70k in debt for Middlebury College or Colby College for free

Hey guys, I am facing myself with this dilemma right now. Due to Colby calculating financial aid differently/being more generous it would be free for me to attend Colby. However, from my understanding Colby is a hard uphill battle when it comes to recruiting. Moreover, a quick linked-in search revealed to me that Middlebury does better for recruiting. I know both are great schools and I would be happy at either, but I guess I'm asking is Middlebury that much better that it's worth the debt to break into IB?

17 Comments
 

P.S. just wanted to clarify. I obviously know that regardless of where I go breaking into IB is going to be difficult. I don't want to give the impression that I thought it would be a cake walk at Middlebury. 

 

Please take Colby dear god don’t put yourself into debt for a tiny increase in recruiting. Middlebury may recruit slightly better and is a great school overall but it’s nowhere near a target and the upgrade from Colby certainly isn’t worth 70k (and more in the long term in debt).

 

One of the best mid level people in GS I know went to Colby college. In one of the newer banking groups. Hard work and good character pay off. Colby will be a great choice, nothing is impossible to he whom will try.

 

Colby to Midd is not worth the 70k upgrade. Midd might do better in recruiting but Colby is not that far behind to justify the 70k. 

 

Have you visited both places? I go to another NESCAC and have found both places to be fairly different in terms of the surrounding area and campus itself. They are also different sizes and would say they attract different students. I suspect you might have a more noticeably different experience than you'd expect. Worth also considering if Middlebury would match Colby's aid, given how they care deeply about their yield percentage. They might be willing to work with you. Happy to give more insight if helpful.

 

Midd doesn't match aid, Midd is currently running a deficit and lowering aid for their actual students. Midd fin aid has gotten only worse and worse over the years.

 

NESCAC alum: Go Colby. Can easily recruit across NESCACs as NESCAC alum are usually really receptive and 70k in debt is a lot even with an IB career. Money compounds over time and having to spend 70k+ on paying off student loans isn't worth the marginal difference in recruiting outcomes.

 

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