RossJM

Diversity is fairly important to me, and I like every aspect of Middlebury except for the diversity. Is it improving? Any better than before? I currently go to a melting pot of a high school (which I love and appreciate), and I hope the diversity is at least decent at Middlebury.

Murphy600

I am curious too. I hear there is a diverse group but that culturally it feels jock-y ... they have cliques which sets a tone???

urbanslaughter

Middlebury always gets a bad rap for it's supposed lack of diversity, but it's in the top third of all LAC's for diversity. When compared to it's peers, it's not doing so badly (not to say there isn't room for improvement). It's close behind (in terms of diversity) the following schools:
US Air Force Academy
Carleton
Macalester
Oberlin
Holy Cross

It's tied with Colgate

It's ahead of the following schools:
Bates
Colorado College
Davidson
Hamilton
Whitman
Union
Conn. College
Colby
Kenyon
Sewanee
Bucknell
St. Lawrence
Washington & Lee
Bard

When compared to National Universities, it's close behind:
University of Michigan
American University
Notre Dame

It's ahead of:
University of Minnesota
Wake Forest
Penn. State
University of Colorado
Ohio State
Tennessee

It's especially important to compare it to Universities in Vermont and New Hampshire. It's nearly two times as diverse as nearby University of Vermont and it's over twice as diverse as the University of New Hampshire.

As difficult as it is to get minority students to attend schools in white Vermont, it's done a pretty good job. In fact, as with most everything the school does, it does better than most.

GolfFather

I guess it depends on how you are defining "diversity."

If you are defining it as "Black or African American, non-Hispanic," then Middlebury's CDS says there are 60.

If you are defining it as true "diversity," then the number is 2,507.
No two students are alike.
Each is unique.
So, therefore, a very diverse student population.

farkula

Lol, I am pretty sure every1 that ive met so far is pretty different and the campus is diverse enough. And I am an international student coming from an international school (so im not white-biased...).

wotton617

It really depends on your definition of diversity. If you mean ethnic diversity, then I'd say that no LAC school on the east coast could match the same level of diversity as a school like UCBerkeley. Of course there are asians, hispanics, international students, and african americans, but the majority of the students are caucasian and blonde.

If you mean socio-economic diversity, then Middlebury definitely seems lacking in that respect. I come from a low-income immigrant family, and everyone in my community pretty much had the same background. It was a very different experience to meet students whose parents are very wealthy (doctors, executive directors, lawyers, etc.).

As far as cliques go, the athletes are very close with each other. It doesn't seem like they want to associate with anyone else besides their fellow teammates.

If diversity is really important to you, then it'll take time to adjust to the social environment if you decide to come here. Diversity is here at Middlebury. It's just not immediately noticeable. There are students who have a unique story, but they're rare and sometimes hard to notice/find.

Academically though, Middlebury is top-notch. If you're the academic kind of person who likes to be challenged, then Middlebury is the place to be.

Billy17

I really want to get into this college. I am from a very small and developing country. How much do Middlebury interested in a students like me? What if my SAT score is 1800(or something; it's just my prediction)? What is my chance?

Murphy600

Billy, look at the stats. That's too low for SAT.

Khalilzhad

Meh, I don't necessarily agree. Stats aren't everything at a small school school like Middlebury especially if you bring the type of diversity it sounds like you would to the table.

What country are you coming from may I ask?

Billy17

I am from Mongolia.
I am sure there were no Mongolians ever in Middlebury.

urbanslaughter

There was a guy from Mongolia in my class at Middlebury, so there's been at least one. I would suspect there have been others.