Deerfield Academy [Deerfield, MA]

<p>* Important:: Spurred on by the thread 'St</a>. Paul's vs A E & D, I've decided to create a DA thread. I know there is currently one in existence, but the creator hasn't posted since September, and in anticipation of March 10th I thought a more updated one is in order. If whoever is in charge disagrees feel free to shoot this down. I'm currently a student at Deerfield and am more than happy to share my impressions with you, through PM or in this thread. I can only offer limited input when comparing to other schools because I don't know any other school extremely well. Finally, student experiences will vary with every kid, and no two will be identical. I can only do my best to convey mine, and the general consensus of the student body. And yes, I'm biased, because I do love my school...Now onto some facts: *</p>

<p>The website is easily the best resource for info, and I've listed a couple of numbers below provided by its Fast</a> Facts page: </p>

<p>Location: 15 min. from Amherst, 50 min. from Hartford, 1.5 hours from Boston
Student Body: Approx. 620 student mark, 77 international students, 35%on FA, $6.5 million per year.
Faculty/Academics: 118 Faculty, 6/1 Student-Faculty ratio, 189 courses, 12 avg. class size, approx. 25 hours of homework a week.</p>

<p>However, there are other places on the internet to get a feel for DA. I'd start with the new(ish) student newspaper page, and yes, it is supposed to look like the New York Times website. A couple of highlights from this issue include Early</a> College Acceptances and renovations[/url</a>] for the student hangout (the Greer). There's then the [url=<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/DeerfieldAcademy%5DYouTube">http://www.youtube.com/user/DeerfieldAcademy]YouTube</a> channel<a href="which%20has%20all%20of%20last%20year's%20school%20film%20festival%20uploads,%20including%20%5Burl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzkdggRzOk8%5Dthis%5B/url%5D%20school%20favorite">/url</a>, our [url=<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deerfieldacademy/%5DFlickr">http://www.flickr.com/photos/deerfieldacademy/]Flickr</a> stream, plus feel free to become a [fan</a> on facebook...<a href="the%20worst%20part%20is%20I'm%20not%20kidding,">/url</a></p>

<p>So I think I've exhausted the web as a resource, I can tell you we're heading into Exam week right now. To alleviate some stress the [url=<a href="http://danet.deerfield.edu/dining/%5Ddining"&gt;http://danet.deerfield.edu/dining/]dining&lt;/a> hall](<a href="http://www.facebook.com/deerfieldacademy?ref=ts%5Dfan"&gt;http://www.facebook.com/deerfieldacademy?ref=ts) opens at 10:30 PM for the entire school to congregate after study hours for really good, albeit not nutritionally outstanding food (chicken tenders, smoothies, french fries tonight...). Friday we all leave for March Break (except the swim team, which heads to New Englands for the weekend). We return and start the spring term on March 21st, eleven days after all ya'll's D-Day (I don't envy you). Spring term is definitely the campus favorite, because of the weather, Lacrosse, the river (the entire school congregates on Sundays and free afternoons after classes to sunbathe, swim, and relax.) So that's where we're at right now. If you have any questions, which I assume will start coming more after March 10th, I'll be checking this probably once or twice a day.</p>

<p>ireally want to go to deerfield, one of my top choices (if not my top), hows the foothball team?</p>

<p>I love the flickr photos!
i was wondering what most girls wear on a daily basis, like where do most girls shop for their clothes to follow the dress code?</p>

<p>its one of my top choices too. What sets the school apart? (I assume you go there)</p>

<p>how well do the teacher’s make boarders feel comfortable? Like are they supportive and helpful when you need them?</p>

<p>Hey, I’m a senior at Deerfield and I can attest that Deerfield teachers are incredible at supporting students. We are not a sink or swim school like some of our peers, all teachers offer extra help sessions at night at least once a week, and many are known to offer it every night. Due to the high number of teachers living on campus, or right off it on main street, a student can simply visit a teacher if they are having problems. </p>

<p>From a social perspective, Teachers at Deerfield are Teachers, Residents and Coaches. Therefore, they are very involved in the community and are truly your parents away from home. A quintessentially Deerfield tradition is the late night feed, in which hall residents cook a large, elaborate meal after curfew for students and catch up with them. This typically happens once a week. In addition to the impromptu talks that spawn out of checking in, Teachers will often approach you to ask how everything is going. An Advisor is assigned, yet many students rely on more than one teacher for advice.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>^ thanks!</p>

<p>that’s really great.</p>

<p>Deerfield is different because it is an authentic prep school experience. The Dress Code, Sit-Down Meals and other campus traditions differentiate the school from its Rivals. When I chose to come to Deerfield over Andover and SPS, I wanted a prep school experience, not simply high caliber academics. I believe the best exemplification of the differences of these schools is in their dining halls. While Andover students scarfed down food from buffet while studying, Deerfield’s system of sit-down meals has students dine like a family (with the best prep school food) conversing on topics that are not covered in text books. Deerfield simply felt more like a community, while the others simply felt like schools. </p>

<p>If you want more insight don’t hesitate to email me.</p>

<p>and that is why my parents and I prefered DA to Andover.</p>

<p>yeah, I really like that Deerfield feels more like a home and community…its like just the right size and still keeps their traditions alive…i really hope i get into Deerfield :)</p>

<p>me too but i refuse to let myself obsess anymore until I have an acceptance letter in hand. Thanks for the info</p>

<p>^yeah…i don’t want me hopes get up and then see them crash before my eyes</p>

<p>do you know anything about the deerfield diving divas? hahahaha, best team name ever.</p>

<p>thank you !</p>

<p>Does DA use the Harkness Table in the Humanities/ English/History classes. ?</p>

<p>Alexz825Mom,</p>

<p>I’ll chime in here on the Harkness question. I understand that there are Exeter folk who believe that the “Harkness” is very unique and this may get them a bit riled up but to a certain extent, every English/History class that I’ve visited at the following boarding schools: Groton, SPS, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Holderness and a few more I can’t remember, have used a central table and teaching technique that is student-based and discussion-based. I know that there is a “name-value” placed on having a special table but a good friend of mine who taught English at Exeter for many years is very clear when he explains that “The Harkness” Method is simply sound pedagogy, putting the learning in the hands of the students with the teacher acting as a facilitator and guide rather than acting as a lecturer. You will find the “Harkness” method in place at countless schools across the country. Personally, discussion-based and inquiry-based courses have been the most influential in my educational career and I have been fortunate to experience them at several different institutions but none of them have proclaimed themselves “Harkness.” </p>

<p>Of course, I have also learned that Wikipedia is always right and that I only need to look there for my answer (note sarcasm): [Harkness</a> table - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harkness_table]Harkness”>Harkness table - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>DA is on the list so I guess they do use the Harkness method and I didn’t need to write this much!</p>

<p>Could you tell me if there’s any int’l student on FA?
Thanks! =P</p>

<p>It’s very very limited, my interviewer told me that most of the money is dedicated to Americans. My interviewer was the dean of admission</p>

<p>@Gabiiwoz: I actually couldn’t tell you that much about girls’ shopping trends @ DA because I’m a guy. I can give you this quote form the student part of the website, explaining girls’ dress code (which is naturally a bit more complicated than the boy’s jacket/tie look):</p>

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<p>@cantelopemelon: ppasciucco hit one of the more unique aspects of Deerfield - we are a New England Prep School. Deerfield prepares you for college, yes, but that word also summarizes our culture and traditions well. </p>

<p>Another factor that I feel sets DA apart is its community. Because our campus does not open up into a town, like many of our peer schools’ campuses do, it fosters a strong school identity. Our campus really is our home, and we create a community that might not have emerged if we could just walk to the movies or restaurants in town. Furthermore, with teachers (as ppasciucco mentioned) also coaches, hall-residents, and advisors, the faculty extends beyond academics. Our extracurriculars are extensive and our cocurriculars (athletics, drama, dance, community service) are as well, both integrated seamlessly so academics, while perhaps the most important, are only a portion of the life here. If you need evidence for the strength of the community you can simply look to the school spirit, which is one of the best in New England. </p>

<p>@Alexz285mom: All humanities classes employ the Harkness method, in that they all have a small class size with a round-the-table discussion set up. It makes a world of difference for me, and looking back it seems bizarre to have gone about English or History any other way.</p>

<p><em>stares at dress code</em> I knew it was strict but wow. Why can’t they just have a uniform and make life easier. I think about 4 things in my wardrobe pass that. How strictly enforced is this dress code?</p>

<p>hola3,</p>

<p>Thanks for the link and you words:-)</p>