No matter what exotic tidbits or intriguing locales students attempt to haggle out of this town, in the end, they still wind up with good 'ole Middlebury—a small, antique dollhouse of a village, dotted with restaurants and shops that all close between 5 p.m. and 12 a.m., and a smattering of snow-covered cobblestone streets. It’s quiet, it’s quaint, and it can feel suffocating at times. On the other hand, the atmosphere caters well to those more inclined toward outdoor activities—particularly winter sports, hiking, and swimming. There are several renowned ski areas around (including the one owned by the College), a maze of magnificently groomed cross-country ski trails, lakes, rivers, and falls.
The Middlebury experience feels similar to being inside a cozy penny candy store or an old-fashioned piggy bank. If you’re a country bumpkin, a lover of the magnificent outdoors, or are simply anxious to be liberated from the noise and pollution of the city, Middlebury is for you. It will certainly not overwhelm you with shopping options, nightclubs, or traffic lights. However, you can get anything and everything you need for survival in Middlebury, as long as you’re not counting on 24-hour stores. If you’re looking for variety and a less-settled atmosphere, you’ll have to take the trip to Burlington. If you don’t plan on bringing a car, it shouldn’t be much of a problem—usually even the most disagreeable people finagle a couple of friends with vehicles, and everyone visits Burlington frequently.
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Local Atmosphere at Middlebury College
A
Super Nice
The people of Middlebury know that the college provides tons of entertainment, money, and diversity that they simply would not receive otherwise. This, coupled with the fact that a fair amount of locals go here, make the atmosphere very friendly and respectful. I once wandered around town looking for a video store, and eventually an old lady actually offered to drive me over to the nearest one on the way to visit her grandchildren.
Nov 28, 2011
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Local Atmosphere at Middlebury College
jaman
Political Science and Government '14
1.2
D
Not Much Going on
Townies are pretty weird, and there isn't anything to do in town unless you're 21.
Nov 20, 2011
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Local Atmosphere at Middlebury College
A+
Gorgeous.
Middlebury has an amazing relationship with the town. The campus and its surrounding are gorgeous, moving to NY to work post graduation ( which is where most Mid students go) could be a shock having been used to so much natural beauty. Most items that a college student would require are very readily available.
Aug 18, 2011
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User rating for Middlebury College - Local Atmosphere is
3.5 out of 5
based on 21 user reviews.
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Most Recent Student Author View all
- Name
- Bohree Kim
- Hometown
- Weston, CT
- Major
- History of Art and Architecture
- Grad Year
- 2011
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