Febs Energetic Leaders or Just Loud?

Author: Deborah Jones

"You're a Feb? Oh, that makes sense."

I can't tell you how many times I've heard that comment since coming to Middlebury. Students and faculty alike never seem surprised to learn that I'm a member of the Class of 2004 'point five.' "You just seem 'Febbie'," they say.

'Febbie?' What's that supposed to mean?

Of course, I'm quite familiar with the Feb stereotypes. Apparently, we're all very bubbly, bouncy and energetic. I've also heard Febs described as loud, obnoxious and attention demanding. Some say that we're much more open-minded and mature than our "Reg" counterparts, others just consider us eccentric. A few of my '04.5 friends wanted me to mention that Febs are known to be masters of the bedroom, but some consider that reputation to be the result of several years of class t-shirts boasting of sexual prowess in the snow.

So is there a Feb personality? I decided to go to the root of my dilemma: the admissions process. After all, the powerful people in Emma Willard House were the ones that gave us the honor of Febdom to begin with.

According to Director of Admissions John Hanson, the most important factor in determining who will be offered February admission is "evidence that the person has the initiative and independence….to see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [in taking a semester off] and knows how to use the time." He noted that while "a track record of initiative, energy, and involvement" is desirable in all candidates, it is especially important for Febs.

Hanson also dismissed the myth that February first-years are less academically qualified than students who begin their Middlebury careers in September, saying that while this may have been true at the outset of the program in the 1970s, there are no statistically significant differences today.

Hanson was not surprised to hear that Febs are often considered to be more mature, since he said he believes that taking time off allows for rapid character building and growth.

He also said that the College offers February admission to students whom it recognizes as already independent and possessing the ability to organize and plan their time off. This self-motivation, he noted, helps explain why Febs are particularly involved on campus and hold a disproportionate number of leadership positions, particularly in the Mountain Club and the Student Government Association.

Carter Denny '04.5 agreed. "[Febs] are psyched to be here because they've had some time off to do something besides academics. In general they are 'go-getters,' very motivated and ready to take on the world."