Middlebury College Top Questions

I have found recently that the campus is becoming nerdier and nerdier, it seems that the President is focusing more and more on ranking among the other NESCAC schools. Middlebury used to have a reputation as the party school of the NESCACs, but not so much anymore. I wish we had more diversity. There are very few chocolate sprinkles in the vanilla milkshake that is Middlebury, although we do have a high contingency of internationals, but they keep to themselves. Lots of Northeasters, lots of athletes, leftist, clothing styles of all kinds, but predominantly hipster, preppy (bro), don't care, or european.

I had many days where I felt out of place at Middlebury. I think a lot of people did. There are so many different kinds of students, which means so many different ways that other people seem perfect. Most Midd kids had the good luck to be affluent, white and very priveleged. As disgusting as that sub-culture can be to me, I did everything I could to try to seem that, too. As priveleged and as well-educated. Enough money to stay hip. I would have left Middlebury in my first semester if it hadn't been for pride. I was unhappy and thought I didn't have friends. I missed the kind of people I'd gone to high school with. People whose worlds were suburbia, upper middle class, football, and boardgames. People at Midd were so different and I couldn't figure out how to connect. I know I would have left if I wouldn't have had to face my family and friends who I thought would judge me for quitting. My second semester was much better. I had friends and social events. Few people leave Middlebury, but I think more people feel out of place at one semester or another than would let on.

We're a small campus that wants to send a big message, so you'll obviously have the same press towards diversity as most other college campuses these days. Our diversity percentages are alright, but not phenomenal. A lot of our diversity is made up of international students studying abroad at Middlebury.

There is overall a very liberal but at the same time apathetic mood around campus. People hold lukewarm liberal views but I constantly hear people belittle other people's causes. Most Middlebury students are from the East coast or California, which is understandable, given its location and California's population. The international students often stick together regardless of which continent they are from. The dress is very, very casual, with most people wearing at various times a combination of sweats, fleece jackets, uggs, crocs, etc. Not that I'm complaining.

There are all kinds of kids here and lots of different social groups. That said, the majority of people are white, wealthy, slightly liberal, athletic, straight, from outside of Boston or New York, intelligent, active in the community, and good looking. Diversity of all kinds is on the rise but not where it should be. Socioeconomic diversity is also something that coul be mch better here. Students are, on the whole, not extremely politically aware or artistically inclined. Although there are many different kinds of people here, let's say a "diversity of personality", a lot of social groups intermingle and you get to know all kinds of people involved in all kinds of things.

i have interacted with many students of different race, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status, and my experiences have been positive. there is very little hate on campus, and i think the only student who would be out of place would be closed-minded towards people who are different than he or she is. middlebury students are from all over the world: my freshman hall had 2 students from zimbabwe, 1 from lebanon, and the rest from all different states. students tend to be politically aware and, for the most part, socially and politically liberal. nobody talks about how much they will earn one day.

Upon first inspection, Middlebury's campus can seem extremely homogeneous, but the longer you're here, the more diversity you find.

Very active LGBT minority, to the complaint of some but the support of most. The majority of students probably come from an upper middle class lifestyle, though this is of course not universal, nor does it usually influence people's judgments of others (unless of course you fall into that whitebread, suburban prick who has had money stuffed into his pockets all his life and prefers to only socialize with students of like financial status, in which case there is a small clique for you too). Students are almost all left leaning, except for a small minority who have not yet realized the state the country is in after thirty years of dominantly Republican leadership. Diversity is small if you choose not to look for it, or is substantial if you choose to actively search it out. Those who stay in confined social molds wont find diversity, those who break out will.

The student body is not as diverse as it should be. Most students are white, from the east coast, especially new england and this creates a bit of tension between other students that are not from these places or part of that culture. There are definitely separate groups on campus that never mingle because they are so different. Most students are rich. Four tables of students would be 1. The Jock/Preppy Lacrosse players and their girlfriends 2. The more normal, students who are studious but also have fun 3. The nerds 4. The outdoor people/or more hippyish students.

Middlebury is getting more and more conservative (I don't know why) and there is a great deal of grouping that goes on. The stereotypes are prevalent but mostly harmless and people generally have the ability to transcend group divides. I feel bad for the gay community because it is so small....doesn't offer much variety really. Kids are fairly politically aware but generally apathetic. There is a small voice for action and awareness but it often gets shunned. Kids are too stressed out to add more strife to their lives and really just want to blow off steam by getting loaded instead of worrying about bigger issues.