What is Middlebury REALLY like?

mythmom
Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:27:03 +0000

Here are salient difference between Midd and Williams in my mind.
Campus:
Williams: Town and school completely integrated. The campus feels like a small town – campact, with a road running through – plus or minus depending on pov. The buildings are varied with very different architecture – the basic architecture federalist brick.

Middlebury: Completely enclosed campus. Buildings more uniform – limestone. The campus is less compact – plus or minus depending on pov.

Academic orientation:
Williams: Sciences, arts, English.
Midd: Languages, environmentalism, social sciences.

Atmosphere:
Williams: Quirkier, a little more introverted.
Midd: A bit more mainstream. (Just a personal observation.)

Both rigorous LAC’s with many athletes and prep school kids, but both have their fair share of public school kids (50+%). Williams slightly more diverse.

Both very isolated. Midd has Burlington – nice city. Wiliams has Albany – okay city. Williams has No. Adams and Bennington also right there and Pittsfield (though not a student friendly town.)

For us, Williams is much closer.

I think both schools kind of breathtaking. For most students, when stepping on campus one just feels more like home.