Hi everyone. If you had to choose between Deerfield, St. Paul’s, Groton, and Choate based on the below criteria, what would you choose? Thanks!
-Laid-back
-Academic rigor
-Large student body
-Looks good on a college application
Anyone who thinks that this is a valid reason for choosing a boarding school needs to rethink his/her reasons for wanting to attend.
Aren’t they going to be the ones choosing you?
You might want to do background research on all those schools, as well as look into other less selective schools… Those schools have sub-20 admission rates.
Everything about this question is wrong. If you can figure out why on your own, you will make a much better boarding school decision.
I will try to answer your question so that you will know this is a welcoming group of helpful people. I would say…
Deerfield…most laid back
Groton…most academic rigor
Choate…large student body
St. Paul’s …looks good on a college application.
But, that is only my opinion.
Best of luck to you!
This IS a group of helpful people. And we ARE welcoming.
But coming on and asking about four of the most selective boarding schools in the world as if they are “just some random podunk high school” is going to set any OP up for some truth bombs.
I know that skieurope and ThacherParent have first hand experience with two of the MOST SELECTIVE/MOST PRESTIGIOUS schools out there. I would not disregard their advice/opinion.
Here is my answer to your question:
- All are academically rigorous
- I don’t know that I’d characterize any as “laid back”, especially when compared to something like an NMH
- Groton is the smallest, then SPS, then Deerfield, and then Choate
- On name alone, they will all “look good” on a college app. Arguably better than your LPHS. But there is a good chance your GPA and class ranking will be lower at any of these schools than it would be at your LPHS. So that is a possible trade off.
So, I applied to three of the above mentioned schools last year and got to know them quite well. To me it seemed like Groton, being the smallest and most traditional, has a sense of intimacy where everyone knows each other very well. Maybe even too well at times. Deerfield was the most laid back. I think because of the remote location and no real town being anywhere close by, you really feel like time moves a little slower there. St. Paul’s has an amazingly beautiful campus and I felt almost like I would be joining an exclusive club. I would encourage you to keep exploring the process. I was accepted to one of the above schools and waitlisted at the other two.
Expanding your net is a great suggestion…
@heyytheree - my comment was snarky. Sorry about that.
@heyytheree I know this is a little late, but I just wanted to offer my opinion! I go to St. Paul’s, have family at Deerfield, and friends at Groton and Choate so I feel like I have a pretty good sense of the schools.
Deerfield definitely seems the most laid back- lots of sports watching and weekend activities here.
For academic rigor I’m really inclined to chose SPS… but I know that Choate has respectable academics as well.
Sizes are approximately 860 for Choate, 640 for Deerfield, 530 for St. Paul’s, and 380 for Groton. I’m totally in favor of the <600 size, otherwise the school begins to feel a bit impersonal.
Looks good on a college application: all of them! But my bias is again to go with SPS. Just keep in mind that your grades will probably be a bit lower than they would be at your local high school. However, the opportunities at boarding school are unparalleled.