If your child has their eyes set on a quintessential New England liberal arts college experience, then Middlebury College is probably on their list. But, as they dream about small class sizes and studying philosophy in coffee shops, you’re probably worrying if they have what it takes to turn these dreams into reality. Take a deep breath: we’re going to help you with that worry. But, first, let’s learn why Middlebury is such a desirable place to spend four years. 

About Middlebury College

Middlebury is located in Middlebury, Vermont, a small town in the center of the state, full of mountains and creeks. In part because of these beautiful surroundings, Middlebury College and its students are environmental leaders: Middlebury was one of the first colleges in the U.S. to achieve carbon neutrality in 2016, a proposal that was initially drafted and driven by its undergraduate students nine years earlier. 

There are around 2,700 undergraduates at Middlebury. The smallness of the school is one of its biggest strengths: there’s an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and 100% of classes are taught by professors. On the social side, Middlebury is a tight-knit community with 97% of students living on campus all four years. Weekend skiing on the nearby college-owned slope is a beloved staple of Vermont winters for Middlebury students. 

The admissions rate to Middlebury College for the Class of 2030 was 17%. Though this is a higher acceptance rate than in previous years, it still means Middlebury is a mighty selective college. Getting in will require strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt).

Middlebury Admissions Requirements

Hopefully, it won’t come as a surprise to you when we say that there’s no formula for getting into Middlebury (or to any college, for that matter). Even though GPA, test scores, and extracurricular achievements are chief among the factors Middlebury admissions officers consider, they evaluate each student in his or her own specific context. Still, let’s look at these three chief factors more closely to glean a picture of what unites admits to Middlebury. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Middlebury College?

Unfortunately, Middlebury admissions officers keep the GPA data of admitted students close to their vest, refusing to publish either the average GPA or class rank information on incoming students in the federally mandated Common Data Set. However, while we don’t technically know how many Middlebury students graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA or whether the majority of students graduated in the top 10% of their high school’s graduating class, we can make some pretty educated guesses.

Middlebury’s admissions competitiveness places it on par with other highly selective institutions, most of which curate incoming classes with high school graduates in the top 10% of their class, and for whom a significant number graduate with a 4.0 GPA. Oftentimes, this figure stands at well over half of the incoming class! In all likelihood, Middlebury is no exception. It’s safe to assume that the plurality of those who secure a spot at Middlebury boast 4.0 GPAs or the occasional 3.9. We at Ivy Coach would confidently speculate that all Middlebury admits to the Classes of 2030 and 2029 had a GPA over 2.5, with 95% exceeding 3.5.

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Middlebury? 

The average SAT score for the Middlebury Class of 2029 was 1500, and the average ACT score was 34. Even though Middlebury is officially test-optional, 49% of applicants that year submitted test scores. There’s no data on what percent of admitted applicants submitted scores, but we feel confident in saying that it was higher than 49%. In other words, submitting scores always boosts an applicant’s chances, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Middlebury?

Middlebury does not officially list any minimum course preparation in order to be considered for admission. Here’s what we can say, though: we at Ivy Coach know that highly selective colleges want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade. 

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Middlebury College Like To See?

There’s a pervasive idea that elite colleges like Middlebury want well-rounded students. Somebody call in the MythBusters because this is not the case. Elite colleges want well-rounded student bodies that are made up of students with singular and unique talents. Rather than admitting a student who is the jack of all trades but master of none, elite universities want to admit students who are on their way to becoming a foremost expert or specialist in a particular field. So, rather than shuffling your kid from one extracurricular activity to another, find their talent or passion and have them go all-in on that. 

Middlebury College Application Requirements

Middlebury accepts The Common Application or The Coalition Application. They require one letter of recommendation from a counselor and two from teachers. They do not require a supplemental essay.

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Middlebury College? 

Middlebury applicants should ask two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teachers and have performed well in their classes. In addition, at least one of the recommender’s subject areas should be directly related to the rest of the student’s application: if a student wants to be the next great Middlemarch scholar, then one of her recommenders should be an English teacher. 

Does Middlebury Require an Interview? 

They don’t require one, but they provide students with the option to interview with an alum. They say they cannot guarantee an interview, though, and give students the opportunity to submit an introduction video via Glimpse instead. 

What Are Middlebury College’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications to Middlebury College are due November 3rd. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due January 5th. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Middlebury

If you’re interested in figuring out if your child has a shot of getting into Middlebury College, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Middlebury College, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.