<p>I loved both, and along with Colgate they were my top three choices, but I ultimately went with Midd ED.
Personally, I am completely and totally undecided, so because the two were on almost the exact same academic level, it came down to mostly non-academic factors.
A big part of my decision making process came down to the campuses themselves. I would actually say that that’s one of the biggest diffeneces between the two. Bowdoin is a little more worn-in, more mismatched, flatter. Middlebury is composed of very matched grey stone buildings, and seated between two mountain ranges. The campus is much more open, with wide open spaces. Both campuses are beautiful, but most applicants respond better to one than the other. For this reason, I recommend looking at as many pictures as you can find. Both schools have photos on their websites, and facebook groups tend to be a good source.</p>
<p>Another key differences is that Bowdoin has a much smaller student body. This has a number of effects on the school as a whole, but one that mattered to me was that it meant that Bowdoin had a higher number of athletes and athletic recruits. They have roughly the same number of teams to fill as Midd (slightly more, in fact), and obviously, that means that a higher percentage of students and needed to fill those teams. It felt very much like a “jock school” to me. I have nothing against athletes, but as someone with strong interests in acting and painting, I was definitely looking for a place with a student body that was less athletic, and more artistic. </p>
<p>That said, both are incredible schools, and your daughter has a tough choice in front of her.</p>
<p>*If it comes down to it, keep in mind that Midd is the founder of quidditch!</p>