Middlebury College Reviews

There are a few "social scenes" on...

There are a few "social scenes" on campus. Students who have similar interests tend to party together, and there are plenty of venues to do so from suites to off-campus housing. Athletic teams tend to take the place of traditional Greek life in that they host most of the bigger on-campus and house parties. There are a few bars in town, but they are, obviously, 21-plus. There are also options on campus for people who choose not to drink.

The computer labs at Middlebury...

The computer labs at Middlebury are always available. Sometimes one lab will fill up, but another is almost always open. The classroom buildings, libraries, and dining halls all have wireless Internet, as well as some of the dorms. Not having a computer won't be the end of the world but will probably just be an inconvenience due to the amount of Internet communication that goes on here.

Public transportation is pretty...

Public transportation is pretty much nonexistent. We have Midd Rides, but it's a van that only runs from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. We also have transit vehicles that transport students to the Snowbowl/Breadloaf Nordic ski area. You can walk to any place that you want to go in Middlebury.

Everyone has their own computer...

Everyone has their own computer and also can take out laptops at the library. There are so many computer labs around the campus. Printers, however, are frustrating.

There is virtually no public...

There is virtually no public transportation, but there is also virtually no town, so this does not matter much. The school provides Midd Rides at night, which are nice when it is too cold to walk down to the few bars in town. During the day, most of the town is within walking distance of the school. Otherwise, a lot of people on campus have cars and getting to town is hardly ever a problem.

Basically, everyone who is normal...

Basically, everyone who is normal on campus is an athlete or was an athlete before they came to Middlebury. There is a huge void in social life when certain sports start their seasons.

Parties on campus can be hit or...

Parties on campus can be hit or miss. Regardless, there is always something going on. Parties can range from keggers in the on-campus houses to overcrowded dance parties on senior suites. Since many students are on an athletic team, the parties that teams throw are usually considered a good place to end up. If, unfortunately, the night comes to an early end—say, before 2 a.m.—everyone ends up at the on-campus restaurant, the Grille, and orders one of the drunk favorites: The Godfather or Doctor FeelGood, among others.

Freshmen and sophomores get bad...

Freshmen and sophomores get bad parking about 20 minutes away, which can be a killer in the cold, but when you're a junior and senior, parking is less of an issue. Middlebury is a pretty small place, so anywhere that you park will not be extremely far.

I would say that the school and...

I would say that the school and social life does not revolve that much around sports, but you can definitely see some changes during different seasons. Ice hockey is huge at Middlebury—the town always collapses when there is a game. Our gym is great, as well. We have sensational facilities for everyone—a pool, fields, golf course, and indoor fields. A lot of athletes are also part of IM sports.

As a member of the softball team...

As a member of the softball team here, I will admit that it is not extremely rigorous, but it is a great break within the day, and it is how I have met some of my closest friends. You feel like a big-time player without the commitment of your life and your body.

Each dorm is unique. Everyone...

Each dorm is unique. Everyone talks about how terrible Battell is for a freshman dorm, and, yeah, the cinder-block walls and tiny doubles leave much to be desired, but I made life-long friends in that crowded building, and I wouldn't trade it for the world! Honestly, don't hate on a dorm just because someone told you it wasn't great. I prefer the older ones with character. Forest rooms don't have overhead lights, but there are sinks that adjoin two neighboring rooms.

Midd Transit can pick you up in...

Midd Transit can pick you up in several places on campus and bring you to the Snow Bowl, Burlington, Rutland, or just into town. Midd Rides also can bring you around campus at night and on weekends.

Parties can range from crazy nude...

Parties can range from crazy nude parties to lazy wine and cheese parties. Most people have parties in their rooms, but they are fun. There's also a "nightclub" on campus called the Bunker that can be sketchy but really fun. There's a lot of options.

For being a small town in the...

For being a small town in the middle of nowhere, Middlebury has a good array of restaurant options. The Indian restaurant here is the best I've had—it's even better than in New York.

There have been a lot of...

There have been a lot of renovations and new buildings added in the past several years. The library, Science Center, and Center for the Arts are all fairly new, and we just renovated the old library, Proctor Dining Hall, and McCullough Student Center. The architecture, with a few exceptions, is very typical of an old New England college.

Everyone has their own laptop, but...

Everyone has their own laptop, but during exam weeks, the computers on campus are impossible to get to as people generally print from those. Printers break down a lot, so it might be good to have one in a crisis.

You're not allowed to live off...

You're not allowed to live off campus until senior year. There are some convenient locations near campus, but it might not be worth the cost if you are on financial aid. Beyond the small selection close to campus, be sure you have a car by senior year if you want to live off campus.

The dorms at Middlebury are decent...

The dorms at Middlebury are decent compared to a lot of schools. People complain freshman year, but Ross has great housing for freshmen and sophomores. Other commons are not great until you are an upperclassman, when the Ross townhouses, LaForce, and Atwater all pull through. The campus houses are nice, as well.

There aren’t many restaurants in...

There aren’t many restaurants in town, but there are a few really good ones. American Flatbread and Tully & Marie’s are great places to go for dinner.

The facilities are all really nice...

The facilities are all really nice and new. I don’t often go to the athletic complex, but when I do, it is always clean, looks like new, and has everything you could ever want. The computers are all fairly new and work well. They are scattered around campus so you can usually find one. The student center is nice and has everything that you might really need, as well—a store, restaurant, study room, social hall, mailroom, and other stuff as well. The buildings are really confusing until you get familiar with them, but you will adapt to them quickly.

I am a big fan of the Taste of...

I am a big fan of the Taste of India. It’s a good place to go to escape the bland monotony of dining hall food. And hey, you can’t go wrong with curry, right? Mister Ups is also a favorite for the students. It has standard dinner food and a friendly atmosphere. If you’re looking for a fancier destination, the Storm Café and the Swift House Inn are great spots. They’re pricey, but it’s alright if mom and dad are picking up the tab. At the Storm Café, I highly recommend the banana cream pie.

Midd kids are infamous not only...

Midd kids are infamous not only for wearing J.Crew, but also for looking like J.Crew models. At Middlebury, it certainly doesn’t seem like blond hair or blue eyes is a recessive trait.

Everyone is either preppy or...

Everyone is either preppy or crunchy. Most are preppy New Englanders, but a few are more of the outdoorsy, environmental-types.

People always say that Middlebury...

People always say that Middlebury is a college for ‘beautiful people,’ and compared to the average American population, Middlebury students are, in general, very attractive. There are plenty who break the mold, but most students are quite cookie-cutter looking. I’d describe people as mostly preppy and sporty looking. Dating at Middlebury is a lot different from the way relationships work in the real world, and you don’t find many couples that began their relationship in a traditional way. I’d say that most guys are on the immature side and generally out to have a good time.

Time for a confession: I came to...

Time for a confession: I came to Middlebury partially because there are so many hot girls here. Yes, there is a stereotypical Middlebury student—beautiful, intelligent, usually wealthy, a good dresser, and athletic to some extent. There are a lot of students who came from prep, boarding, or magnet schools. With that said, a lot of people can be pretentious, so look for the genuine and interesting people. If this says anything, I met my now live-in girlfriend at Middlebury and am living the ‘Middlebury married couple’ legend to this day.