Middlebury College is one of the oldest colleges in the United States. The private school enrolls 2,530 undergraduate students. It is located in the rural town of Middlebury, Vermont. Middlebury follows a 4–1–4 academic schedule, with two four-course semesters and a one-course January term. Freshman are required to attend a first-year seminar. They are discussion-oriented courses with an intensive writing component to help students make the transition to college work; seminar teachers also serve as first-year students’ advisors. They offer 31 NCAA DIII varsity teams; 28 percent of students participate in varsity sports.