Middlebury Theatre Major

We work hard, play hard.
Midd kids are outdoorsy.
Intense, competitive, well-rounded students.
Preppy prep preps.

Yes and no. Some kids work hard, some play hard, a lot do both. Not everyone is outdoorsy, but there is a large contingent of patagonia-donned granola-eating forest people. Midd kids are generally the kinds of people that like to be good at everything they do, so there is a lot of competition; like who can get the best grades while participating in extra-curriculars, while partying hearty, while working out every day, while still appearing totally relaxed. There are a lot of "preps" at Middlebury, but also a camel-smoking, mismatched-vintage clothed hipster counter culture. It's actually a pretty diverse school in a lot of ways.

Middlebury is a great sized school. Everywhere you go, you will know someone, but it is totally possible to dip your toes in a lot of different social circles. You can also go for weeks without running into someone. The weather here, unless you're a skiier, is not fun at all. But the cold really makes indoor get-togethers inviting, and doesn't really prevent you from getting anywhere you need to be. However, it does suck to walk to early classes during snowstorms. When the weather is nice at Midd, though, everyone frolics outside in their pretty bright clothing. We really appreciate warm sunniness. People all of a sudden get way more attractive. The best thing about Middlebury is it's student body. I've made friendships that I know will last well out of college. The language and theatre programs here are well-reputed, challenging and amazing. No language program in the country can compare to Midd's summer school. It's also a beautiful campus. Even when your teeth are chattering, at least your surroundings are picturesque. The disappearance of Nicholas Garza this winter has caused a lot of unrest on campus. The fact that we still know nothing about what happened to him is frightening. But I truly believe that every student on campus still feels safe. It's important, on any campus, to remember to look out for yourself and others. Safety in numbers.

Classes here are really what you make of them. You can choose to take difficult or easier courses. I've never taken a class at Middlebury that I wasn't interested in. All my Professors have known my name, but in larger classes, you do have to make sure to be memorable. Class participation is valued in most of the classes I've taken, but there are teachers that prefer lecturing. Midd kids definitely have intellectual conversations outside of class, in my circle it's quite normal to discuss ideas you've been pondering in class and partake in brainstormy banter. You're not considered snooty if you like learning from and communicating with your peers. Students, I think, are more competitive with themselves than outwardly with others. Sharing your grades with classmates, and even sometimes friends, is not usually done. The theatre department at Middlebury offers Acting, Directing, and Playwrighting focuses, and puts up an average of four high-budget plays a year. It's an intense major, and if you're acting in a play, you're basically signing your life away. But all the productions I've been involved with have been valuable experiences. The faculty is quite talented and supportive. They're more like godparents than Professors. We have intimate working relationships, we call them by their first names, and they are always willing to offer advice.

Most students are white, upper-middle class, so-so religious, and wear pretty nondescript clothing. I'm not a fan of nondescript clothing choices. I am not white, or upper-middle class, religious at all, and wear crazy things to class. I don't feel out of place at all. There are lots of different people on campus, a wonderful population of international students, and a general interest in diversity on campus. Obviously, there are cliques, but they're not set in stone. The school is too small to really close yourself off completely from people who are unlike you. And it would be so so boring if that happened. I wouldn't say there is any hostility between cliques, but it's impossible to be friends with everybody, so people either work off the conveniency factor, or are just selective.

I have fun every night of the weekend. No complaints. I'm involved with The Mill, a social house, or co-ed frat, that represents many international, queer, and generally wonderful silly people. We throw awesome costume parties. Dating at Middlebury is kind of lame. It actaully doesn't exist. People don't go on dates. They go over to each other's rooms to "watch movies." You're either married to your significant other, or in something casual. On such a small campus, people tend to avoid serious relationships in order to preserve their individual identity. Once you get involved with someone, it's almost inevitable that people will begin to define you by what they know of your boyfriend/girlfriend. The gay dating scene at Midd, however, is hopping, considering we're living in rural Vermont. I think Midd is remarkably gay-friendly. I've met all my best friends by fluke because we are soul mates.

Ronald Liebowitz is a lame-o and so is his new housing plan. The Bunker, the Middlebury "club" is wackity wack wack. Don't go to McCullough social space unless: a) there's a cool concert of b) you want to make out in front of sweaty freshman and take a rando home.