<p>Choose one and tell why you prefer one over the other.</p>
<p>With my son having applied to and visited both Deerfield and Hotchkiss this year, he found these school quite similar in so many ways: rural, formal dress, mid-sized (600 students approx.), PG’s, incredible endowment per student, extremely low acceptance rates (20% or lower), great academics, athletics, and EC, wonderfully warm community, etc. The main differences between the two he found were the following: Deerfield had a little better college placement to the Ivies/MIT/Stanford (30% to 20% approx.), but Hotchkiss offered German and Deerfield didn’t (my son has taken a year of this language and wants 3 more years of study). Both tremendous schools. Son plans to enroll in Hotchkiss this fall.</p>
<p>Both were “in the middle of nowhere”. Hotchkiss’ faciliaties are top notch while Deerfield is very prestigious with impressive college matriculation records. Hard choice, but I would probably choose Deerfield.</p>
<p>Yes, some of the facilities at Hotchkiss are breathtaking, especially the music hall and the swimming center. If you love to sing and swim, Hotchkiss is your place. </p>
<p>We found the setting at Deerfield quaint and historical. It supposedly has the best baseball field in New England, outside Fenway Park, although it was stacked deep under piles of snow the weekend in February we visited the school. So if you love baseball (which my son does)and New England history, you might want to place Deerfield at or near the top of your list.</p>
<p>And why are you asking now? Weren’t decision to be signed a couple of weeks ago?</p>
<p>and LAX. I believe Deerfield is stronger than Hotchkiss in sports.
I thought Deerfield Natatorium was far better than any other schools, don’t know 'bout singing, but if you swim, I’d lean toward Deerfield.</p>
<p>As for sports, I’m not sure that Deerfield is stronger than Hotchkiss. It may be, but based on current data, it doesn’t seem so. Hotchkiss had a magnificent sports season last fall when it won, I believe, 4 NE Prep Championships; in this regard, I understand that the football team posted an undefeated season. I also understand that it was the first time that one NE prep school had ever taken four sports crown in one season. Also, I think that the winter sports were quite competitive. The basketball team was 19-7 and has one of the top 50 players in the country on the squad. (I think that this kid’s last name is Morris.) I believe that Hotckhiss placed 4th in the NE wrestling tournament this winter, while Deerfield didn’t show as well. </p>
<p>Because I lack any personal, first hand knowledge about the Hotchkiss sports program from last fall or winter (my son has yet to attend formally any class at Hotchkiss), I defer to others about the recent accompishments of the Hotchkiss athletic program. I commend to you other sources, including the Hotchkiss website, for confirmation or rejection of my report here. In the end, I would think that the sports programs at both Hotchkiss and Deerfield are vibrant and quite strong and not a source for much, if any true, differentiation, between these schools.</p>
<p>As for the aquatic centers, I saw each of them at both schools. I thought that Deerfield’s was just fine, but Hotchkiss was most incredible. Because my son can barely dog paddle, however, these centers were just brilliant ornaments and meant very little to us when considering these schools.</p>
<p>i know that hotchkiss school’s academic and sports facilities are outstanding, none in need of renovation and very beautiful, where as many of deerfield’s are old and in need of reno like new paint, better lighting, and structural, although some are brand new like the science bldg. and gym.</p>
<p>kentschoolie, I too found the Deerfield academic structures, other than the science building, a bit drab. But as much as the Deerfield buildings were, for the most part, unremarkable, my son and I found the students, teachers and staff at Deerfield extraordinarily warm, outgoing and delightful. The contrast between the bland academic buildings and the compelling people at Deerfield was stark, but, in the end, this contrast just accented more the wonderful people we meet during our one but extended visit to Deerfield months ago.</p>
<p>…and as for “LAX”, it appears that although Deefield has a Top 10 program nationally, Hotchkiss is not some road kill. I understand that it took the Big Green 3 OT’s yesterday to subdue the mighty Bearcats. So, again, I find it difficult to proclaim that Deerfield is somehow “stronger than Hotchkiss in sports”, even in Deerfield’s most renown sport, lacross.</p>
<p>LAX is not Deerfield’s only strength. their Swimming team wins NE prep championships almost every year, as well as in water polo. No doubt Deerfiled can crush hotchkiss in LAX. They have strongest teams for all the sports i do, so who cares.</p>
<p>I’m confused. When did a one point win in a third overtime become a “crush”? I hope the excellent education Deerfield offers you in the years to come will help you use words more clearly and exacting. I’m confident Deerfield will prove to be a great aid to you.</p>
<p>^^ hahahahaha. Hotchkiss is obviously better at sports…they have all the major sports and they took deerfield to 3OT’s in their best sport? no brainer.</p>
<p>And even in Deerfield’s treasured sport of lacross, Hotchkiss is the better team… when it comes to girls lacross. Hotchkiss is currently 6-1, while Deerfield is 6-4. And more on point, the Cats beat the Green 11-9 this past weekend.</p>
<p>You guys say it like LAX is Deerfield’s only good sport. My bad in my previous exaggeration, but whatever you say. Plus, I’m not a girl anyway.</p>
<p>Toombs is right on. </p>
<p>These schools are extremely similar.</p>
<p>Deerfield does tend to have slightly better matriculation and a slightly lower acceptance rate.</p>
<p>No, not at all. Deerfield is good in a number of sports. It is, however, in boys lacross that Deerfield appears to be a national power. (11-0; Top 10 ranking). Deerfield just doesn’t seem to be “stronger in sports” than Hotchkiss across the board, as maintained in one post. Again, each of these two schools has such a fantastic profile and so many wonderful programs, including athletics, that one is not materially distinquishable from the other, except in college placements at Ivy Schoos/Stanford/MIT (30% Deerfield; 20% Hotchkiss), from what I have been able to discern.</p>
<p>When I said it, I was just condering the sports I play, which happened to be Deerfield’s strongest sports, It wasn’t supposed to be taken that seriously though. I’m sorry anyway.</p>
<p>Hey, hyeonhoy, you were just pumped up about your school. You have every right to be excited about Deerfield. It is a tremendous place. Just try to maintain balance and perspective. Deerfield is not the only wonderful boarding school. I wish you good luck and great times this coming fall.</p>
<p>Oh, just for the correction, you might want to check the records for the girls LAX again, cause DA is ranked 3rd and Hotchkiss is ranked 7th for girls. I noticed Deerfield has a really strong Tennis as well.(2nd for girls, 3rd for boys after Milton and Taft)</p>