College Counseling at St. Margaret's

It takes about an hour to drive the 35 miles down U.S. Highway 7 from Burlington to Middlebury. Middlebury College, founded in 1800, is adjacent to the village center.

The Village of Middlebury is classic New England, with bustling sidewalk cafes, restaurants, bookstores, folk art shops, a stream running beneath Main Street, and the like. Middlebury is home of Vermont’s original marble quarries. Many of the buildings on Middlebury College’s very attractive campus are built with Vermont marble, and the College fits in nicely with the local environment. You can take a virtual tour online. The College was more vibrant than expected for a summer visit. In fact, campus was buzzing with summer students, researchers and visitors.

Middlebury is a NESCAC college, meaning that it is part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Other member colleges are Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Trinity, Tufts, Williams and Wesleyan. With nearly 2400 undergraduate students, Middlebury is larger than most NESCAC colleges.

Middlebury is further distinguished by the variety of programs offered. The College has an international focus. Often noted are the language programs, and the Breadloaf School of English, which Mr. Reemstma and Mr. Peter Clark are attending this summer. The renown Monterey Institute of International Studies in California is affiliated with Middlebury College.

The College offers summer language programs for middle and upper school students through the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy.

St. Margaret’s presents the Middlebury College Book each year at the spring awards ceremony. This book is given to a student with a proven interest in and concern for the environment.

I had a great visit to Middlebury. Many of the admissions officers have long tenures in the profession, and I’ve known a few of them for years. Even though the admissions office was hosting a large group today, they took time to meet with me, and incorporated me into some of the activities planned for the group.

Historical Note: Emma Willard House, home to Middlebury’s admissions office, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and is a National Landmark. Emma Willard lived here when she founded Middlebury Seminary for Women in 1814; the first institution of higher learning founded for women in the United States.