<p>I can say that I have truly loved my foreign language experience so far here at WashU.</p>
<p>My class was capped at 14 people but occasionally, there will be 1 or 2 more or less people depending on which section they want to go to for the day (there are two sections and they are one right after another).</p>
<p>And kind of interesting tie-in to Middlebury, I know that my professor teaches at Middlebury's summer language intensive.</p>
<p>I looked at two liberal arts schools (Amherst and Wellesley, which are pretty similar to Middlebury). I really liked the environment of a small liberal art school, and most people seemed to be really happy there. Students there chose those schools because they wanted a small school in a small town, and wanted a feeling where they knew everyone on campus. And there's nothing wrong with that choice inherently, but as people said before... Wash U and Middlebury are institutionally different types of schools. </p>
<p>Why I chose Wash U, though, was because I felt that I wouldn't be limited. At the small schools, everything just seemed more limited... smaller departments, like four professors per department, no research, small library, etc. At Wash U, I felt like I could do anything... switch majors, thousands of classes, etc, but it still NEVER felt overwhelming or huge. It was just a nice compromise. </p>
<p>I think Middlebury's language department might be more favorably looked up, but I mean at the end of 4 years, you're probably going to be equally fluent whether you go to Wash U or Middlebury or Northwestern or Stanford. You know what I mean? </p>
<p>Both schools will have great study abroad programs and really accomplished faculty. I think a school like Wash U, though, you're just going to have more limit-less opportunities.</p>
<p>Just some closure for those who may be in a similar situation, I ended up choosing WashU after an ABSOLUTELY wonderful visit; I met with many students (all of whom were very bright yet very relaxed/down to earth) and 4 professors! Besides the overall great atmosphere I felt, I also realized that Middlebury could not offer me WashU’s flexibility and wonderful PNP program (with access to many resources and research projects). While Middlebury may have the upper hand on languages, the small language departments at WashU allow me to make close relationships with my professors, and the university offers an abundance of study-abroad programs. I’m SO happy to be attending WashU next year and am very relieved that I have found the perfect school for me!</p>
<p>Edit:
Just some more thoughts I had:</p>
<ol>
<li>The campus is absolutely stunning (very different from “Vermont Beauty” however)</li>
<li>Everyone is SO nice (even the woman at the admissions desk - I think her name is Delise haha)</li>
<li>We ate in the dining hall and the food was really good! Tons of options too!</li>
<li>At times the school seemed almost “too perfect” (such as a speech by an admissions officer with a current student that seemed scripted) but there’s a lot to say for WashU trying to make a good impression on its visitors. </li>
<li>Dorms are very nice!</li>
</ol>
<p>Haha! Congrats! Can’t wait to have you here next year, yellow!</p>
<p>Congrats Yellow! My D is a soph at WashU - P-N-P and Foreign Language double major. Also may minor in music and bio. Some other schools told D that wouldn’t be possible in their program. She attended Middlebury’s 7 week intensive language program last summer - great school and fabulous professors from around the world teach the summer program. She loved it - LOVED IT! But, she also LOVES her foreign language department at WashU - thinks the professors are incredible and provide TONS of individual attention. The students and professors meet for lunch, had a get together at a professor’s home, and have gone off campus for an event. Her department is also ranked in the top 10 in the country, as I am told many of WashU foreign language programs are.</p>
<p>Again, congratulations, and welcome to the WashU family!</p>
<p>MidwestParent-- I am an incoming freshman of Wash U this fall and I am so glad to know that your D can do double major in PNP and Foreign Language, and even with a minor!!! That is EXACTLY the track/combination I would love to do!!! With your saying that “Her department is also ranked in the top 10 in the country, as I am told many of WashU foreign language programs are.”, I am now so proud of Wash U and happy that I made a right decision to attend WashU.!<br>
But sometimes I will worry about the name recognition of WashU…so is this really a problem? Thanks for your advice~!</p>
<p>CS - sent you a PM</p>
<p>A wise friend once told me - Those in the “know”, know about Washington University. That is very true. My nephew attends Northwestern. When my sister tells people that they say, “Oh, Northwestern State University” (referring to a lower level StateU in her state) - these people are not in the “know”. I have a friend’s daughter at Rice - no one knows about it either. My D was also accepted at Notre Dame. When you say the name Notre Dame people “ooohhh” and “aaaahhh”, but they don’t do that based on the strength of the academics at the school. They do it because of its football history! Don’t worry about the name recognition. The places where it would be important to have them know about the strength of the school (such as med schools, grad schools) are very aware of what an impressive place it is.</p>
<p>MidwestParent, thanks so much for your quick and warmhearted message~! You are right, screw the big name, focus on the true strength~! Just as the motto of Wash U says: Per Veritatem Vis ----Strength Through Truth </p>
<p>I now just cannot wait more for the fall to start~! I understand there’s a great challenge waiting for me there, but you know what, i am ready~! </p>
<p>THANKS AGAIN~ you are not only the parent of a midwest D, but you are like the parent of all confused high school senior:) 谢谢～( “thank you” in my native language: pronounced “sye sye”)</p>
<p>Cedricsunshine - all I have to say is “sye sye” for that lovely post!</p>