1:
How many students attend Middlebury and what is the size of an entering first-year class?
A:
About 2,350 attend the College. We enroll about 575-600 students in September, at the beginning of Fall Semester, and 80-90 in February, at the beginning of Spring Semester.
2:
How many students apply to Middlebury?
A:
That number can vary from year to year, but in 2006–2007 we had 7,185 applications.
3:
How many of those applicants were offered admission?
A:
About 1,479 were admitted for September and another 148 were admitted for February. We plan to have 600 September first-year students and 90 February first-year students.
4:
Does Middlebury accept the Common Application?
A:
Yes we do. In addition to the Common Application, we ask that students submit a “Pre-Application” which is available on our
Web page. Listed on that supplement you’ll find our additional essay question and a request for a copy of a recent, analytical or critical essay with teacher comments. We also ask for two teacher recommendations. Forms for teachers to use when writing a recommendation are included in the Common Application.
5:
Do I have to send my supplemental essay and graded paper with the Pre-Application?
A:
No. You may submit the supplemental writing when you send us your Common Application.
6:
When are applications due?
A:
Middlebury’s
application deadlines vary depending upon the Application type; Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, Regular Decision, Fall Transfer and Spring Transfer.
7:
Why do you admit students in September and February?
A:
Middlebury is fortunate to be able to offer first-year admission to students at two times each year. Because of the large number of students who choose to study abroad each spring, spaces open on campus that we can offer to February first-year students. February First-Years, or “Febs,” are chosen from the regular applicant pool. Candidates who apply for admission can indicate a preference for when they would like to enter college; however, the point of entry is ultimately an admissions committee decision.
8:
Does Middlebury admit transfer students?
A:
Yes. Middlebury College typically enrolls a small number of transfer students at the beginning of each semester. Students interested in transferring for the Spring Semester must postmark applications by November 15. Students interested in beginning their studies in the fall must postmark their applications by March 1. Traditionally, transfer students are admitted only to the sophomore year and to the first term of junior year and must plan to complete at least two years’ work (18 courses) at Middlebury. An estimate of the time required for graduation will be given upon matriculation, but final transcript evaluation may not take place until after a student completes a semester at Middlebury. The number of transfer students admitted from year to year varies and depends upon the amount of housing space available on campus. The following numbers may prove helpful:
2006-07; 245 transfer students applied, 42 were admitted
2005–06: 197 transfer students applied, 7 were admitted
2004–05: 230 transfer students applied, 1 was admitted
2003–04: 221 transfer students applied, 9 were admitted
2002–03: 234 students applied, 13 were admitted
9:
Can you explain your Early Decision Programs versus Regular Decision?
A:
Regular Decision is the process most students choose. Students postmark their applications by the appropriate deadlines in December and January, and we notify them of our decision in early April. Regular Decision applicants can apply to as many colleges as they wish, and they are not obligated to attend Middlebury if admitted.
If Middlebury is a student’s clear first choice, then Early Decision (ED) provides an opportunity to apply and be notified of our decision early in December (ED I) or mid-February (ED II). Unlike Regular Decision, ED is “binding,” which means that candidates may not apply for an early decision from another institution and must sign the Early Decision Commitment Statement on Middlebury’s Pre-Application. The College assumes that a student admitted under the ED program will attend Middlebury, provided that the financial aid is appropriate. Students may file applications for a regular decision from other institutions, but they must withdraw those applications immediately if admitted to Middlebury College. We will be forced to withdraw our offer of admission if these guidelines are not followed.
10:
When would I be notified regarding my Early Decision application?
A:
Students applying in November under the ED I program (Pre-application due November 1 and all other application materials postmarked by November 15) are notified in mid-December. Students applying under the ED II program (Pre-app postmarked by December 15, Common App postmarked by January 1) are notified in early February. Any financial aid decisions would accompany or directly follow our admission letter.
11:
Can I complete all the required testing by the ED deadlines?
A:
Absolutely. Students who apply ED I need to complete our testing requirements no later than November for the SAT exams or October for the ACT. Results of the December SAT exams or December ACT will be accepted for ED II.
12:
What happens to my application if I am not offered admission through one of the ED programs?
A:
Applicants who are not offered admission during ED may be denied admission or deferred for reconsideration as part of the regular applicant pool. ED applicants who are deferred to the regular pool may be admitted, refused, or placed on our wait-list. Typically about 10–20% of the applicants who are deferred are offered admission in the spring. A student who was deferred and then offered admission is no longer expected to adhere to the “binding” commitment of ED. ED I applicants are not deferred into the ED II applicant pool; they are deferred into the spring applicant pool.
13:
What is the difference between ED I and ED II?
A:
The only difference between the two is the deadlines. The assessment standards for ED I and ED II applications are identical. Both programs are binding and assume that an applicant will attend if admitted.
14:
Does applying through one of the ED programs increase my chances for admission?
A:
The admissions committee does, in every instance, attempt to apply the same assessment standards, regardless of when a candidate submits an application. Any perceived statistical advantage due to the smaller ED applicant pool is misleading due to the self-selecting nature of Early Decision, and we would discourage a candidate from applying for strictly strategic reasons. We welcome applications from students who have made a clear commitment to Middlebury and who are excited about making that decision early in their senior year, but an early application should not be viewed as a means of increasing one’s chances for admission.
15:
How does applying Early Decision influence my financial aid?
A:
Applying Early Decision has no impact on how the College assesses a family’s need and calculates an aid package. Although 2006 tax returns, etc., are not available until January, the College will make an estimated decision based on the information provided on the CSS Profile, which the Student Financial Services Office will finalize after a family’s 2006 federal tax documents are filed. The financial aid package arrives with, or shortly after, a letter of admission. The College uses the same need-based aid formula for all applicants, whether Early Decision or Regular Decision. Because Middlebury’s financial aid is need-based, an applicant’s aid application will be neither hindered nor helped by applying early. Candidates should know that Early Decision is not a good option for those students who desire or require the opportunity to compare financial aid packages.
16:
What kind of testing does Middlebury require?
A:
Candidates must submit standardized tests in at least three areas of study. The requirement may be met by submitting either the ACT; or the SAT I administered on or after March 12, 2005; or three exams in different areas of study from the SAT IIs. Please note that many high schools no longer report tests on their transcripts, so it is your responsibility to make sure that all tests are sent to Middlebury from the appropriate testing service.
17:
Can I use my old SAT I instead of the new SAT I?
A:
We assume that most applicants will have taken the "new" SAT I administered on or after March 12, 2005. However, for older applicants who could only take the earlier version of the SAT I, we will accept that in combination with SAT II exam results.
18:
Do you have minimum test scores?
A:
Middlebury does not set minimum or “cut off” scores. All applications are assessed by at least three admissions officers. We are accustomed to seeing ACT scores that range between 30-32 (Composite) and SAT IIs that range from the low to middle 700s; however, those ranges are approximate and students should know that we look at test scores in the context of your academic transcript. Test scores are an important part of our process because they allow us to compare students from all over the world who attend thousands of different secondary schools. Please remember that tests taken after December of your senior year are not likely to arrive in time for us to use in our decision-making process.
19:
How can I submit my IB or AP exams if I am taking them as a senior?
A:
The short answer to that question is: you can’t. If a student wants to submit AP or IB scores then those scores must be from exams taken by the end of junior year. IB students may not use predicted exam scores.
20:
What kind of testing is required from international students?
A:
There are many options that meet our testing requirements for international students. If possible, we ask that international applicants complete one of the testing options listed above. An applicant for whom English is not the first language is required to submit a test of English proficiency. Middlebury College will accept any of the following: TOEFL, SAT I Verbal, IELTS, CPE, MELAB, and ELPT. Predicted grades in IB A1 or A2 English or in A-level English will be considered as a test of English proficiency. There is no minimum or “cut off” score. For more information on applying to Middlebury as an international student, please ask for “Frequently Asked Questions for International Applicants.”
21:
What are Middlebury’s testing deadlines for Regular Decision?
A:
Students applying to Middlebury under the Regular Decision program MUST have all testing completed by December of their senior year. January tests do not typically arrive in time to be used in the admissions process.
22:
Is there a minimum GPA for admission to Middlebury?
A:
We do not set a minimum GPA for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, we want to understand a student’s academic history as completely as we can. Having an arbitrary “cut-off” for GPAs would not acknowledge the great variety in grading systems among the thousands of secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad. Clearly Middlebury College seeks students who achieve excellence in their academics; we define that excellence by assessing the rigor of a student’s course load as well as the grades earned in those courses. Your academic attitude matters to us, an attitude that is reflected in the decisions you have made in choosing your classes. In lieu of an average or minimum GPA, it is sometimes helpful to know that the students we admit typically rank in the top decile of their class. About 85% of the class of 2009 graduated in the top 10% of their high school class.
23:
How important is rank-in-class? What if my school does not calculate it?
A:
If a school does not provide an exact rank it may instead distinguish “deciles” or “quintiles.” For example, a student in the top decile of a class of 180 students would be somewhere in the top 18. Rank in class or decile distinctions are helpful in the process because they do allow us to place you in the context of your class; however, we do not look at rank without first extrapolating its meaning. An unweighted rank that does not acknowledge students enrolled in the most rigorous courses is less helpful than a weighted rank. If a school provides no type of ranking this does not put an applicant at a disadvantage. Most schools send a school profile, which describes the grading system and provides a grade distribution that charts the percentage of students earning each type of grade. This information allows us to see where your grades fall as compared to the rest of your academic peers. Do not worry about being at a disadvantage if your school does not provide a class rank. We work very hard to understand what your transcript says about you and do not depend solely upon GPA and rank to do so.
24:
Is there a system that the admissions staff will use to assess the individual elements of my application?
A:
Middlebury College does not have a set formula that applies to each application. We feel that every applicant presents a different academic and personal history and one universal formula could not accurately assess each student’s strengths. As mentioned above, we care deeply about the academic choices you have made, and we want to see that you have chosen a rigorous curriculum, taken advantage of the academic opportunities available at your school, and achieved at a high level in your courses. We cannot, because of the great variety in grading systems, compare the GPAs of students who attend different high schools; however, your test scores give us a piece of academic information that we can use to compare you to other students. We are also a community of very active and engaged citizens. We look for applicants who have made contributions outside the classroom. Students’ activities vary from extracurricular clubs and athletics to community service and after-school jobs. Do not be concerned that there is an implicit preference for one type of activity over another within the admissions committee. We are impressed by people who have had an impact on their school or community and find that students who were active in high school will be engaged citizens at Middlebury College. We use your essays to get a sense of how you think and how well you express yourself. Do not worry about coming up with the “right” answer to an essay question. Instead, think about what it is that you would want an admissions officer to know about you after reading your essays. Teacher recommendations are important because they allow us insight into the kind of contributions that you make in the classroom. Middlebury’s classes are typically very small (20 students or fewer) and faculty members expect a great deal of discussion and debate. Teacher recommendations can help us identify students who are active and thoughtful participants in class. All of these elements combine to influence our admissions decision. We encourage you to treat each element of your application with care.
25:
Do students from private schools have an advantage over students from public schools?
A:
No. Applicants to Middlebury College represent many wonderful public and private institutions from the U.S. and abroad. We have no preference for one type of school over another. Approximately 52% of Middlebury students attended public high schools and the remaining 48% attended independent, parochial, or home schools.
26:
Does Middlebury have geographical quotas?
A:
No. While we do seek to represent as many states and countries as we can, a student’s home address would not make up for any significant gap in his or her academic profile. Some geographical areas may be more interesting to us, but there is no optimal number of students we enroll from a given area.
27:
Does it make a difference if I am the child of an alumna or alumnus of Middlebury?
A:
We value greatly the connection between Middlebury and its alumni; however, a student who does not present a competitive academic profile would not be admitted simply because his or her parents attended Middlebury. About 7–9% of an incoming class represents children of alumni. In the 2005–2006 application cycle approximately 151 of our 6,204 applications were from children of alumni.
28:
What is Middlebury’s comprehensive fee?
A:
29:
How do I apply for financial aid?
A:
First-year applicants initially receive an estimated aid decision which becomes official after the family’s 2006 tax returns are reviewed. To apply for an estimated aid decision, Middlebury College requires that you submit the CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile form, which is available on the College Board Web site: http://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp. You will need to provide Middlebury’s code, which is 3526. After enrolling at Middlebury, a family must also submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and 2006 federal income tax returns in order to receive a final aid decision. For further details regarding the CSS Profile and other financial aid instructions visit the Student Financial Services Web site at www.middlebury.edu/admissions/finaid. You will find a link to the College Board and other helpful Web sites on our Student Financial Services Web site.
30:
Will my financial aid application have an impact on my admissions application?
A:
Absolutely not. Middlebury’s admission process is “need-blind.” This means that we do not know of your family’s finances when we assess your application. All admission decisions are based upon an applicant’s ability to contribute as a student and a citizen to the Middlebury College community.
31:
Does Middlebury offer any merit or athletic scholarships?
A:
No. All financial assistance at Middlebury is based on demonstrated need. We hope that the preceding list of questions and answers is helpful. You might have other, more specific, questions, and we encourage you to be in touch with our office. There are many ways to contact us and we look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, enjoy your year!
Contact Information:
Phone: 802-443-3000
Web address: www.middlebury.edu
E-mail address: admissions@middlebury.edu
Mailing address:
Office of Admissions
The Emma Willard House
131 South Main Street
5405 Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753