a very jock-oriented public school in New York, it was a welcome change for him.
He has become more self-confident, open to new ideas, willing to try new things, and indeed, more mature in just one semester.
My younger S is still adjusting to being away from home, but initial reports are favorable.</p>
<p>Urbanslaughter - I loved your post. </p>
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<p>My retired athlete is finding exactly this as well. There is a whole world out there. (But I will say: I am not sure what a Jock oriented public school is, but I hope it doesn’t infer that athletes are not intellectual cuz that’s just asking for rebuttal.:)</p>
<p>One of the best things about social life at Midd is that it’s not exclusive at all. My friends at other schools were amazed that at our parties, there was never anyone waiting outside of parties deciding who got in. Anyone can go anywhere.
That said, there’s generally a big divide between the athletes and the non-athletes. Some people cross over–I was the only non-athlete in my group–but that’s pretty rare. Athletes tend to dominate the social scene (although non-athletes certainly had fun as well).
People do complain that the student body looks the same, and there’s some truth there–leggings, ugg boots, and a northface are pretty much the Middgirl uniform. Middlebury is one of those schools that tends to attract a certain kind of person–outdoorsy, somewhat preppy–so some people find that monotonous… especially since there are so few students.</p>
<p>In generally, though, Middkids are open-minded, friendly, and welcoming.</p>
<p>My daughter is a recent graduate of Middlebury. Smart, focused student coming from an urban public arts high school with few peers and barely so-so academics. Her h.s. guidance counselor had never heard of Middlebury. She thrived at Midd and emerged a very happy and independent person. She connected with and was mentored by several teachers, and the relationships continue. She never went skiing and she didn’t have much to do with the athletes. Not a big partier, but she made several close friends. We all love Vermont.
I’m encouraging my youngest son (jr. in hs) to apply there too; like one of the other posters said–many people do transform during college, at least in our experience.</p>
<p>A jock oriented public school is one where the entire social life of the school revolves around athletics, where academic awards are eliminated “because it hurts people’s self esteem” but the entire school has to take time out of instruction to attend pep rallies for the football team, where the salary for coaches of any sport exceed that of advisors for other clubs by a minimum of 100%, where the athletic director makes one of the top salaries in the district, etc etc etc. The entry way is lined with photos of athletes and their awards, while the math team gets a quarter page black and white photo in the yearbook. The college bowl advisor works for free and buys the kids snacks himself. I actually could go on for some time on this one.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much, this was definitely the kind of information I was looking for! I’m pretty sure I will be applying to Midd ED so wish me luck!!! (Dont worry, I didnt make my decision based on your posts haha but they didnt hurt!)</p>
<p>Good luck Max!</p>
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<p>A guidance counselor that has never heard of the Top 50 LACs, not just the Top 50 universities, is not qualified to be a guidance counselor. Period.</p>
<p>let alone the top 5! Seriously, Plainsman, good point. That’s not a guidance counselor, that’s some random rube sitting at a desk.</p>