WUSTL vs. Middlebury

<p>I really can't decide. I know they're dramatically different and I know a lot about the pros of each, but not much about the cons. Does anyone have any input? My biggest concern about Midd is that it might get boring because I don't like to drink and it's filled with rich kids, but I like that it has a small community and is concerned with the environment/fitness. I like WUSTL because it's in a relatively small-medium city and the 6,000 undergrads seems the right size. I'm visiting both next month. Does anyone have any comments to make about either before my visit?</p>

<p>It sounds like you already made up your mind on WUSTL. What is your major? What is the price difference?</p>

<p>Haha these schools are like night and day.</p>

<p>How does it sound like I’ve made up my mind? I just know more about it since I got in almost 3 weeks ago whereas I got into Midd yesterday.</p>

<p>Many schools of questionable repute release decisions early as a clever tactic to beat out more desirable competing schools. Psychological warfare.</p>

<p>Fair warning that WUSTL will be filled with rich kids who like to drink… as is the case with most elite colleges and universities these days, really.</p>

<p>You will get the feeling that you are at “the right school” as soon as you visit campus. Until then, don’t go in with prejudices or biases, as these will pretty much decide how the institution, its administrators and residents, appear in your eyes.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, but I’m one of those people who tends to fall in love with every campus she visits. If I do it based on “fit” I feel that I will just end up picking whichever college I visit last. I’m pretty flexible, so the only thing I don’t want is for things to get too repetitive after 3-4 years.</p>

<p>I visited both schools with my son when he was college searching. He would have applied to Middlebury, but was accepted ED at WashU, where is he is now a freshman.</p>

<p>Middlebury is smaller than WashU. As a freshman at WashU, my son has had a few relatively large intro classes (100+ students). I doubt that would be the case at Midd. </p>

<p>Both campuses are very pretty, although different. Middlebury is somewhat isolated, in a very small town. The campus itself was relatively large, the buildings somewhat far away from one another. It made the campus very pretty, but made me wonder if the students regretted the longer walking distances in the winter. Midd has its very own ski area. </p>

<p>Midd seemed to be more ecologically aware/green. </p>

<p>Foreign languages are a key strength at Midd. Biology is a key strength at WashU. Midd is a LAC, WashU is a U, with schools of engineering, art, architecture, business. Being larger, WashU will likely have more course offerings.</p>