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There are quite a few campuses that are spectacular and many BS’s with highly talented student bodies. However, I agree that SPS seems (at least to an “outsider”) uniquely strong in its commitment to an important sense of community.</p>
<p>Well the reason I said “close-knit community” for SM is because it is something that is really important to the school. I have friends at various other BS and they never come close to the sense of community that SM does. I like to say that during my time at SM I could walk into the dining hall and NEVER have to worry about finding someone to eat with, everyone was very friendly and would never mind if someone wasn’t in their grade or something came over and sat with them. Moreover, considering how small SM is, everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone and is genuinely concerned if someone isn’t doing well. This includes faculty too. My sophomore year, I was really upset due to a friend from home passing away and when I came back to school, my ENTIRE dorm plus the dorm faculty pitched in to buy me flowers and signed a card for me.</p>
<p>I have friends who went to various prep schools across the country, but when we compared notes on the schools NONE compared to the close-knit community SM had. </p>
<p>Just look at this e-mail I received my senior year:
"Dear St. Mark’s Community,</p>
<p>I would like to thank the students for something that occurred on Saturday night upon our return from a thrilling, yet disappointing loss to Groton.</p>
<p>When our bus pulled in to the F.A.C., we were greeted by a corridor of cheering students leading from the bus up to the F.A.C. doors for our players to walk through. In my fourteen years as an independent school coach, I’ve never experienced anything like that type of support from the community. If you were part of the corridor, I thank you kindly, and I offer my deepest appreciation for that amazing moment for the players to experience. In my opinion, such an act by the community transcends Groton Day or any description that we can offer in viewbooks about St. Mark’s. It was awesome.</p>
<p>In addition, the fan support at the actual game was exhilarating. What’s most impressive about the cheering was that it swelled with pride even before we began our momentous comeback–when we were down and seemingly out, the fans still cheered and supported us. Certainly, the cheering and chanting throughout the entire second half contributed to and fueled our players to persevere. The second half represented what St. Mark’s football is all about and what the St. Mark’s community is all about.</p>
<p>Obviously, I’m very disappointed that in my first year I did not win the Groton game. Yet, seeing the players experience the support during the game and walking with them through the corridor on Saturday night certainly makes me proud to be a member of this community, something that is a feeling deep in the marrow, something beyond a “w” in the standings, something exclusively remarkable about St. Mark’s."</p>
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<p>Mainer - you’re too funny…stats tell you who you are.</p>
<p>SPS: spread apart
Exeter:love it or hate it
Choate:nice food 
Taft: very warm community feel; sports
NMH:sports;art;community;tradition; the whole she-bang
Loomis: Their As Schools Match Wits Team= <em>sigh</em>
Deerfield: location
Tabor: ocean</p>
<p>Loomis: Their As Schools Match Wits Team= <em>sigh</em>
? could you elaborate? sorry, poor reading comprehension skills on my part, but i’m curious.</p>
<p>is tabor actually “on the sea”? does anyone have any photos?</p>
<p>just go to their website haha.</p>
<p>that’s a brilliant suggestion actually, thanks :D</p>
<p>edit: ASDFGHJKL OMG IT’S ACTUALLY ON THE SEA, HOW AMAZING IS THAT??</p>
<p>Here I will even give you a link to a map, just to make your life easier. haha</p>
<p>[Tabor</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.taboracademy.org/map/]Tabor”>http://www.taboracademy.org/map/)</p>
<p>EDIT: I KNOW. ISN’T IT IMPRESSIVE!!!</p>
<p>Honestly, I visited Tabor and it fell short of my expectations. There’s two buildings actually by the water (Lillard Hall and the Marine Science Center), and the rest is spread out randomly. And the buildings just weren’t… I don’t know how to describe it. But Tabor’s campus wasn’t nearly as impressive as it looks online.</p>
<p>We were just at Tabor and I was not impressed. I found the school to be not pleasing aesthetically and the harbor was not as pretty as many others I’ve seen.</p>
<p>Thacher: Mountains, Horses, Orange Groves, Community, Commitment</p>
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<p>Looks like the visits are very important to be able to see past sales videos and fancy viewbooks. :)</p>
<p>NMH: Arts, athletics/Warm, welcoming/Gorgeous, expansive, scenic campus</p>
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<p>WELL! one day we were watching * As Schools Match Wits * and Loomis was going against a local school. Both schools were not very impressive to say the least and Loomis’ contestants answered a LOT(well not A LOT, but more than a few) of questions wrong and made some obvious mispronunciations. And I being the grammar nazi that I am find this irritating.</p>
<p>However, I still consider Loomis a very good school and is on my list for next year. </p>
<p>**Loomis: (new) Nice Campus, location, traditions, sports, art, writing. **</p>
<p>I thought you were going to MacDuffie?</p>
<p>I might, idk, I haven’t heard back from them yet.
But I’m still looking to board somewhere. I need independence! :P</p>
<p>Well good luck next year where ever you are</p>
<p>thanks 
10char</p>
<p>Yeah I made up my list of 10 schools ;)</p>
<p>I cant narrow mine down. I have 15 right now. haha</p>