Middlebury vs Tufts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people may be misinterpreting. Students don’t have time (and really aren’t that attractive as applicants) to work for big museums while in college. They work at university museums. Where Middlebury is severely lacking is giving their students actual jobs in museum work.

Example of this issue:
What Middlebury offers: https://www.middlebury.edu/museum/teaching-learning/middlebury-students/reception-positions
What Williams offers: https://artmuseum.williams.edu/who-we-are/jobs-internships/
What Pomona offers: https://www.pomona.edu/museum/learn/opportunities
Not giving your students good internships in museums is very telling of a poor quality museum. Your child should go to Tufts.

Yep. I have a freshman at one of these schools who has a work-study job lined up at the college art museum next semester. DC has a studio art background, but hasn't yet taken an art history course.

Also, advice to OP: Ignore any advice that is offered in hyperbolic absolutes. DCUM can be a weird place. and the worst offenders never acknowledge nuance.

[Anonymous]

I don’t mean to be negative on the museum thing. but I have worked in museums, so take this with that in mind. What kind of museum? Art museums will want art history majors. A science museum, as a volunteer/demonstrator? Could he fulfill that desire over the summer?

If he’s serious about English he could work in a library special collection or archive. That’s more realistic.

[Anonymous]

Honestly neither. A student that strong should just apply Williams, Amherst, Pomona, and potentially bard if they can accept the drop in student quality for the amazing museum/art history/English faculty and resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tufts has a masters level museum studies program. DC could call and ask if undergrads have access to those courses.

It also has the BFA and BFA+ BA program that includes all areas of fine art and museum installation.

And you’d be near Boston, which has wonderful museums obviously.

This is what I came on to say. Is he interested in museum studies? Tufts would be a logical choice. Though I suppose having these students might make it harder to get a museum job if he isn’t pursuing the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t mean to be negative on the museum thing. but I have worked in museums, so take this with that in mind. What kind of museum? Art museums will want art history majors. A science museum, as a volunteer/demonstrator? Could he fulfill that desire over the summer?

If he’s serious about English he could work in a library special collection or archive. That’s more realistic.

This really isn’t true. Many small college art museums hire across majors to field their internships. It’s a common misconception, but DC’s at an Lac for art history currently and almost no one on the student staff is an art history major- there’s more math majors.

[Anonymous]

Is Dartmouth also on his list? Seems like it might check a lot of his boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Dartmouth also on his list? Seems like it might check a lot of his boxes.

If you’re looking for a university, Dartmouth’s Hood Museum is resoundingly mediocre.

[Anonymous]

People are tripping over themselves on the museum bit and completely forgetting Op’s child’s major: English. Middlebury simply blows tufts out of the water for English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which would you recommend for a DS interested in English and Chemistry major, really wants to work in a museum in college, wants to write on the student newspaper, enjoys smaller classes but likes diversity, and has Ivy-level stats?

Does your DC prefer an urban/suburban environment (Tufts is 30 mins from downtown Boston on T line) or a more rural environment with cool features like it's own ski hill on campus (Middlebury)?

Otherwise, I slightly prefer the Breadloaf school (English) at Middlebury for the kid you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly neither. A student that strong should just apply Williams, Amherst, Pomona, and potentially bard if they can accept the drop in student quality for the amazing museum/art history/English faculty and resources.

+1, all better recommendations!

[Anonymous]

English at Kenyon (in OH) is really good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Dartmouth also on his list? Seems like it might check a lot of his boxes.

If you’re looking for a university, Dartmouth’s Hood Museum is resoundingly mediocre.

Dartmouth College is smaller than Tufts but larger than Middlebury. It’s obviously not a big university. The Hood Museum isn’t huge but reopened in 2019 after an extensive three year renovation. It’s a lovely space in which to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which would you recommend for a DS interested in English and Chemistry major, really wants to work in a museum in college, wants to write on the student newspaper, enjoys smaller classes but likes diversity, and has Ivy-level stats?

I don't have a specific opinion on either Midd or Tufts other than they are both outstanding schools. But your DS sounds like a better fit for an LAC than university as a very general matter. They work well for kids who want to explore radically different academic subjects (like English and Chemistry), want to participate in otherwise competitive campus activities (like working for the museum and/or school newspaper), and enjoy small classes. I'm sure one can do all these things at Tufts, but it's likely easier at most LACs.

BTW, my recollection is that the SMFA is across town from Tufts itself. Perhaps the subway makes access easy, but it's something worth looking into if that's the particular museum OP's DC wants to work for.

[Anonymous]

Middlebury is knocking down an old dorm to build a new art museum, thereby creating an arts quad. Construction of the new museum won't be completed until 2028, though.

https://www.middlebury.edu/announcements/announcements/2024/12/trustees-select-architect-design-new-art-museum

[Anonymous]

Middlebury > Tufts

Before, now, and forever.