I am choosing between these 2 schools and I am having a really hard time deciding. I feel as if Andover has more opeprtunities and I like the coaches there better, but I think that I like the Deerfield campus better. Can someone tell me what they are like socially and how easy it is to make friends at these schools and maybe why they like each school?!
I can see why you are having a hard time as they are both great schools with many positives associated with each one of them. I believe that you will have no problem making friends or finding your “place” at either of the schools and that your decision should be based on which school you feel is the overall better fit for you. If you still are having a difficult time I would focus on the following choices. Are you drawn to the family style sit down dinners at DA which helps create a strong sense of community starting day one or do you prefer the freedom of eating whenever and with whoever you please for every meal at PA? Which school’s dress code do you prefer as they are quite different?
Best of luck on making your decision, but realize that you are choosing between two wonderful schools so neither choice you make can really be wrong.
Thank you so much for your help I really appreciate it!
What sports do you play? Do you expect to play all 4 years and possibly in college? If so, consider looking at the strength of each team. I think Deerfield is particularly well known for their sports, I know that was one of the big reasons that my son was interested…
I play soccer and lacrosse (goalie) and I do plan on playing in college. I do like the Andover coaches better and I do think that for the girls teams at least that the sports teams are very good
Both Joel and Dolan are awesome so you cannot go wrong on that front.
Yeah I love them. The only thing I need to know before I make my decision (for the most part) is what Andover is like socially because I may have trouble making friends so I just want to know how each one is socially
People seem to love both schools. Deerfield is half the size of Andover, which has both pluses and minuses. If you search the board you will find lots of information about both.
Here are just a few of the threads:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20446417#Comment_20446417
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1921021-ask-about-andover.html#latest
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20434403#Comment_20434403
A bigger school doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be harder to make friends.
Are you planning to attend revisit days? If so you will most likely start meeting people and making friends then. Between the other students in your dorm, soccer teammates and classmates you will have no problem finding many others to start building friendships with at either school
Why do you think it might be harder to make friends?
Our DS faced the same dilemma. Both schools are absolutely compelling and offer excellent academic opportunities. PA and DA are similarly filled with very talented and genuinely nice kids. You should be able to make friends easily at either school, as they are both very welcoming. Joining the lacrosse or soccer teams will also really help in quickly developing a tight social nucleus.
Even so, PA has the feel, atmosphere and curriculum of a small college whereas DA has the intimacy, attention and nurturing of a school. DA is more formal and athletic and its campus more picturesque and bucolic. PA is relatively more diverse and its campus larger and closer to a major metropolitan center. PA’s food is outstanding whereas DA’s dorms seem more attractive. Luckily, both schools do not have Saturday classes.
Attending revisit days ultimately helped our DS make up his mind. To our DS, DA students seemed happier, and their daily lives more balanced. Moreover, he found PA’s size too big. The rest of our family was evenly split on the relative merits of the two schools. Still, from the parent’s perspective, the fact the our DS is very happy and motivated is what really matters. According to our DS, DA maintains a collaborative culture and although kids work hard there, they don’t compete at other student’s expense. This helps friendships flourish.
After talking to students and coaches, attending classes, visiting the facilities and experiencing the two school cultures, you will hopefully know in your gut which school is the best fit for you. You cannot go wrong with either DA or PA. Have fun!
@keneve6, a couple of quick thoughts. My daughter is somewhat shy when she first gets to meet people (once you get to know her though, she won’t shut up :0). Anyway, she found Andover a great place for developing close friendships. She was a varsity athlete, too, and it helps to have the built-in comradely of your teammates. Andover did lots of “psychs” where the girls would dress in a theme for school, and by her senior year, her outfits were fearless. She loved that. Secondly, in the small classes you will meet kids that have a shared perspective and with the engaging discussions you will naturally find yourself developing friendships with others. Thirdly, you will for sure make friends in your dorm. Andover tends to select students that are naturally kind–which helps too. So, although it is a bigger school it has a lot going for it. Either school is superb. But, don’t rule out Andover out of fear of friends. You will find your peeps. And you will make friends with very deep roots. Best of luck!
Hopefully you can revisit both, or at least talk to students and/or faculty from both. Remember that they are trying to sell you on the school, so keep an open mind. Then, take a few days, think about it, and go with your gut. You have two great options. Trust that you applied to both schools wanting, willing, and ready to attend either. You can’t go wrong.
Hi, first time poster, saw your post but from what I understand Dolan isn’t going to be the coach of girls lacrosse next year at Andover, it will be her assistant Heidi Wall, I believe. Dolan is staying with fh though so if your choice was mainly based on coachs, maybe something to think about. We have similar choices and also considering Loomis. I liked Deerfields lacrosse coach a lot and I prefer their campus. Also Deerfield seemed like a more sporty school with well rounded kids, just my impression. Andover is closer to Boston and the town of Andover is nice and I agree there seems to be more opportunities there. It seems like a small college. I guess your daughter cant go wrong at either school. It depends on what feels right to her, where she can see herself going.
My son faced the same decision several years ago. He was particularly drawn to the sit-down meals and the formal attire at Deerfield and thought this made for a good learning environment.
Andover is a much larger school, and with that, probably a lot more competition. The education at both schools is going to be excellent. Deerfield has a lot more emphasis on sports, and has a lot of teams with winning legacies. Because of its isolation, Deerfield results in a lot more social bonding with your fellow students. This can also be a downside, because it seemed like the main social activity on the weekend was taking the bus to Greenfield to go to Walmart.
I really liked the headmaster at Andover (John Palfrey) and thought he was an intelligent and down to earth guy. Andover has easier access to airports, and is within walking distance of a downtown. It can be good to get off campus for a few hours for a meal, or some quick shopping.
Either way you can’t go wrong. Go to both revisits and pick whichever feels best. Good luck
Deerfield - “This can also be a downside, because it seemed like the main social activity on the weekend was taking the bus to Greenfield to go to Walmart”
Really…how things have changed in the last ten years.
^^I don’t think this is really the case as well. There are so many activities planned at DA. A few weeks back they had a big concert on campus and ski trips seem commonplace during the winter term. Don’t forget though that your ECs take up a good amount of time on weekends.
I have to agree with MAandMEmom and leanid regarding the current social life at DA. Between the endless DA parties/concerts, the active dorm happenings and the ubiquitous athletic activities, DA students have a busy social calendar. Most of them have a lot of fun during the weekends and make close friends in the process. As for Greenfield, my DS goes there with friends every other Friday to a movie and finishes the night off with dinner. Our DS was home for Spring Break but was looking forward to returning to Deerfield. Either the place is great socially or I am doing something very wrong as a parent…
OP, if your main concern is social life, I think Andover will be at least fine. It is a school with students coming from many different backgrounds and are highly diversified. You will be able to find friends or your circle if you want to. It is a pretty dynamic community with a friendly laid back vibe most of the time. Worry about something else! 