<p>Hello!
I am applying to Deerfield, Exeter and Andover for next year and I was wondering how different are the atmospheres at these schools. I am a rather alternative person, not so preppy, love diversity (of all kinds) and I am very inclined towards humanities and art. Any suggestions?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Of the 3, PA, both because of the institution, and also its proximity to Boston. But if you are as you describe, you missed an opportunity not applying to NMH & Loomis. There are probably other better fits for you, too, out there.</p>
<p>they are all different but you could probably be happy at any of them. deerfield is the only one of them that has any significant preppy atmosphere. both exeter and andover are diverse, down to earth, and strong throughout their curricula.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you also consider Choate, Hotchkiss and Middlesex.</p>
<p>You don’t think Exeter is preppy? Really? Might want to look again.</p>
<p>I think DA and PA best fit what you described, but especially DA. (I don’t go to either, just judging from viewbooks and my recent visits). IMHO all of these schools are going to be diverse, however, I don’t think Exeter is as big on the arts as some other schools and seems pretty preppy to me (not a problem for me though, as I am fairly preppy myself lol).</p>
<p>exie, perhaps exeter was preppy when you went there. however, our kid is there now and neither he nor we find it “preppy” at all. it’s when exeter plays deerfield that pink shirts and lime green pants appear - on the other side of the field/arena! we’ve been to andover many times too, and i’ll venture that andover is slightly more preppy than exeter despite the dress code differences.</p>
<p>DA isnt as preppy as one might think. I think that the formal class dress makes people think that all kids are preppy but it is just a “uniform”. No jeans, t-shirts or hoodies during class time or at sit-down meals.</p>
<p>You will find all types at all of the above mentioned places, just like a regular day or public school.</p>
<p>When Deerfield kids go to games off campus, they are required to be in class dress, thus no jeans, t-shirts or hoodies. I believe since this is rule that the kids have learned to embrace the rule, thus come off as preppy.</p>
<p>I’d agree with JayPeeh, Exie: Exeter’s not at all preppy overall, though it may have its preppy pockets/dorms. </p>
<p>The arts program there is diverse with great faculty and lots of ensembles and classes to choose from–but if I were seriously into the arts, I’d look for a school with a better performing arts space and more time for artistic/musical pursuits. Then again, my kid’s an athlete–students who do club sports might find more time for practice/studio. </p>
<p>My kid says that he thinks the only kind of kid who would have a hard time fitting in at Exeter would be a narrow-minded, social conservative–and there are lots of clubs for alternative, eco, politically, or socially conscious types. </p>
<p>That said, I agree with others that I’d widen the search–it seems like there’d be a school out there that would be an even better fit than these three.</p>
<p>That’s interesting. I don’t think of “preppy” as meaning clothing. I think of it as a “state of mind.” It’s still a bit less “relaxed” at the admin level than Andover. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.</p>
<p>Could be that my D and I were comparing Exeter during the school year with Exeter during the summer. The latter was a lot more relaxed and less “formal” in mindset. Our tour guide pretty much fit the classic description of preppy in both style of dress and attitude. So it’s interesting to hear the other points of view.</p>
<p>I guess there are multiple layers of meaning for “preppy”. Jay in what ways do you see Andover is preppy?</p>
<p>Out of the three schools, DA will fit you least. Whether people want to acknowledge the obvious or not, and their website non withstanding, DA is a school that is dominated by the “bro culture”. Andover will probably fit you the most.</p>
<p>Speaking of over-the-top preppy dress, where do the DA folks get those hideous lime green pants that you see on the sidelines? I mean, I’ve see the spouting whale belts in stores, but never the pants. Just wondering!</p>
<p>Just a guess, but…Brooks Brothers? [Brooks</a> Brothers | Men | Casual Pants | Seasonal](<a href=“http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=258§ion_size=§ion_color=Green&sortby=]Brooks”>http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=258§ion_size=§ion_color=Green&sortby=)</p>
<p>There must be some cultural significance to these pants, which I’m too plebeian to understand:
[Brooks</a> Brothers | Clark Plain-Front Multi Embroidered Pants](<a href=“http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=258&Product_Id=1508376&Parent_Id=220&default_color=TAN&sort_by=§ioncolor=§ionsize=]Brooks”>http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=258&Product_Id=1508376&Parent_Id=220&default_color=TAN&sort_by=§ioncolor=§ionsize=)</p>
<p>Confession: Having grown up outside Philadelphia where wide cord lime green pants with blue whales, pink shirts, no socks, popped collars, The Assemblies and lawn tennis were the norms, I have to admit that I find such dress and the behavior that always comes with it to be completely nauseating.</p>
<p>mhmm…just asking…but do you attend DA? According to my d and many of her friends the “bro culture” is how other schools view DA not the reality of the school.</p>
<p>We need to always be careful of making assumptions based on what we read here on CC or what we think we understand from viewbooks, videos, or one visit. All the schools are much deeper than just their advertisements.</p>
<p>The best observations are made my first the current students and secondly from the parents of the those students. It is amazing how much my d and her friends laugh at some to the things I ask about that I “hear” on CC. But also keep in mind that the student perspective is one of a love of their school and just the experience of that bs.</p>
<p>I think one of the most valued sources are 1. parents who have children that have attended different boarding schools and 2. parents who themselves attended bs and now have a child there.</p>
<p>We keep coming back to fit. Use fit for the individual not perception of others to find a good match.</p>
<p>Just my 3 cents.</p>
<p>Periwinkle- that’s it! Thank you for solving that mystery! I’ve wondered for a while now…</p>
<p>periwinkle, you hit it on the head!</p>
<p>a825m, there are small pockets of ‘bro culrure’ at many of these schools. but even one visit to deerfield persuades that it’s a dominant culture there. and it’s perfectly fine for some but an uncomfortable poor fit for others.</p>
<p>Jay-I will agree to disagree with your assessment. I would say that anything that makes a fit uncomfortable should be taken as “not-the-place-for-me”.</p>
<p>But on the other hand, dont allow your level of discomfort give others enough steam to dismiss any school environment.</p>
<p>Understand I have no vested interest in the students that apply. DA has more than enough applicants. My only hope is that each interested student takes a look for themselves and makes a decision on what works for them.</p>