<p>Urbanflop,
Deerfield did not intentionally overenroll, it was not a “silly mistake”. The yield rate for the ninth grade girls was close to 90%, something no one in the admissions world ever expects. So yes, it may not be fair but I’ve heard they’re taking as many as they can but the dorms only fit so many students and they need to bring the size of the school back down.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry if I you get affended easily. Sorry. I apologize. I am not really a professional on this topic.</p>
<p>During our interview time we were told that they did over enrolled last year, but their solution was to just select students in each class, example 15 less for each year, but not just girls but also boys and thus students overall</p>
<p>About 2 weeks ago DA financial aid person called to “clarify” information about my ex-husband info, i was told it wasn’t clear in our SSS info, I took that as a good sign that my d is being considered, we are 100% FA due to my income</p>
<p>Hi guys!!!</p>
<p>I just wanted to say thanks to the people who described the schools for me! 
Turns out I actually knew the others as well as I originally thought I did, which was a relief. (Wouldn’t it have been horrible after I had spent all that time doing apps if I decided I wouldn’t be a good fit for the schools anymore because I thought they were something they were not?? 
)</p>
<p>For all the people who said Deerfield was a well-rounded school – that’s exactly the impression I got when I visited, and I was really happy about it because that’s exactly what I was looking for in a school! I only started to think that athletics were its main focus when somebody told me they were, and I got really bummed about it because I thought that it meant that Deerfield’s main focus was ONLY on athletics and not arts, academics…etc. :P</p>
<p>And umm… jyun I’m not sure if you geared your comment about getting into Deerfield for 10th or 11th grade towards me, or if you were just making a general statement, but I’m applying for 9th grade…</p>
<p>Also, regarding the over enrollment at Deerfield, don’t things like that happen a lot at BS? Cause I’m pretty sure St. Paul’s overenrolled too last year…</p>
<p>o lukyduckyme it wast geeered too u it was in general</p>
<p>I think a lot of schools overenrolled last year.</p>
<p>A DA student here. My mom directed me here, she loves this place. I’m happy to answer some questions, and yes, there will be a bias, because I love my school. </p>
<p>Is Deerfield a ‘Jock’ School? I’d say you’re wading into dangerous waters, trying to label schools like that. It’s clumsy, and you will probably dismiss schools that might be great fits for you by doing so. Obviously, I don’t know you well enough to know if you’re a good fit for Deerfield, but here are my impressions of the athletic culture here. </p>
<p>DA went all-boys in the '40s, and returned to coeducation late '80s. It is my understanding that in the seventies and eighties, we dominated certain sports. Varsity swimming had something like seventeen straight New England titles, Wrestling was one of the best teams in Class A’s, Lacrosse has always been good, etc. </p>
<p>As someone aptly observed earlier in the thread, the shift from boys to coeducation came with its price athletically. We had a pool of 600 boys shrink to 300, and with that, the loss of plenty of athletes. As the school adapted to girls, it did not increase it’s size, so today we still hover around the 600 mark. </p>
<p>If we are still to compete with the likes of Exeter, Andover, Choate, Hotchkiss, which are bigger schools, we need to accept more well rounded students. The peer boarding schools can accept 600 very smart kids with not much sports experience, and 400 athletes who are less smart. We strive to accept (and I am no representative of the admissions department) 600 very smart, athletic kids. Obviously, not all of them are this perfect mix. We have instead plenty of very intelligent kids who aren’t interested in sports, and then we have some sports recruits who are less invested in academics. But a good portion are also scholar-athletes, who land themselves both varsity spots and a great GPA. </p>
<p>In order to encourage the well-rounded nature of our student body, we require I believe one athletic co-curricular. It is a MYTH that you need a sport for all three seasons. For every sport there is a bottom team that you cannot be cut from - that is the policy of the athletic department - ensuring that if you want to play a sport, you can. Such integration of athletics into the culture fosters an incredible school spirit, but I guarantee you, the school is by no means less focused on academics. I would argue that our academics are some of the best in New England.</p>
<p>Finally, I came to Deerfield with NO athletic experience under my belt. I tried sports for all three seasons. I was new to every single one of them, and some I have stuck with, and some I haven’t. They have been some of the most enriching experiences of my time here and I wouldn’t have it any other way. A good portion of my friends are from these teams. Socially, people like an athlete - just like any peer school. But there’s by no mean an unusual emphasis. I hope this has helped you.</p>
<p>Go Big Green.</p>
<p>deerfield seems like such a great school. i like their school spirit</p>
<p>DA does have great team/school spirit. As an example, I was at the NE Prep School wrestling tournament last weekend in Lexington, MA and was quite impressed to see DA wrestlers, who were injuried or who didn’t qualify for the tournament, appear in Lexington to cheer on their teammates participating in this event. I know that the school for which I was primarily cheering didn’t bring such support. I wish it had. Good show, Deerfield.</p>
<p>Note, GreenMachine, Hotchkiss does not have a larger student body than DA. If anything, THS is slightly smaller than Deefield.</p>
<p>The green machine…</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your words, you spoke beautifully and in no small part should your parents be proud.</p>
<p>Go Mom :-)</p>
<p>Glad I could help. If anyone has any questions about DA, even though decisions are pretty soon, just PM me.</p>