Suggestions for Visit to Midd

journey919 · 11-20-2009, 07:06 AM

Hi Midd experts:

My D gotten interested in Midd a little late in the game. They don't give any more on-campus interviews, info sessions, tours etc until next year. She is considering ED2 so she really needs to get a good feel for the place. We decided to go up anyway, and she has gotten permission from a few professors to attend their classes. She will have most of the day on campus. Any suggestions on what to do? (I know the area, so we don't really need tourist suggestions. Just ideas on how she can get to know the college without participating in the formal events). Thanks!

arcadia · 11-20-2009, 10:41 AM

Really depends on when you're going. Weekend trip? Will you be there on a Tuesday night? If you give us dates, we can look up stuff that's going on. What is her intended major?

General places to visit: Admissions Office, new library, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, McCullough Student Center, Campus book store, Le Chateau, Hillcrest Environmental Center, Center for the Arts, athletic complex, Ross Dining Hall, Mead Chapel, Axinn Center at Starr Library.

http://web.middlebury.edu/services/c...8campusmap.pdf

OldbatesieDoc · 11-20-2009, 11:39 AM

My S really enjoyed hanging out in the library-breathing the rarefied air...Make sure admissions officially knows she is there...Does she play a sport-a coach might be willing to talk to her?

journey919 · 11-20-2009, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the good ideas!

It's a very short trip, but this is the only way we could see the school. We are arriving this Sunday about noon and leaving Monday around 3. So I guess the question is should she try to spend time on the campus on Sunday? Perhaps that is a good time for the library...

She is going to see a coach. Her intended major is geography. She is planning to attend a geography class and a Chinese class. Both professors were very helpful. She is going to try and see a coach but there may not be time.

Regarding the suggestion to contact admissions, do you think it is okay for her just to email admissions and tell them she is there and her plans to visit the two classes? Is the point to register her interest or is there another reason to contact them? They suggested she do this so I think it is fine.

sixfoottall · 11-20-2009, 09:52 PM

hi journey919,

its really amazing that your d can have a chance to visit middlebury, and even more, sit in some of the professors classes!

im an international so i can only have a glance at middlebury through youtubevideos and the college website.

i hope u have a good trip with ur daughter at middlebury! do update and let us noe (those eager midd-wannabes from other countries) about ur trip!

ps: Geography is my biggest interest too! and if i ever have the chance to go to Middlebury, i ll be pursuing in geography too. (pretty rare to hear people on CC expressing geography as their main interest

and i was really delighted seeing that).

all the best to ur daughter's application!

Modadunn · 11-21-2009, 09:00 AM

You might want to enjoy dinner Sunday night at 51 Main - College-owned right in the middle of downtown. Not sure what they have going on on the Sunday you're visiting, but it's a nice town/gown establishment. I agree with Bi-hall visit and my son too went to library and basically hung out and watched who was coming and going. You can also probably just walk through the center for the arts. Not sure of the weather, but make sure you're dressed in layers on the warmer side.

journey919 · 11-21-2009, 11:53 AM

sixfoottall: I agree that my D is REALLY lucky to be able to visit colleges, and I tell her that all the time! But in her case, living not all that far away, the admins can see that it is possible for her to visit, and I think it would count against her not to visit. In your case, they know that visiting is completely unrealistic, so it is not important for you (from the admissions standpoint). Some downsides of visiting colleges: it sets students up for disappointment when they don't get in and it distracts from doing a good job on applications! So don't feel bad! Geography is a great major, both versatile and practical, and it is much neglected in the US. I notice the Canadian schools all have great departments. I do hope you get into Middlebury!

Modadun - great idea about the 51 main and I'm sure D will love to go the library and do some investigation on what the students are like. Thanks for the packing advice too!

hohum · 11-21-2009, 12:27 PM

I would definitely stop in at the admissions office and ask for a map of the campus, brochures, etc. just to let them know that you're there. Perhaps they could find a student to show you around?

journey919 · 11-21-2009, 01:03 PM

Thanks Hohum.

OldbatesieDoc · 11-21-2009, 01:10 PM

I would email admissions, ask if you could stop by on Monday, and tell them what you have arranged yourself. Looking good, lots of initiative...Ask Arcadia, s/he seems to be a Midd guru...

jackief · 11-21-2009, 01:13 PM

journey- my D applied ED1 to Midd. The Midd supplement asks if you have visited and the date. She can list the date there, if the admissions office isn't open they will understand she diddn't attend the info/tour or fill out the sheet. My D actually visited twice but the app would only take one date, so there is no way to show if you have visited thousands of times. She also attended a class on the second visit. I also like to hit the dining hall. Have a fun visit!

hohum · 11-21-2009, 03:01 PM

By the way, I would eat in Ross dining hall if you get a chance. Great food choices and amazing views if it's a nice day.

arcadia · 11-22-2009, 11:56 AM

You're probably already there, but here is a list of things going on today:

Middlebury College: Events at Middlebury

Be sure to let us know how the visit went!

Modadunn · 11-24-2009, 05:46 PM

curious to know what the verdict was on this visit... kind of a stressful weekend with papers etc due so I am wondering if there were smiling faces or panic stricken to greet them.

journey919 · 11-24-2009, 06:58 PM

Thanks everybody for all the helpful suggestions.

The trip went very well and my D really liked Middlebury. Coming from a very tacky suburb, she felt she had stepped into a Christmas card! The campus is certainly beautiful and the new construction quite amazing.

She was most impressed by the the two classes she visited. The professors in both were really excellent and helpful. One professor even helped arrange for her to have lunch with a student! She did check in at admissions, and visited most of the buildings you all recommended. She had a talk with the swim coach and he was encouraging but she did get the sense that swimming at Middlebury is a bit more intense than at the other schools she has visited so if she gets in and attends, that will be a decision to make.

Her fear about Middlebury had been the number of "rich preppy" kids but after the visit she got the sense that there were plenty of different types of kids and no one subculture dominates. Do you think her impression is accurate? The school is not very diverse, but more diverse than she expected and at least on this short visit, she noticed a lot of interaction between races. Students were overall friendly and helpful.

Her only real disappointment was that Middlebury does not have a Baha'i Club. (She visited the Chaplain's office to ask about this). She would love to go to a school with at least one or two Baha'i students, but perhaps some will attend next year.