<p>Could anyone who is familiar with both schools please tell me the differences between the two? I have heard Exeter is very hands off with the students and I was wondering if Deerfield was slightly more warm and fuzzy. This also applies to how much (or how liitle) academic support they get at either school. Is a freshman more likely to slip through the cracks at one school vs the other? Also, if someone could comment on the social life, the make up of the student bodies, etc...that would be helpful. How about school traditions? Is there hazing at either school?</p>
<p>Hazing? Yes! Full tuition…that’s hazing, isn’t it? 
Although, even at full tuition we consider both places a bargain.</p>
<p>Deerfield is definitely more warm and fuzzy. Both have great support of students and will not allow anyone to fall through the cracks. Deerfield is MUCH smaller; Exeter feels like a small college. Exeter is in a nice town, whereas Deerfield is isolated.</p>
<p>Both schools have their share of ridiculously motivated kids. However, Exeter will have the junior math Olympians whereas Deerfield will have more scholar/athletes.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest differnces are Deerfield’s dress code, and Deerfield’s sit down meals in a magnificent dining hall that can seat the entire student body in round dinner tables with food served family style.</p>
<p>Both amazing schools. Our youngest child got accepted to both (+ others), and we have ties to Exeter. But child chose Deerfield (better fit) and had a great year. I forecast a PG year with Exeter (or elsewhere, maybe beach bum) to round things off. We are in no rush for college.</p>
<p>Do you know what the average gpa is at Deerfield? I read on cc that Exeter’s average gpa is a B+. it seems the Exeter kids are very driven to get As and view A - and B+ grades as failures. Do you think this is the same climate at Deerfield?</p>
<p>It’s true that nearly all the kids are driven to excel, whether it be in the classroom, athletics, EC’s, etc. However, it’s a huge accomplishment just being there. And the vast majority of kids treat each other that way: with respect that they even got in. I can’t imagine faculty or students thinking B+ a ‘failure’. Grade inflation is not practiced at these schools.</p>
<p>There is <em>no</em> climate where an A- or B+ would be deemed a ‘failure’ by these schools. I suppose kids who have Tiger moms/dads would view an A- or B+ as a failure. I know my own Mom did, and I went to a HYPMS for college.</p>
<p>Grades are just one aspect. Everyone has their area of expertise and why they were admitted. The kids realize that even those who get an occasional ‘C’ may still get into an Ivy or other top school. Some of those who matriculated to HYPMS from Deerfield weren’t in the top 10% of the class.</p>
<p>I suggest you visit the campuses during the school year and observe the students. You’ll get a lot of information just watching the kids walking or lounging around.</p>
<p>Exeter is very much hands off. It’s very easy to fall through the cracks. B+ is honors, A- is highest honors, so I’m not sure B+ is average although I have heard on this board it is but the school doesn’t say that. There is no hazing.</p>
<p>You don’t say if you are a parent or student - I’ll tell you straight up, Exeter gives parents very little support, it can be extremely frustrating.</p>
<p>I was told that an 11 = A, 10 = A-, 9 = B+, 8 = B, etc…to get on the highest honor roll, your GPA needs to be a 10 or above and for high honor roll the GPA needs to be a 9 or above. Finally, for honor roll, you need to have an 8 or above. This means a B+ /9 would earn a spot on the high honor roll at Exeter versus the regular honor roll. More than 50% of each class have a B+ / 9 GPA. The students seem extremely focused on academics…I was just curious if other top boarding<br>
school students are as determined to get As. The competition sounds fierce at Exeter. Does anyone know if a similar environment exists at Deerfield, St. Paul’s or Andover?!</p>
<p>PhotoOp, it sounds like you personally have had some less than stellar experiences with Exeter. Would you be willing to share anything you feel comfortable talking about? My daughter is very interested in Exeter but I am worried about it being a pressure cooker. She is a straight A+ student and very self motivated but I fear she’ll focus solely on academics if she goes to a school like that.</p>
<p>PhotoOp, my experience with Exeter has been nothing less than wonderful. Any questions I have get answered quickly and thoroughly. Any concerns are addressed immediately. Are you speaking from personal experience or just from what someone has told you? My son completed his Lower year at Exeter this past year and I could not be happier with the support and guidance we both received in his first year.</p>
<p>I think Exeter being a pressure cooker is a stereotype. All top boarding schools are demanding, that’s why they attract a certain type of students and parents.</p>
<p>ExeterMama,
Was this your son’s first year at Exeter? How is he
finding the academics? it sounds like you have had a very different experience than PhotoOp with Exeter.</p>
<p>Photoop I completely disagree by Exeter is a hands off school. My dorm head and my mom talk on a weekly basis as he updates all parents how their kids are doing(which can be annoying at times). </p>
<p>Also regarding the post about Exeter being math oriented is false. It I’d true Exeter has a very strong math program, but our sports program is not to be overlooked. Athletic wise Exeter has an amazing football team which won the nespac championship last year and another strong season this year. Not to mention our success in soccer and rowing.</p>
<p>Sorry for gramatical errors, my phone’s autocorrect is a nuisance.</p>
<p>Our son just finished his first year (9th grade) at Exeter and I’m willing to share our observations. By the way, he had a successful and quite enjoyable first year, although there absolutely were times that he wished the homework burden was a bit lighter.</p>
<p>From our experiences, Exeter is most definitely not “hands off.” The dorm faculty and advisors really pay pretty close attention to things and are not hesitant to step in whenever they believe that some advice or action could help. Our son’s dorm-resident faculty advisor has always been attentive to and welcoming of our questions, concerns, etc. So - I repeat - not “hands off” in the slightest.</p>
<p>Our son did not find any cut-throat competition for grades at Exeter. Quite the contrary. In his dorm, the kids encourage/help each other to work harder and do better rather than engaging in pointless grades competition. Like the large majority of kids at Exeter, our son knows that he’s now going to school with some of the brightest and most talented kids in the world - and that includes athletic, music, etc. talents too. He thoroughly enjoys being part of that scene. It’s really a unique experience, probably unmatched even in many of the best colleges.</p>
<p>Near the end of his first term, I made a comment to our son that he was no longer the big fish in the small pond. His response was both surprising and enlightening. He said he was now a big fish in a really big pond - just like every other student at Exeter!</p>
<p>obwannabe, don’t worry . As a self-motivated A+ student, your daughter will almost certainly flourish at and deeply enjoy Exeter if she is fortunate enough to be accepted. Relative to Deerfield, I believe that many of the Exeter kids feel that Exonians are more academically earnest and also far less cliquish than their Deerfield brethren. Of course, that’s just one point of view, so continue seeking other inputs as well.</p>
<p>I don’t think your “feel” about Deerfield is accurate. Why don’t you just stay with commenting about Exeter, :-).</p>
<p>Yes, last year was his first year at Exeter. It took a few weeks to get into the swing of things, his grades improved with each Trimester, which is normally the case! It is definitely an adjustment from public school but for him, the academics were a welcomed change.</p>
<p>@Mainer95: I agree with @fireworks. It’s flatly wrong to say that Exeter is ‘…far less cliquish than their Deerfield brethren…’. And I say that even though my SO is an old Exie.
Each student will have a slightly different experience. Both are amazing places [and so are Andover, St.Pauls, and a few others]. Picking one over the other is like comparing Ferarri’s and Lambo’s. The differences are subtle.</p>
<p>I don’t want to say too much on a public forum. I am the parent of a rising fourth year senior at Exeter. PM me if you want more detail. I will say the support system in place for preps and new students is not the same as for returning students.</p>
<p>But the academic competiveness stereotype is just that - a stereotype. It doesn’t really exist.</p>
<p>alex, you’re right. I should not not have spoken that comparison. My apologies!</p>