| Featured College: Middlebury College By: Lily Hechtle One of the top liberal arts colleges in the country with an outstanding academic record comparable to that of the Ivy Leagues, and is even deemed one of the “Hidden Ivies” along with other such New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) schools, is Middlebury College. The small college settled in quaint Burlington, Vermont is home not only to its high standard of competitive learning, but also its magnificent athletic facilities and sports teams. Founded in 1800 with a present population of 2,455 students, all undergraduates, Middlebury is one of the most selective schools in the country. Unfortunately, the price tag matches its significance. The comprehensive fee, the sum of tuition, room, and board as well as the built in student activity fee is $52,310. However, Middlebury is committed to giving students financial aid. There is a “need-blind” admission policy which means that student’s financial status is not an influencer in the college’ s acceptance. Financial aid is available through the forms of grants, loans, and work/study jobs. To put this in perspective, last year the 41% of the Freshman class received financial aid, with the average grant being $32,934. Although expensive, Middlebury does offer the best facilities in the NESCAC. They have the top athletic facilities in New England, to sponsor its Division 3 athletics, as well as a coffee/after hours hang out spot where food is served and friends can gather to play a round of pool or watch the latest sports game on television. Middlebury offers 44 majors and has a 4-1-4 academic schedule. J-Term is when a student takes one class in January so he/she can focus his/her studies in one area, but mainly to enjoy the wintery slopes of nearby ski lodges that Vermont has to offer. Classes are taught by a majority of professors not teacher’s assistants (TA’s) and offer small classrooms for better seminar-like learning with an emphasis in environmental studies, international studies, science, literature, and its nationally re-known international language program. Housing is set in a commons-based living situation where each dorm has a common dining area that is connected inside to the dorm itself so students do not have to bear the frosty weather of New England. About four students live in a suite and share a bathroom and common room within a dorm. “Middlebury’s small size and rural settings forces students to be creative about having fun resulting in a much closer, supportive community then there might otherwise be,” said a recent graduate. Students at Middlebury are like any other New England NESCAC school ranging from jocks to what they call “granola” kids. In fact, just watch this video and let the students speak, or rather rap, for themselves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZzCHcMKyDc. |
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