The video of Middlebury College in March was depressing. The NE US is not a good place to be in Feb or March--especially if affected by SAD.

Appearance of a campus is pretty low on my list of decision factors. I happened to go to Duke which is gorgeous but the appearance isn’t why I went.

Anonymous wrote:Have people been on campus outside of the fall? For the most part it is drab, homogenous gray architecture and definitely doesn't give a country club vibe. I wouldn't pin it as gorgeous in the way that peers like Williams, Pomona, or Swarthmore is. For anyone who is interested but hasn't been on campus:

Middlebury is far prettier than any of the colleges that you mentioned though I really like Pomona. Nice try with your video choice of a foggy day in March. What do you really think that Williams or Swat looks like then?

agreed, Middlebury is prettier than Williams IMO

Swarthmore is prettier but similar, Pomona is just a different look altogether so that's more subjective

Anonymous wrote:I toured Midd and Williams last fall and thought Midd was the much nicer campus. Gorgeous new freshman dorm (still under construction, but should be open now), dining hall, gym, library, grounds. I think Williams is prettier as designed - but the upkeep is very blah and the dining rooms are subpar. I found the food nearly inedible.

^ meant "outside of fall". we were there over spring break.

I toured Midd and Williams last fall and thought Midd was the much nicer campus. Gorgeous new freshman dorm (still under construction, but should be open now), dining hall, gym, library, grounds. I think Williams is prettier as designed - but the upkeep is very blah and the dining rooms are subpar. I found the food nearly inedible.

Have people been on campus outside of the fall? For the most part it is drab, homogenous gray architecture and definitely doesn't give a country club vibe. I wouldn't pin it as gorgeous in the way that peers like Williams, Pomona, or Swarthmore is. For anyone who is interested but hasn't been on campus:

It’s great with languages and writing (Breadloaf). I was in a NYC bookclub that I dubbed the 1 percenters. They had kids at Middlebury. I think it’s a great school but kind of rich and preppy. People make good friendships. Great for skiiers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury is a great school with a beautiful campus. They've had some financial issues over the last few years (mainly fueled by deficits from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California), but endowments is healthy $1.5B and they've raised $550M in their current capital campaign. New president starts July 1. Heavy on ED these days.

I’d be nervous about the president change

Why? You’re just nervous I suspect. Could be great.

Anonymous wrote:Campus looks like a country club.

It’s not called Club Midd for nothing!

When I studied in Moscow in the 90s, we hung out with the Middlebury kids- nice group, super bright.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury is a great school with a beautiful campus. They've had some financial issues over the last few years (mainly fueled by deficits from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California), but endowments is healthy $1.5B and they've raised $550M in their current capital campaign. New president starts July 1. Heavy on ED these days.

I’d be nervous about the president change

I actually think the president change is a big positive. Laurie Patton wasn’t a great leader. She wasn’t terrible it not anything exceptional. Middlebury doesn’t have any financial issues but they’ve had a nagging deficit because she was slow to address the MIIS issues. The new president won’t want that hanging over his head so it will get resolved. She waited too long to start the last capital campaign so the endowment is probably $150 lighter than it should be. She worked so hard at offending nobody that she won’t be remembered for much of anything.

The incoming has an excellent reputation so I’m hopeful that it’s a positive change.

when we toured, a lot of kids dropped languages because it was so tough at Midd. so good for kids who like languages, but you can drop it if it's not your thing

A brief, subjective description of Middlebury in the context of descriptions of other liberal arts colleges appears on page 9 of this topic:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/120/1274664.page#30109260

Campus looks like a country club.