<p>Dear Parents,</p>
<p>My daughter is graduating in May from DA. It has been an interesting 3 years (she went as a new sophomore).</p>
<p>Feel free to ask me any question her or mail me privacy. </p>
<p>My only regret is that she didnt go as a repeat freshman, because I am not sure I am ready to leave the Academy.</p>
<p>DC is from inner city, liberal, and more academic than athletic – we are fretting about fit. </p>
<p>Helpful hints and timely tips are most appreciated - thank you!</p>
<p>We are from Chicago, true inner part of the city, extremely liberal, well I am I think my d has become more conservative during bs…lol.</p>
<p>My d had may options for bs…non as rural as DA. She told me she was a city girl and wanted to see stars out of her house window. one of our first conversations she stated, I havent heard a gun shot or ambulance since she left the city.</p>
<p>On a break she admitted, I love my concrete jungle (the city), but I am ready to go back to school!</p>
<p>My daughter plays no sports, she cant walk and chew gum if a ball is involved, but an artist, dancer, she found a space to call her own and love the Academy.</p>
<p>If your child has been accepted to the Academy, feel free to email me privately for specific information.</p>
<p>My daughter has been accepted for 10 grade and we are going to visit on Tuesday. She has not seen the campus but has a friend there who loves it. She doesn’t seem too excited as she was wait listed at her first, second and third choice schools!</p>
<p>Anything I can tell her?
Thanks</p>
<p>I just wondered if you have any thoughts on what DA is like for day students (given that there are so few)?</p>
<p>If was so on her list…my question is does she really want to go to bs. Most DA students had other options but chose Deerfield.</p>
<p>Where the other schools where her friends are going? Is she just scared?</p>
<p>Our attitude, love the school that loves you. With that being said, try and get her to talk, maybe to a family adult friend, to get the heart of her feelings.</p>
<p>Go to revisit day, remember they have selected you and feels that she has something to contribute to the community and is wanted. My d was not selected to a school she felt she really liked, though it was a “10 school” school. When I inquired about their decision, and they informed me that though they would love to have her, they didnt think they could meet her academic needs; she would not be challenged. It still her hurt her, I totally understood. She had many options, Exeter included. On revist days we first went to DA with plans to revisit the next day. After seeing her AO and getting a wonderful hug, she pulled me aside and told me to cancel the Exeter revisit, she found her place, Deerfield.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>DA has a decent number of day students, not too many as say Loomis. My daughter found the group of day students as her “people” though she is a boarder.She advocates so strongly for them that word got to the administration, and then to me. </p>
<p>If the student isnt of driving age, then it is a lot of work for the family. I encourage you to allow them to stay on campus, and participate in dinner and study hours on campus.</p>
<p>I know that the day students are associated with a residence hall and always have a place in the sit-down meals rotation. I think that the trick is to not go to class then go home. Go a little early, for breakfast, and stay late for study and feeds. This is tough on parents but it can be done.</p>
<p>BTW, my daughter’s local parents and family are great, after the first year she began dating their son…lol. My daughter has the best of both worlds. I wish more day students families would open up their home and hearts to boarders.</p>
<p>Her local mom just approached me during one of the first meetings of new students and just offered to give my daughter a place to get away from campus, sit on a couch, home made food, and a “family” home away from home.</p>
<p>It seems that when she begins college, she is going to be closer (distance wise) to the family than their own son. I also think this is a big consideration when she is making her decision.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Very reassuring-- and good advice about sticking around in evenings–thanks so much!</p>
<p>What’s the reaction among DA parents to the news about the former teacher’s sexual misconduct? (Article in Boston Globe today, and email to alums as well) Do people feel that the administration handled the investigation appropriately?</p>
<p>Deerfield has been extremely open about the entire situation. We received email at the beginning of the investigation. </p>
<p>This situation happened years ago. The teacher was at the Academy from 1956-2000. The final report is now posted on the website. I believe, from the report, that the administration at the time was not informed by the student(s) involved. When the student brought the situation to the Academy, even all these years later, the investigation that was done was detailed and I feel, complete. </p>
<p>I am comforted that the student(s) did come forward in concern for the school and to have the record correct. The Academy seems to want to address any and all issues past or present. </p>
<p>I know, openness has changed greatly in the last 30-40 years. As a 20 year old, my catholic church had issues with a priest abusing boys. Even today our parish and the catholic church has not cleared up that mess.</p>
<p>Im back…please feel free to ask any questions. My d was in the class 2013 of Deerfield Academy.</p>
<p>Hi I’m a parent here. My son was accepted to DA. We are going to the revisit next week. How did you find the college counseling process at DA? What types of things do they do to help students get into the top tier colleges?</p>
<p>Dear Sgopal,</p>
<p>The college counseling was excellent. I will admit that I only did a few things. I made the decision to allow my daughter to take the lead on college choices. I trusted DA and I cant say anyone who was unhappy about their child’s choices. Take note that it is not their goal to send your child to an IVY. Their goal is to match the needs of the student with a college that will be the best match.</p>
<p>Hi ! Did DA support/ look after the needs of your child both mentally and physically or was she left to fend for herself? What was the music dept. like ? What were her complaints if any ? Was she happy to get out of there or could she do it over again ? Thanks…so helpful.</p>
<p>Hey babykins-- so I know you weren’t asking me, and I’m sure Alexz will answer too, but I just wanted to weigh I about the music. My DS is finishing his freshman year (is VERY happy), and is very involved in music (plays in daily chamber music class, orchestra, is doing a music co-curricular (community service and practice time) this trimester, is in a music club, has friends doing different choral groups although he isn’t in those himself). His experience has been excellent-- the kids who do music are all very nice kids and are very close and friendly, the directors really manage to challenge the kids whatever level they seem to be on, and the level of performances is quite high. Of course, if you’re looking at DA, you know they’re finishing their new arts center, with an amazing new chamber music hall, as well as classrooms and practice rooms-- but really it’s the people who make the program. The directors have also encouraged DS to pursue things outside of school, letting him know of various opportunities in the area or for summer. They also plan to have outside performers coming to the new hall, and I know have planned a couple of master classes for the kids, with professional musicians coming in to work with them. There are several different choral groups, some all inclusive and some by audition, and there are music theory and composition classes offered as well, although my son hasn’t taken any yet. Feel free to ask here or PM me if you have any specific questions. For any school you’re considering, go to some of the performances ahead of time if you can. We did that and it told us a lot about the programs (and specifically talk to the music directors when you apply, of course). Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks daykidmom.</p>
<p>Hi Daykidmom, thanks a lot for sharing as my daughter is planing to apply DA for grade 10 of 2015. She plays piano for 9 years and also play violin in Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra. Any tips to apply this school? thanks again! </p>
<p>I answered this on your other thread. Feel free to ask any other questions, of course.</p>
<p>Hi, Alex, My daughter is currently in Grade 9th, applying for 10th Grade of top schools now. Did you have some experiences about having an educational counselor for helping in application process? Thanks!</p>
<p>I have a question about the culture. In the DVD we got, which was made by students, it seems that Deerfield is a jock school- I thought it was just that the kids who made the videos were jocks and that shone through, but it really turned off my kid. We live in Texas and let’s just say that even in middle school the football playing boys are allowed to get away with things that horrify and enrage us, as parents of a girl. She has a very dim view of jocks in general. If left to her own she wears all grey and black, listens to a lot of music, draws in sketchbooks, and is pretty quirky. After reading the St Andrews thread I think she’d fit in there beautifully.</p>
<p>Anyway, the question- as a parent, what do you think of the artsy kid/jock/ cultural divide thing? Would a quirky and artsy kid fit in well at DF? </p>