<p>Admissions officer at Mercersburg sent us the sch's college profile, including the matriculation list for 2004-07. DH zoomed in on the fact that 20 of the students enrolled at Annapolis. DH worries that the large number opting for Annapolis indicates a very conservative school (too conserv for D).</p>
<p>Are his fears misplaced?</p>
<p>They are a Naval Academy Prep School. The large number is mostly PG's mostly paid for by the Naval Academy Foundation. Kids that are "not quite ready" for some reason. Many it is for athletic reasons. I *think<a href="not%20sure">/I</a> that maybe the academy can't red shirt like other colleges can. Anyway, NMH has the same number and they are about the **least **conservative school around.</p>
<p>Mercersburg in my opinion is definitely not too conservative of a school. It is a wonderful place!</p>
<p>For the record - - a school could be lovely and conservative (too conservative for my family).</p>
<p>For DH, the presence, especially during war time, of s signif number of students interested in the military is a concern (DH would prefer everyone protesting against the war). Also, doesn't Mercersburg have a religious affiliation (not an issue for me, but another factor that makes DH squeamish)?
And while I don't share DH's concern, I certainly can see where (1) religious affiliation and (2) signif student interest in any one of the service academies would suggest conservative eniron whjere D might not be comfortable.</p>
<p>OTOH. I found the admissions office particularly agreeable in terms of providing info (#of black students, matric list) that other schools refuse to release or release only grudgingly.</p>
<p>Linda S -
Thank you. Your comparison of Mercersb w/ NMH (a sch w/ which we are familiar and thus a great point of reference) was very helpful.</p>
<p>Liv&learn -
What's your basis for saying Mercersb is not too conservative?</p>
<p>Mercersburg does not have a religous affiliation. The following is from their web site:</p>
<p>"Non-denominational Christian worship services occur every Sunday morning at eleven o'clock during each term and are attended voluntarily by faculty, students, staff members, and guests from the community. In addition, alumni, parents, friends, and neighbors of Mercersburg, as well as faculty and students, gather in this landmark building for weddings, Easter-morning community Sunrise Services, Christmas Candlelight Services, occasional memorial services, and performances by the 120-voice Mercersburg Area Community Chorus, as well as concerts from guest organists and carillonneurs.</p>
<p>Students come to Mercersburg from different cultural and religious backgrounds, and we embrace this diversity on our campus. Therefore, we provide transportation to or sponsor worship services and events for those of other faiths, and use these occasions as teaching moments for the community. Through the Chapel Program, worship services, and campuswide involvement, the Chapel helps provide a moral and ethical anchor for all Mercersburg students."</p>
<p>Also, I don't believe there are any mandatory religon courses. </p>
<p>As far as the Annapolis bound students it is not like they are parading around in uniforms. They are no different than any other student. Like any school, you are going to find students with many different views and backrounds.</p>
<p>FWIW,</p>
<p>if this is that big of an issue (it seems to me it is) I would not go by the responses on this board. One persond conservative may be someone else's liberal.</p>
<p>You really can only make your own decision by visiting the school yourself.</p>
<p>Thanks JB1 -</p>
<p>As I indicated, I was uncertain re: religious affiliation (and this an issue for DH, not me - - I'd consider local parochial schools). </p>
<p>And I certainly didn't suggest that the Annapolis bound students were conducting miltary exercises on campus (though any official display would be a deal breaker for DH). But, for DH, military = conservative (= intolerant), thus his fear that a campus where military bound students are comfortable is unlikely to be one where DD will be comfortable. </p>
<p>And - - since Mercersb falls just short on at leaset 2 of our criteria (more than 3.5 hrs from home, fewer than 8% black students) whether the Annapolis connection means a more conserv campus could be a moot point. OTOH, since Mercersb fits the bill in other aspects, if we end up compromising on either distance or diversity, consserv or not could be dispositive re: keeping Mercersb in play or crossing it off the list.</p>
<p>I don't think you'd even know which of the 4 or 5 seniors (PG's but since PG's are considered Seniors...) are the Naval Academy Foundation ones. I know several people who attended NMH and had no idea. They are really simply part of the student body - they just happen to be there on the road to Annapolis (and may be paid for in part by the Naval Academy Foundation). But other than that, are no different than any other student. I was quite surprised to see the number from NMH since it is known to be quite "liberal leaning." I would not let their participating in that program influence your decision. Of course, if it does or does not meet other criteria, that's another thing.<br>
One other point - someone mentioned to me that you'll find the NA students generally in one "area" at a school. For example, at Salisbury they are primarily Lacrosse players. I don't know what they are at NMH or Mercerburg, but you might want to find that out if it is a concern.</p>
<p>I fear I have done DH a disservice. </p>
<p>Neither one of us is concerned about DD coming in contact w/ NA students. And I agree w/ DH that students en route to a military academy ARE diff than other students - - and I wouldn't send DD to a sch where 20-30% of the students were ROTC, NA or had other military affiliation. OTOH, I am unconcerned that the presence NA students in small numbers (abourt 1% at Mercersburg) suggests anything about a school's overall culture, as evinced by LindaS's reference to NMH. </p>
<p>I'm just looking for evid to support my position - - since Mercersb meets several of our criteria (coed, under 500 students, courses to suit a range of abilities) and comes close in others.</p>
<p>As for visiting, not likely if DH continues to object. Also, our experience w/ college search was that even an overnight visit provided only a snippet, so info from othe parents/students, even if limited, is helpful.</p>
<p>nyc my view is just based on visits. We tried to check it our thoroughly and it didn't feel too conservative to us at all. JB1 is correct in my view that it's really a personal choice. Visiting is a good way to get a real feel for any place.</p>
<p>To set the record straight, my daughter is a new sophomore at Mercersburg and it is required that she take a religion course, even though she has attended a parochial school for the previous 9 years. She is going to take world history next year.</p>
<p>At this year's convocation ceremony held the day before classes began, which was held in the school chapel (a magnificent church), several hymns were sung and prayers were given. On Sunday's, there is transportation available to the local Catholic church in the town of Mercersburg.</p>
<p>I do not agree the school is conservative. The required summer reading were "The Kite Runner" and "The Places Inbetween". If you go to their website, you can see that the school brings in a number of speakers (required attendance for students) and some I would not classify as conservative. I think the school really tries to get the student to think outside of the box.</p>
<p>sdkdad - </p>
<p>In the context of discussing whether a school is conservatve (or more saccurately, whether Mburg is too conservative for DD), what constitutes "thinking outside of the box"? </p>
<p>Also, if you wouldn't classify "some" speakers as conservative, does that mean that you WOULD classify the balance of the speakers (presumably the majority) as conservative?</p>
<p>You'll have to do a little bit of sorting, but the "News and Events" links for 2006 and 2007 have the press releases for all the recent speakers:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mercersburg.edu/news_and_events/2007.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.mercersburg.edu/news_and_events/2007.asp</a>
<a href="http://www.mercersburg.edu/news_and_events/2006.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.mercersburg.edu/news_and_events/2006.asp</a></p>
<p>I don't know much from conservative or liberal. I just can say that the speakers I saw seemed interesting.</p>
<p>nyc
I get the feeling that you/your child are being too sensitive as to what is politically right or wrong. whether your child is left or right leaning, they should be exposed to both sides so they can form there own views. </p>
<p>I guess I have a problem with any 13 yr old with an established political view.</p>
<p>It is my experience that it doesn't matter so much the school, the child will form their own decisions in the end. liberal school does not mean liberal student.</p>
<p>When I say "think outside the box", I mean that the teachers encourage the students to think for themselves. The classes are dynamic in that regard.</p>
<p>I wouldn't define the school as conservative or liberal personally. My daughter and her international roommate agree with that.</p>
<p>I also agree in that you need to visit to determine if the school is the right fit for your child.+</p>
<p>Thank you all for your comments. I do appreciate the informaton, though I do not necessrily agree with your opinions or inferences.</p>
<p>For the record, contrary to post #11, I never offered an opinion regarding M'burg - -I asked a question (does the presence on NA students indicate that the sch is conservative?).</p>
<p>And while DH and I have no desire to indoctrinate D, like most parents, we want a setting that will reinforce our values and where D will be comfortabhle. And while most schools would insist that they encourage students to think for themselves, the school culture overall, as well as the manner in which individual teachers present in-class material and guide discussion subtlely (or not so subtlely) are nudge a student towards a particular perspective. </p>
<p>Discussion of many historical event/figures (M. Sanger) and social issues (gy marriage) are likely to be approached very differently at a religious schools, conservative secular schools and liberal secular schools. An atheist might not consider a sch that required the study of religion. And I want D's science class to teach evolution - - w/o also teaching creationism and giving her the oppty to form her own view re: which is valid (not that I'm suggesting tM'burg would teach creationism). </p>
<p>Likewise, when older D applied to college, she immed eliminated Catholic schs from her list b/c of parietals and b/c health services don't dispense birth control (except for acne!) or plan B. And having older Ds, one of whom became sexually active in hs, one queston I never asked when older D was considering BS for 9th grade, but which I always for D considering BS for 11th grade *even though D currently has no BF), is, "can girls keep birth control in their rooms or must that also be kept at helath station w/ other meds?" </p>
<p>IN any event, other posters need not share our values or rate factors as we do, but to suggest that we are "wrong" or "too sensitive" is incredibly presumptuous (post #14). I am certain that there are other criteria, such as number of black students, that are more important to us as a bi-racial family, than to other families. And, if our criteria don't work for you, don't embrace them as your own - - but don't presume to know better than me what is right for my D.</p>
<p>As for visiting and fit, we have eliminated any number of schs w/o visiting - - sometimes for "non-fit" reasons such as distance and availability of finaid,and sometimes for what some might consider "fit" such as ration of boarders to day students, gender parity and diversity. Also, I believe it is much easier to get a sense of any "fit" aspect as a member of the dominant group (as a friend whose gay son attends BS stated, "social minorities get a lot get a lot of 'false positives' on visits). So, if DH believes the sch to be too conservative, we probab won't make the trip (just as we haven't visited schs were we believe D is unlikely to receive what we consider to be sufficient finaid).</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the info - - but please, give me facts (like post #2, 8, 13), I can draw my own inferences.</p>
<p>great post!!!</p>
<p>Its interesting you have these reservations about Mercersburg. I'm a recent multiracial graduate of Mercersburg, and I've never found the small amount of minority students to be a real problem. </p>
<p>Mercersburg has a very tolerant atmosphere which caters to people of all beliefs and opinions. This is certainly supported by the curriculum and the academic events and opportunities the school offers to students.
People of faith have the support they need to worship, and those who consider themselves as atheists or agnostics do not have to attend any assembly or service that invokes prayer, and are joined by many in the school's faculty. There is even a intellectual discussion group called F.R.O.S.T.E which often writes in the newspaper about campus events, and will usually sound off if an invited speaker has a religious agenda.</p>
<p>There is a religion requirement in the curriculum, but the religion courses are taught from an anthropological/historical viewpoint, and some courses on topics of religion teach historical knowledge only. </p>
<p>Your concerns are certainly justified, and Mercersburg staff would not be at all averse to answering all of them directly, so feel free to shoot off an e-mail or letter to Mr. Tompkins, the director of admissions. </p>
<p>If you have any more questions about the school, you're welcome to ask me questions.</p>
<p>Be careful not to equate "religious schools" with "conservative schools". Some of the most liberal boarding schools in the country are church- or religiously-affiliated. Just depends on the school and the religion.</p>
<p>I have visited Mercersburg, had a child accepted there (but she did not go) and also have had friends whose kids went there and loved it. I cannot say enough about this wonderful school. And for the record, when it comes to any service academy, it is extremely difficult to receive an appointment to a service academy, like the Naval Academy for instance, in which you first have to receive a congressional nomination. Obtaining admission to the military prep schools is also not easy. Because of the respect afforded to the Naval Academy, especially by the DC/MD/VA/PA area residents, it would really be natural that many Mercersburg students would apply to the NA or to the prep school. My experience is that although many states and countries are represented at Mercersburg, a great number come from this region noted above to attend Mercersburg and so attending a college in that mid-Atlantic region also makes sense. Also, lacrosse is a big deal in the mid-Atlantic region and also Mercersburg has been known for their outstanding lacrosse program. Therefore, the NA would probaby be a natural place for many of these kids to go. As for the religious part of Mercersburg, although you will see that it is nondenominational, if you do not want any religion to be a part of your high school experience, then I would suggest you skip Mercersburg. They prayed before lunch at the revisit and that was enough for me. I would say it is a general "Christian" atmosphere. It is not overwhelming, but definitely present in everyday life there.</p>