火爆社区

Middlebury College ensures that its students are 鈥渂oth socially and intellectually prepared for the world鈥� by providing a first-class education and 鈥渢he encouragement to make sure students succeed.鈥� Most known for its programs in environmental science, English, and international studies, Middlebury encourages 鈥済lobal thinking鈥� and touts academic programs with an 鈥渆merging focus on creativity and entrepreneurship.鈥� For instance, Middlebury鈥檚 Bread Loaf School of English hosts summer intensives that attract international educators, writers, and translators. Students appreciate that the winter term in January provides a month-long opportunity for students and professors to focus on just one subject. Such programming 鈥渁llows you to develop鈥� communication, writing, creativity, and critical thinking skills 鈥渋n whatever subject or subjects that one is most passionate about.鈥� The 鈥渢ruly top-notch鈥� professors are 鈥渂rilliant academics, but they are also adept teachers and classroom leaders.鈥� While professors care about research, they prioritize teaching鈥斺�淢iddlebury expects both; most professors deliver.鈥� Students note that the 鈥渁cademics are reputed to be 鈥渧ery intense鈥� (鈥淚f you haven鈥檛 done the reading, prepare to be called out for it鈥�) but also that 鈥渟tudents reliably enjoy their classes.鈥� Middlebury also encourages creative thinking regarding academics by providing 鈥渋nstitutional support for whatever...idea might strike you.鈥�

With just under 3,000 undergraduates, the Middlebury student body is 鈥渁 perfect blend of intellectual curiosity, responsible living, and fun.鈥� Known as Midd Kids, students are apt to be 鈥渨ell-read, outgoing,鈥� and 鈥渆ngaged, active.鈥� They often pursue 鈥渁t least one major, a minor, and [are] the star of at least one sports team or special interest group, but usually more.鈥� In joking agreement, another student describes their peers as 鈥渂right kids doing too many things鈥攁ll of them good, none related to sleep.鈥� Midd Kids don鈥檛 鈥渢ake themselves too seriously, but do take serious initiative.鈥� While driven, Middlebury students cultivate a 鈥渟uper-friendly and caring鈥� atmosphere and 鈥渃ompete with themselves, not their classmates.鈥� Undergrads here tend to be 鈥渨ell-rounded students from stable backgrounds鈥� who 鈥渒now how to hold a conversation and [are] open to new experiences.鈥� So sociable is the scene on campus; one student confesses that 鈥渨ith all the different friends you will make,鈥� it鈥檚 hard to find time for everything.

Located between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, Middlebury College has a vibrant social scene. 鈥淢ost people actually choose not to go into cities on weekends because they would hate to miss what鈥檚 going on on-campus.鈥� It鈥檚 also fair to say that the social scene is 鈥渧ery centered around athletic teams.鈥� Middlebury boasts 31 NCAA varsity teams and reports that 28% of students participate in varsity sports. The Vermont location is a plus: Twelve miles east of Middlebury鈥檚 main campus, the Bread Loaf campus features 30,000 acres of forest and is a base camp for students interested in skiing, snowshoeing, and fatbiking. 鈥淎t the end of the day, we all just like to get together and hit up the Snow Bowl to go skiing,鈥� shares one Middlebury student. Overall, it鈥檚 hard to overstate 鈥渉ow important the outdoor experience is for the school.鈥� Indoors, students rave about dorms that are 鈥済orgeous.鈥� There is even one called the Chateau, modeled after the largest chateau in Fontainebleau, France. There are no traditional fraternities or sororities on campus, but students connect through Middlebury鈥檚 more than 200 student organizations, student government, on-campus newspaper, and Middlebury Outdoor Programs, which provides students gear and support for enjoying the local environs. As one student says: 鈥淚f you鈥檝e got free time in your day at Middlebury, you鈥檙e doing something wrong.鈥�

Middlebury students 鈥渒now how to take advantage of resources that aid their success,鈥� and the Center for Careers & Internships helps provide students with those resources. CCI advisors help undergrads find internships or even develop their own. Funding is available for unpaid internships, conferences, service projects, international volunteer programs, and local public service projects. Experiential learning is a heavy focus of the college, and there are numerous centers for students to enhance academic work or explore possible career paths. CCI also provides access to multiple digital platforms to discover work on the local and global level, including Handshake, Interstride, GoinGlobal, and Midd2Midd鈥擬iddlebury鈥檚 community for students, alumni, and parents for building connections both personal and professional. With Midd2Midd, students can seek out Midd Gigs, which are short-term, professional projects offered by Middlebury alumni and parents. Middlebury College graduates who visited PayScale.com had a median starting salary of $72,500; 50 percent said they felt their job had a meaningful impact on the world.