<p>I was accepted to both Deerfield and SAS, along with a bunch of other schools which I've declined. It's down to these two, and I know so many people would be like "are you crazy? I would choose Deerfield in a heartbeat," but I am totally panicking right now, because I really have no idea where I really want to go. Most people just fall in love with a school during their tour or after hours of research, but I've spent hours and hours on the school websites and reading their pamphlets, and I still can't make a decision of which school I like better. DA and SAS are so different in so many ways, and it's almost like they each have different qualities that attract me, which is funny because they're practically opposite.
I know that I shouldn't be turning to CC to make my final decision, but I was just curious if anyone had more thoughts or information they could share with me. If anyone is a current student or parent at any of these schools, maybe they could give me like, an honest opinion on if they truly loved the school.
Thanks!</p>
<p>If you can, try to attend both revisits. If you’re still torn, I would recommend making a pro and con list for both schools to help you decide.</p>
<p>I can’t do revisits 
that’s one of my biggest problems, because I visited during summer when there weren’t any students so I don’t really know the school atmosphere with students. I was hoping to do a revisit and see how the students with each school interacted with me and each other, etc., but my plans were cut short due to some complications.
Maybe someone who did a revisit to both or one of these schools can kind of describe the atmosphere??</p>
<p>You might want to PM SevenDad and read his recent post on the SAS revisit.</p>
<p>I believe Pulsar will be doing the DA revisit based on his posts. You may want to ask.</p>
<p>@teddy100: Man, that’s too bad that revisits are not an option. My D is down to two schools also…one of which is SAS. I for one, would not think you were crazy for picking SAS over a more “famous” school. And I’m sure there are plenty of people on the Deerfield WL who are hoping you will! 
</p>
<p>But it really comes down to fit and what you want to get out of your BS experience.</p>
<p>A couple of points of advice:</p>
<p>• Re-read the welcome letters you received from the headmasters of both schools. Hopefully you’ll notice a difference in tone. Ask yourself which one feels more right to your sensibilities.</p>
<p>• Try if you can to PM with a current student from both schools…ask them what they like and don’t like about the schools…what schools they choose from and why they chose the school they are at. Simply post in one of the threads “prospect looking to PM with current student”…I’m sure someone will step up quickly. Alternately, ask the school for contact info for a current student who might be up for fielding questions from you.</p>
<p>• The “on paper” pro and con list mentioned above is a good suggestion. We have a “scoresheet” with the different attributes that are important to our family and plan to go through them after our final revisit that’s coming up.</p>
<p>• At this point, I think it’s more about addressing any reservations you might have about each school. The “pros” aren’t really going to change, but some of what you think are “cons” might not be with a little further exploration.</p>
<p>Finally, at the risk of sounding like I’m “in the tank” for SAS, I want to give it another shout-out. I think Tad Roach et al. have built something very special down there in Middletown. As with many other schools that don’t get much “airtime” here on CC due to the ACRONYM myopia, SAS might be a better fit for a lot of kids than the ACRONYM schools. On our first visit, it really reminded me of Groton. I also get the feeling that it is less cliquey than most schools…that’s not really the environment they seem to foster down there.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to the “official” CC BS Forum thread for St. Andrew’s (DE):
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/966356-st-andrews-school-delaware.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/966356-st-andrews-school-delaware.html</a></p>
<p>SevenDad’s acronym myopia comment is astute and pinpoint accurate as always. Great advice!</p>
<p>@Teddy - Each school has a personality. High school isn’t just about college and coursework - it’s about living 24/7 with students and faculty who have the potential to be friends and mentors for life. So if you have to spend 2-4 years of your life somewhere - do it not based on the school’s reputation - but on the values and the atmosphere and culture. </p>
<p>Based on the information you’re able to get if you use SevenDad’s list - where would you be happiest? (because “happy” goes a long way to smoothing the path on those days when you’re stressed out from endless homework).</p>
<p>I will be attending Deerfield’s revisit day next week. I would be happy to answer any questions about it after my experience!</p>
<p>if you can’t attend the revisits, there are a few things you can do. Search for relevant YouTube and Facebook sites on each of the schools. There are tons of older threads here with info about each of the two schools. The point is that both schools are phenomenal, but they are very different. So different, that it is hard for me to envision a student who would thrive and be very happy at one who would be equally happy at the other. So, once you have a pretty decent picture of the schools and the student bodies, you need to analyze your child/self and consider where you would thrive. The disparity in size alone of the two schools creates different opportunities and challenges. (You will have far more course options at a larger school, but you may not have the close relationships with the teachers as at a smaller school.) The geographic location of each school and the locations from where they draw their students is another distinction. (There are more mid-atlantic students represented in Delaware than in Mass. and more from NE and all over in the Mass school.) The weather distinction affects some of the sports offered, and the prevalence of PG’s affects the ability to make a top team in some cases at one of your choices. (No hockey or skiing in Delaware, but their tennis is usually pretty strong. Without PG’s a senior has a better chance of making a varsity team there as well.) Deerfield probably has a history of stronger college placement, but it may mean the competition is tougher and you would have been better off in a smaller pond. Final point is that an adolescent matures a fair amount over four years. Consider whether what is desireable for nurturing a ninth grader will still be as appealing to an 11th or 12th grader. Both schools are amazing resources, but for very different people. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I didn’t expect so many replies! Though I’m not 100%, I’m quite sure DA it is. I practically spent all day on Youtube, watching videos of each school and I tried to incorporate everything I’ve learned from the past week and I want to reply to be nice by clearing their waitlist as soon as possible. I bet there are so many people on the waitlist to both these schools, dying to get off and I feel terrible hogging up a space!
I appreciate all the input!</p>
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<p>Not to worry! For the most part, schools will be waiting until April 10 to get an accurate picture of how many openings they have (if any). And, in any event, one student turning down a spot does not does not necessarily equal one spot opening up. So, take the time you need to make the right decision for you . . . good luck!</p>