Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 08:35     Subject: Re:Thoughts on Middlebury?
Midd has it own ski mountain, I believe for students VERY cheap, so even skiing (if can get some secondhand equipment) is affordable for all students I believe.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 21:11     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Thanks to those who mentioned the difference in socializing expenses between places like Middlebury and the urban schools. Good point. I was thinking about things like the cost of lots of skiing , but that's small next to eating out and clubbing in the cities. Just one more thing to consider. Thanks for your perspectives.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 19:19     Subject: Re:Thoughts on Middlebury?
Anonymous wrote:A school in pretty much the middle of nowhere like Midd at least during term-time is really good at getting rid of socioeconomic distinctions, because there really isn't much opportunity for spending money. Where economic class really seems to make a difference socially is somewhere like Penn, Columbia, BU or GW, where a lot of the social life revolves around going out to clubs or restaurants. At Midd the parties/events are on campus and cheap, and even going up to Burlington is not anything like a big city in terms of costs for going to hear live music or even to a nice restaurant. Yes, vacations may segregate by family income, but not much else, and semester abroad programs are supported financially by the school so that anyone can go


I agree. I went to Wesleyan. We all had to be on the same meal plan, and there was not much to spend money on rather than three dollars for a campus play. Money did not drive socialization. But it seemed like at the city schools, people spent money to go out, lots of beer, fake ids, dinners out, etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 19:11     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it a tough place to be for a kid who doesn't have much disposable income? I remember (back in the day) whole dorm floors at Amherst deciding where they would go for spring break: someone's ranch, someone's Carribbean retreat and if you didn't have the money to join them, you were really out of things.
You can find that mentality at many colleges including public. Not everybody who attends private is wealthy and not everyone who attends public is poor.


Yes, of course, but this thread is about Middlebury.
Big deal. PP has a point about private and public colleges. You are not the thread police and anyone can offer an opinion.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 17:02     Subject: Re:Thoughts on Middlebury?
A school in pretty much the middle of nowhere like Midd at least during term-time is really good at getting rid of socioeconomic distinctions, because there really isn't much opportunity for spending money. Where economic class really seems to make a difference socially is somewhere like Penn, Columbia, BU or GW, where a lot of the social life revolves around going out to clubs or restaurants. At Midd the parties/events are on campus and cheap, and even going up to Burlington is not anything like a big city in terms of costs for going to hear live music or even to a nice restaurant. Yes, vacations may segregate by family income, but not much else, and semester abroad programs are supported financially by the school so that anyone can go
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 16:45     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Anonymous wrote:Is it a tough place to be for a kid who doesn't have much disposable income? I remember (back in the day) whole dorm floors at Amherst deciding where they would go for spring break: someone's ranch, someone's Carribbean retreat and if you didn't have the money to join them, you were really out of things.


I followed my sister to Middlebury. She spent every Feb and Spring break at one friend or the other's house in the Bahamas/Vail/etc.. And still has reunions in those homes. None of my friends from Middlebury had nice vacation homes. Most had to save up over the summer for spending money and were on financial aid. Granted, this was 20 years ago but I suspect it's much the same or even skews more towards kids of all backgrounds. The rep of the school has grown so much that it no attracts a lot more than just preppy rich kids anymore.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 16:00     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it a tough place to be for a kid who doesn't have much disposable income? I remember (back in the day) whole dorm floors at Amherst deciding where they would go for spring break: someone's ranch, someone's Carribbean retreat and if you didn't have the money to join them, you were really out of things.
You can find that mentality at many colleges including public. Not everybody who attends private is wealthy and not everyone who attends public is poor.


Yes, of course, but this thread is about Middlebury.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 14:15     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Anonymous wrote:Is it a tough place to be for a kid who doesn't have much disposable income? I remember (back in the day) whole dorm floors at Amherst deciding where they would go for spring break: someone's ranch, someone's Carribbean retreat and if you didn't have the money to join them, you were really out of things.
You can find that mentality at many colleges including public. Not everybody who attends private is wealthy and not everyone who attends public is poor.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 11:56     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Is it a tough place to be for a kid who doesn't have much disposable income? I remember (back in the day) whole dorm floors at Amherst deciding where they would go for spring break: someone's ranch, someone's Carribbean retreat and if you didn't have the money to join them, you were really out of things.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 09:51     Subject: Re:Thoughts on Middlebury?
I used to live in Vermont (near Middlebury) and I went to graduate school at Middlebury. I went to an Ivy for undergrad, but think I would have liked Middlebury better because it turned out I wanted something smaller and friendlier than an Ivy. Everyone I know who went there as an undergrad loved it. The campus is beautiful and it isn't really that remote. I agree with the PP who said that the undergrads are more preppy/east coast money than aggressively liberal. Lots of vegans who hike and start recycling programs but also fly to Europe in the summer and drive BMWs.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2014 07:31     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
GMU is better.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2014 21:25     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Middle but it's a great school that has benefited from the run-up in his reputation over the last 20 years. It's got a gorgeous campus and it's really not that isolated when you consider that it's close to Burlington and Montreal. It is a great little school with very attractive kids
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2014 17:42     Subject: Re:Thoughts on Middlebury?
What is the social life like for a non drinker?
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2014 11:05     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Great school. All the alums I know are wonderful. If DC likes it, apply and keep your fingers crossed.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2014 05:58     Subject: Thoughts on Middlebury?
Has anyone attended the C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad? For DC, that's the main attraction since proficient in two foreign languages.