<p>@geek; Oh I see! 
Thanks much for the encouragement. And Singapore is a beautiful place, I know many people from there and have been there myself. Oh how I wish I lived on an island. 
你好聪明阿！:)</p>
<p>How is the humanities program at Deerfield? Please share your experiences. Thanks.</p>
<p>I put all these questions in another thread (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1104792-need-help-differntiating-picking-between-hades-choate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1104792-need-help-differntiating-picking-between-hades-choate.html</a>) but I thought I’d just ask directly too:</p>
<p>How are Deerfield’s: (<em>in terms of their size, scale, student interest, and accomplishments</em>)
- drama/theatre department?
- speech & debate experience/rankings in competitions?
- Model UN?
- mock trial?
- music program?
- acapella/singing programs?
- foreign languages (studying several at once specifically- is it commonly done)?
- Varsity Volleyball (G)?
- Crew (Boys with G cox)?
- Newspaper?
- Student government? (is it very involved and does it have a presence and prestige on campus)
- What kind of entertainment productions do Deerfield students put on - such as Mr. -nameofschool- pageants, date auctions, talent shows (less professionally talented, more students making glorious fools of themselves and enjoying it), etc.?
- GSA program/support?</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>CKSABS, Your son may be able to answer these questions.</p>
<p>1012daughter here:</p>
<p>1)The theatre department is quite small and they only put on three shows a year (one each trimester). There are also classes you can take during the day though. But the entire program is really controlled by one teacher. He controls practically everything which is impressive but also sometimes frustrating. Although the department is relatively small, the whole school does come out for the plays and class performances.
2) The speech and debate team is small but very competitive. They are always looking for new members and they are losing many seniors these year. I’m not positive of the exact rankings but they do attend competitions and have success.
3)Model UN is quite prevalent on campus and they attend yearly conferences (after an intense and selective process to pick delegates). They also often have fundraisers and events.
4) Mock trial I’m not sure about but I’m pretty sure it only exists within the debate team.
5) The music program is strong but has been shifting around quite a bit in recent years. There has been a different head of the department every year for the past 4 years. Right now it’s having a lot of success with the new department head, who is very organized and professional. There are great opportunities in orchestra, band, vocal performance, and music theory.
6) A cappella is the best! There are two groups, the Mellow-Ds (all boys) and the Rhapso-Ds (the amazing all girls group!) There is an annual a cappella fest and the groups also perform through out the year. The groups are very competetive to get in but the chorus (a class versus an e.c.) and within that there is the Madrigals, the advanced choir.
7) Foreign languages are very intense since starting at level one all of the classes are immersion. Starting these classes (in whatever level) can be extremely difficult. Some students do take two language classes but generally not until junior year and it often requires some sacrificing in other classes. But it definitely can be done and significant number of students do it.
8) I dont really know much about varsity volleyball but I do know it’s popular and they do have a successful team!
9) Crew is huge at Deerfield, it’s popular with good teams. They have had a lot of success at New Englands in the past few years.
10) Scroll has lots of oppotunities to just write occasional articles or the chance to apply for a more permanant position.
11) Student government isn’t really that big of a deal. The work they do is a bit more behind the scenes with the deans but they do have a presence and attempt to make change
12) There is KFC (coffee house type of deal) that’s dont twice a year. Anyone and everyone can perform. These are extremely popular and the entire school shows up.
13) There is a GSA program, it isn’t very big but there are steps being made towards further support.</p>
<p>@pulsar:
The humanities at Deerfield are very very strong. There are many fantistic teachers and many different options in both History and English.</p>
<p>Thank you 1012 mom and D. :)</p>
<ol>
<li>Do freshmen boarders get singles or doubles? Are the dorms mixed by grade level?</li>
<li>Is there a limit on the number of ECs you can participate in or is it just limited by the availability of time?</li>
<li>I heard the food is good. Is it?</li>
<li>Can you study in the library in the evenings or only in your room? Are there quiet places in academic buildings or in the dorms designated for study?</li>
<li>What is the lights out and internet policy?</li>
<li>What is a typical weekend schedule looks like?</li>
<li>Are the placement tests only in Math and FL? Thanks.</li>
</ol>
<p>1) Almost every single new student is given a single. Dorms are organzied by upper class (juniors and seniors) and lower class (freshman and sophomores along with their senior proctors)
2) Everyone takes one specific co-curricular each term (generally a sports team or possibly theater). But there are lots of other after school activities and clubs to take part in other than the specific co-curricular taken each term
3) The food is pretty good! It’s entirely sufficient and there are a couple places in Greenfield that deliver when people want more junk food stuff!
4) Upper classmen have the option of going to the library or wherever works for them (including the Memorial building and other classroom buildings) during study hall but underclassmen have to work in their rooms unless that get permission otherwise to work with one of their teachers. A lot of teachers have extra help during study hall.
5) Lights out is only for freshman, I think it’s about 10:30? But I’m not positive.
6) There are always things to do during the weekend, including trips to Northamton, Amherst, even NYC and Boston occasionally. There are usually other events like dances and movie nights. Also most people who play a sport have a game on saturday. Games that are on campus are very well attended and a really fun time.
7) Yes, placement exams are only in math and FL. People often change their placement within the first couple weeks of school if necesary.</p>
<p>Thank you 1012Mom.</p>
<p>How are the science courses at Deerfield? Do they have different levels such as accelerated, honors, and advanced? How hard and demanding are they? What do the students think of the “physics first” science sequence?</p>
<p>1012 D is off enjoying spring break so I will try to answer pulsar.</p>
<p>First year in each lab science class is either regular track or accelerated. The regular track classes cover the same material as honors classes in most public high schools. The second year advanced classes in each lab science are double period and prepare students for the AP tests. D was the last year of bio first - so I am not sure what students think of the “physics first”. However, physics first is a major trend in high school science education.</p>
<p>The sciences are very demanding at DA. There are lots of possibilities and electives, many beyond AP, and in different areas such as Astromomy and Anatomy. The facilites are new and better than many colleges. The teachers are excellent, always willing to provide extra help and/or extra challenge as needed.</p>
<p>1012mom, Which are the best/newer dorms? Do they assign the dorms or can you request a specific dorm for freshmen? Do they match student interests in dorm assignments? Thanks.</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Deerfield’s the “Mellow-D’s” perform “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Dynamite”](<a href=“Deerfield's the "Mellow-D's" perform "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Dynamite" - YouTube”>Deerfield's the "Mellow-D's" perform "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Dynamite" - YouTube)</p>
<p>Winning DA Acapella pieces at Exeter’s Interscholastic Acapella Competition.</p>
<p>THOSE SINGING GROUPS ARE AMAZING!!! They sang for us at the revisit day and during Dynamite they added in a “come to Deerfield” verse and it was hilarious! I can’t wait to be on campus next year as a freshmen…ahhh! SO EXCITED</p>
<p>You’re so lucky haha.</p>
<p>Thanks! With a record number of applications this year (over 2200) I am still amazed and proud! Are you attending a BS?</p>
<p>Do most freshmen take History or Humanities (Phil, Rel) and why?</p>
<p>Do most freshmen take History or Humanities (Visual Arts, Phil, Rel) and why?</p>
<p>When I went for the revisit everyone told me to get my first year of history out of the way as a freshmen…because you only need one year of it to graduate</p>
<p>deerbri, You need a minimum of two years of History (1 yr US, 1 yr non-US) to graduate.</p>
<p>SirIsacNewton: My son will be new 10th grader. Does “a minimum of two years of History (1 yr US, 1 yr non-US) to graduate” include only history courses taken in DA? Since my son is taking world history in local high school now, I am not sure he should take non-US history again in DA. </p>
<p>He also needs to decide which science (Physics or AP Chem or AP bio) to take. Anybody out there to share your experience? He is taking bio/chem now. He is more math/science kid. Since it’s his first year, maybe he wants to go with easier course?</p>
<p>I’m interested in the answer to prepDady’s question, I’m an incoming sophomore too and am unsure with course scheduling.
I’m going to be a repeat sophomore so I’ve already taken U.S. history and am currently finishing up world history. Do I still have to take the ‘mandatory’ U.S. history junior year? </p>
<p>Also, I’ve taken biology and chemistry already. Our sciences our blocked at my school so I took chemistry the first half of the year and then tried physics the second half; dropped it within a few days due to the difficulty. Is physics mandatory? I’d much rather AP bio over it.</p>