Nestled between the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains, Middlebury College enjoys an unbelievably scenic campus in Vermont’s Champlain Valley. With a small student body (~2,800 undergraduates total), and a remote location (seriously — it’s beautiful but hard to get to), Middlebury is a classical liberal arts school that attracts ambitious, outdoorsy types to its world-renowned foreign language, creative writing, environmental science, and teaching programs, among its many other offerings. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was just 13%
A few years ago, Middlebury went test-optional, AND it has no supplemental essay questions. While this initially seems like it falls into the “boo-yah” category, it presents a couple of problems. With fewer requirements, Middlebury has seen applications increase and admissions decrease. As more students than ever apply, it’s even more important that you set yourself apart — so don’t ride the “no additional writing” high just yet.
Open your inbox, buckos. Crack your knuckles, and cue your training montage music. We’re cold emailing today.
Reaching Out to Middlebury
Because Middlebury doesn’t require a supplement, you’re going to want to demonstrate interest and show that you’re a good fit by taking initiative. Send their officers a personal email at admissions@middlebury.edu. The purpose of this message is to address the “why our school?” question that most colleges ask applicants while keeping the tone respectfully conversational. We’ve covered the “why us” essay before, but here are the key points you’ll need to address in this kind of letter:
An introduction. Before you dive ~into the thick of it~, you need to say who you are. Give your name and your reason for writing — there’s no formal space on the Common App to explain why you want to attend Middlebury, so you’re reaching out over email to introduce yourself.
A backstory. Colleges want to hear how you’ll contribute to their student body, so you should specify the major you’d like to study at Middlebury. Your interests might change in the years ahead, but it’s important that schools see that you pursue your ambitions and that your intellectual interests are grounded in passion and experience. This is your chance to tell a story about how you developed your curiosity in this area so admissions counselors will invest in the picture you’re painting of your desired future.
Here’s an example: “After falling in love with Spanish in high school and volunteering with ESL programs in my hometown over summer break, I realized that Middlebury’s world-renowned language schools and international studies department would be the perfect places to develop my passion for foreign languages and diplomacy.”
Research. Remember, you’re trying to show that you’ll be an asset to the community and that Middlebury is the best place for you to achieve your goals. That means you need to draw attention to opportunities unique to Middlebury. If you could take Spanish at most universities, then you should definitely mention that you set your sights on Middlebury because it was ranked the Best Foreign Language Program in 2022 and external research found that students gained greater proficiency in Middlebury’s programs than in study-abroad programs of the same duration.
Courses. To prove that you’ve done your research and that you’ll make an engaged scholar, we recommend that you reference one to two upper-level classes distinct to Middlebury’s offerings.
You can browse the course catalog for yourself here, but our aspiring diplomat could reference Spanish 0322, or “Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics,” which would help them understand social, cultural, and linguistic variation in Spanish-speaking communities across the world.
Professors. Another quick tip: what really sets colleges apart beyond their campuses and academic requirements is the scholars they have in their faculty. These minds write syllabi, shape departments, and direct the research that helps universities make their name.
Do some light snooping and identify a professor whose work interests you. Indicate how you’d like to work with them — as part of their research team, as a future TA, as a mentee in their field — and then explain both how you’d grow from a partnership and why you believe you’d be a great addition to their department.
Student groups. Finally, college is more than what happens inside the classroom. Admissions officers should be able to read your email and imagine the engaged community member you’d be amongst your peers. Include a student organization or club that you think you’d like to join and that reflects your past experiences. This isn’t random — you’re demonstrating how your goals align with what you’ve done so far. If you’ve never tried track and field before, you’re probably not going to walk on as a javelin thrower freshman year. If your interest in Mexican dialects and culture led you to join cooking club after trying your teacher’s mole, however, you could convincingly explain how you plan to join Dolci, Middlebury’s student-run restaurant dedicated to intercultural culinary experiences.
Lastly, organize this information into a personable message of around 350 words. Yes, you want to hit the highlights we mentioned, but your email shouldn’t sound robotic or overly processed. You want to come off friendly, professional, and driven. Like always, you should aim to weave the details you’ve chosen about Middlebury into an enjoyable story about your life, the student you are, and the high school record that led you here.
Once you’ve sent it, it’s a good idea to call the admissions office as well and confirm that your email went to the right place. Then it’s out of your hands — and that’s in the boo-yah category for sure.
Wondering how to reach out to the other colleges on your list? Get in touch with us here.