Why would you pay full freight to send your kid to Middlebury?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

I partly agree with you regarding geography - Middlebury is highly regarded in the northeast, middle Atlantic, but is mostly unheard of in the rest of the country even by those who “know about higher education.” However, Rice is known by anyone in the country period who knows about higher education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

Ridiculous. The equivalent of saying NYU is more prestigious than UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan, or Chicago because of location.

There are no equivalents. Some schools have a universally known, national reputation. Others less so. UCLA, Berkeley, and U Chicago have cache on the east coast. Michigan does not, but it's known as a solid school.

Many Yankees have a bias against Texas.

[Anonymous]

Rice is a great school. But most people have never heard of it. Even well educated people.

[Anonymous]

Rice acceptance rate is about 9% compared to double that at Middlebury. Avg SAT scores 100 points higher, ACT 3 points higher. Graduation rate 92% compared to 90% Middlebury. Average salary after 10 years $14,000 higher at Rice. Very few individuals making any sort of hiring decision would be unfamiliar with Rice.

[Anonymous]

Actual data from US News:

Middlebury College admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 15%. Half the applicants admitted to Middlebury College have an SAT score between 1360 and 1530 or an ACT score of 32 and 34.

Rice University admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 9%. Half the applicants admitted to Rice have an SAT score between 1470 and 1570 or an ACT score of 33 and 35.

[Anonymous]

What a silly argument!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

I partly agree with you regarding geography - Middlebury is highly regarded in the northeast, middle Atlantic, but is mostly unheard of in the rest of the country even by those who “know about higher education.” However, Rice is known by anyone in the country period who knows about higher education.

I disagree. I went to Rice and many people are not familiar with it outside of TX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actual data from US News:

Middlebury College admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 15%. Half the applicants admitted to Middlebury College have an SAT score between 1360 and 1530 or an ACT score of 32 and 34.

Rice University admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 9%. Half the applicants admitted to Rice have an SAT score between 1470 and 1570 or an ACT score of 33 and 35.

When you reach a certain level, you are splitting hairs. Rice is not a big name in New England or Boston. Middlebury is. Where you are going to live matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

Ridiculous. The equivalent of saying NYU is more prestigious than UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan, or Chicago because of location.

There are no equivalents. Some schools have a universally known, national reputation. Others less so. UCLA, Berkeley, and U Chicago have cache on the east coast. Michigan does not, but it's known as a solid school.

Many Yankees have a bias against Texas.

LOL. Texas has a great business environment. That's why HP and Oracle have recently moved from California to Texas, as has Elon Musk himself. There is a ton of opportunity in Texas. Sure, there are great places to work in Boston, but what about the rest of New England?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

Ridiculous. The equivalent of saying NYU is more prestigious than UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan, or Chicago because of location.

There are no equivalents. Some schools have a universally known, national reputation. Others less so. UCLA, Berkeley, and U Chicago have cache on the east coast. Michigan does not, but it's known as a solid school.

Many Yankees have a bias against Texas.

LOL. Texas has a great business environment. That's why HP and Oracle have recently moved from California to Texas, as has Elon Musk himself. There is a ton of opportunity in Texas. Sure, there are great places to work in Boston, but what about the rest of New England?

I'm saying Yankees have a bias against Texas in terms of higher education. I'm not saying it's currently rational.

It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In New England and NYC, Middlebury is far more prestigious than Rice.

Rice is a great school, don't get me wrong, but geography plays a role in perceptions.

This is absolutely true. In the Northeast, everyone who knows about higher education knows that Midd is selective and academically rigorous. They know where it ranks.

Many people would have to double check where Rice ranks.

Ridiculous. The equivalent of saying NYU is more prestigious than UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan, or Chicago because of location.

There are no equivalents. Some schools have a universally known, national reputation. Others less so. UCLA, Berkeley, and U Chicago have cache on the east coast. Michigan does not, but it's known as a solid school.

Many Yankees have a bias against Texas.

LOL. Texas has a great business environment. That's why HP and Oracle have recently moved from California to Texas, as has Elon Musk himself. There is a ton of opportunity in Texas. Sure, there are great places to work in Boston, but what about the rest of New England?

I'm saying Yankees have a bias against Texas in terms of higher education. I'm not saying it's currently rational.

It is what it is.

Lived in NYC my whole life and worked in tech my whole career. Not once have I heard anything disparaging about top Texas colleges - in fact UT Austin, Rice and A&M are desirable places and lots of kids from here go there. If you work in tech you get to Austin eventually, and it is a place universally loved - smart people, great music, and the best BBQ.

Maybe there is a bias against the more religious colleges , but overall your claim does not align with my experience.

[Anonymous]

i am in law not tech but agree - grew up in westchester county, lived in boston in my 20s, have lived in dc past 10 yrs - rice and ut austin have great reputations in all of those places. middlebury, too, but that isn’t the point being made. i think of rice on par with duke and northwestern, vs middlebury is one step down. but this is splitting hairs.

[Anonymous]

If Middlebury were a brand, it would be Louie Vuitton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Middlebury were a brand, it would be Louie Vuitton.

No. It would be Patagonia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middlebury were a brand, it would be Louie Vuitton.

No. It would be Patagonia.

And if these posts were a brand, they would be MyPillow.