Female Psychology Major C/O 2020

Can you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
Middlebury has an Honor Code that you sign at the beginning of your freshman year saying that you will never cheat and hold yourself to a certain level of academic integrity. There are never any professors or anybody there watching you take exams, so it would potentially be very easy to cheat, but people hold themselves and each other to a pretty high, competitive standard. It’s definitely pretty serious academically and people are competitive but not in a negative way. People are kind to each other and help each other towards success. People are competitive with themselves but collaborative with others.

Female Sociology and Anthropology and Political Science Double Major C/O 2019

Is there anything you feel either of your majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
I think that the SOAN department in particular does a really good job of having a diverse range of professors with a diverse range of interests. I had a prospective student asking me about tracks within Sociology and if you have to pick certain areas to focus on. You don’t have to pick, but like there is a professor that specializes in environmental justice and there are professors that are interested in workers’ rights and unions and I think that’s really great, especially for such a small college. You do get to take some classes with some specialization.

Female International and Global Studies Major C/O 2020

Is there anything that you feel your major’s department does especially well or especially poorly?
The reason I chose it is because it only has one specific class you have to take. Other than that, I’m choosing from a list of classes about the world in general or international politics. Because of my specialization, I’m choosing a list of classes about the Middle East and I’m also learning Arabic on the side. I’m enjoying the language aspect and I’m enjoying the freedom that I have.

Female Psychology Major C/O 2020

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I like to go out most of the time on Fridays and Saturdays and that usually includes parties with alcohol. I feel like there are opportunities to both go out and stay in which I like. A downside of Middlebury’s nightlife is that there are pretty inconsistent parties. Some weekends there will be a pretty big weekend and others not so much. So, you have to kind of pick and choose when you’re going to go out. In terms of physical location on campus, it’s pretty consistent where parties will be. We have social houses, which are big houses with up to 30 people living in them. There are also apartments and suite-style buildings where people will hold parties. All of the parties here are inclusive.

Female Sociology and Anthropology and Political Science Double Major C/O 2019

What is an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
On Wednesdays, there are open mic performances, casually known as WOMP. One of my friends performs pretty regularly so I go to support her. People don’t always drink, sometimes people are hanging out with their craft beers. Also The Moth once a month on Thursday nights there is a live storytelling event. It’s one of my favorite things to go to. Community members, students, and faculty have a 10-minute time limit to tell stories.

Female International and Global Studies Major C/O 2020

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
Depending on the mood I’ll definitely go to a lot of the things I’m invited to, ranging from small gatherings with my friends that’s just like a couple of drinks that may turn into a bit of dancing in a suite or at a friend’s house to social houses throwing parties that are bigger and have more people.

How happy are you with the nightlife at Middlebury? If you could change anything, what would you change?
I think coming from London, somewhere where there is always something happening, it was definitely very different. There are nights where pretty much nothing is happening and you may have a thing to stop by and it’s not really happening, so you just kind of go home and are like, “Cool! Nothing’s happening tonight.” It is not a certainty at all that there will be something really kicking off. Now that I’m finding more people and being invited to more smaller things, rather than when I was a freshman and I was relying on more of the things that were publicly known on campus, it’s a lot better now that I have knowledge of things happening within my friend groups.

Female Psychology Major C/O 2020

How would you describe the overall student body?
The student body is really fun. Middlebury attracts a certain type of person who is very excited, enthusiastic, and curious. It seems like people are always doing something people are really excited to do things and be involved.

Female Sociology and Anthropology and Political Science Double Major C/O 2019

How would you describe the social scene at Middlebury?
I would say it’s pretty lively. I am definitely really happy and comfortable with it. If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s pretty party-oriented, but with that being said, some of my most enriching interactions are sitting in Proctor [dining hall] on a Sunday morning waiting for people to roll through after a night out, or just in the morning waiting for people to go to class and talking to people across the breakfast table.

Female Geography Major C/O 2020

How would you describe the overall social scene at Middlebury?
I think there are different aspects to it. A lot, a lot of people are athletes but they’re obviously not as intense as the huge schools. There’s kind of an athlete, non-athlete split because you end up so much time [with your team]. But, it’s not like sports are a huge aspect. Teams hang out together and throw parties and live together. There is very much a nature of the quirky, hippieish, and very outdoorsy type of scene. There’s an Outdoor Interest House. People go hiking every weekend and go camping together. I think there’s kind of an international social scene a little bit. Just like low key small celebrations and gatherings. It’s all very friendly, I don’t think anything is super exclusive.

Female Psychology Major C/O 2020

What is something you wish you knew before entering Middlebury as a freshman?
I wish I had more realistic expectations about what partying at a small college is like. I thought that all college parties were crazy frat parties. That’s not what parties are like at small schools. Not everybody parties as much as you think they do.

What is something that we haven’t touched on that is important for a prospective student to know about?
We have something called J-Term that is a 4-week term in January. You only take one class, so it’s a great opportunity to go skiing, hang out with friends, and really enjoy Vermont.

Female Sociology and Anthropology and Political Science Double Major C/O 2019

What is something you wish you knew before entering Middlebury as a freshman?
Your dean and your residential life support staff are there to help you with something personal that is overwhelming you and compromising your ability to do schoolwork. I started meeting with my dean this year and it’s changed my whole Middlebury experience.

What is something a prospective student may miss on a visit that’s worth checking out?
If you’re into hiking, I’d recommend hiking Snake Mountain. You get a really nice view of Lake Champlain and it’s only 20 minutes away from campus.

Female Geography Major C/O 2020

What is something an international student should know that we haven’t touched on?
I think Middlebury is a very, very welcoming place and like obviously I’ve mentioned some things that are negative in here but the overall experience internationally is really good here. I think if you think you’re going to like Middlebury based on what you see online and whatever you hear about it, you’re probably going to really like it. It definitely doesn’t suit everybody because it’s a small school in rural Vermont, but if it appeals to you then I think you’ll love it when you get here because I really, really love it and it’s how I wanted it to be. [About 11% of students are international students.]

Male Political Science Major C/O 2017

What is something you wish you knew about Middlebury before you entered as a freshman?
The winters are worse than you think. The school is more isolated than you anticipate.

What is something a prospective student may miss on a visit that’s worth checking out?
Sit in Ross Dining Hall for a while and people watch, go to a few classes in your major. Pick up a copy of the Middlebury Campus to see what the current conversations are on campus.