<p>An admittedly biased opinion: have you considered Williams :)? Kind of a cross between Middlebury and Amherst in many ways (and frankly, I think that all three are fairly similar schools, but Williams provides a sort of middle ground between the two). All of things you seem to love about Midd also characterize Williams, and Williams of course is even with Amherst in terms of prestige (Midd is not far enough behind to make a difference if you prefer it to either, however, as discussed more below).</p>
<p>Given what you are saying, I think Midd is the easy choice, and I would say the same thing if you had expressed similar feelings about Midd vs. Williams. At that level, you will get a great eduation wherever you go, but you are FAR more likely to gain more out of your education at a school where you are happier and a better fit, which will in turn make you more likely to appeal to grad schools or recruiters down the line. You certainly wouldn’t be sacrificing your future by choosing Midd over ANY school, and anyone who tells you otherwise is talking crazy.</p>