@westcoastmom987 If you’d like a current parent perspective at Choate, I’m happy to help.
I took the bait hook, line and sinker and ironically it was actually my birthday the day we were at Exeter. I would say that was the only BS school where it happened to us. We were on a college tour a couple of months ago and the same thing happened and I quietly said “yeah right!”
Our tours guides got the happy birthday treatment at Deerfield and at Trinity (NYC).
At our kid’s school, all the tour guides guides are seniors. Sounds like some schools have tour guides from all grades?
@westcoastmom987 - I, too, was interested to hear that you thought Mercersburg was too athletic-focused. I am a current parent (and parent of an alum) and there has been a concern for several years that the school put too much emphasis on arts and not enough on sports; thus, the new field house. It seems to be a pendulum that swings every decase or so… arts facilities, then sports facilities. I have found that Mercersburg does a really good job of allowing kids to be who they are and do what they want with respect to extracurricular activities. Drama kids, singing kids, band kids… all are supported and cheered on just as much - perhaps more so (my son’s team gave away ChickfilA sandwiches to draw a crowd to a key game) than athletes. And, the small student body and the fact that it isn’t a powerhouse in most sports, allows the school to meet the kids where they are - and allows a vast majority of them to have a varsity experience even in 9th or 10th grade, which is really neat.
Regarding diversity, it is a top priority for the administration. They have a huge financial aid fund and support the full need of 50% of the students. The school also tackles diversity issues head on, with several days devoted each year to “courageous conversations” around issues such as race, inclusivity, gender identity, etc. The location is definitely a hurdle, but the school has worked very hard to make itself a real community, and is working hard to attract faculty with diverse backgrounds, in addition to the student body. If you can get past the “rural-ness”, you’ll see the school has some quite amazing things to offer.
I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the place; it was transformational for my kid. Good luck to you!! 
Hmmm, our tour guide for one of the schools (out of the two we toured!) got the happy birthday treatment. There was a lot of laughter (enough that I remember it a few years later) but it is just now that I get it. Ah well.
With regard to Mercersburg and sports: many schools require students to participate in a sport, but Mercersburg does not (students can substitute community service, dance, theatre (performance or tech), or outdoor education (biking, hiking, and rock climbing). My artsy daughter never did a sport (despite her less artsy brother constantly telling her that she “needed” to) and had a wonderful experience there (as did her brother). It is a very special place.
I also think that “seated” meals that rotate students and faculty among tables are very important in building and maintaining the school community and should definitely be on your parental wish list. Good luck in the process, and like @hellomaisy (hello, hellomaisy! ), I will be glad to answer questions about Mercersburg, about the arts for instance.
Let me know if you find a way that parents can attend SAS. I’ve been lobbying for that since 2011!
Great write-up, BTW. Best of luck to your student.
Each school has its own charm, but also its own drawback. Keep that in mind as you try to find a good fit. Other top notch schools include St. George’s, Groton, SPS, Milton and Hotchkiss. They each have their own charm as well.
@dramakid2 I was at the Candlelight… it was beautiful. Such a special tradition of the school. And the multi-lang thing - they’ve been doing that for, well, at least 31 years. 
@twinsmama Hi!! I think about your kiddos often. Hope they are having exceptional experiences at their respective schools. Mine came home yesterday but immediately left to go visit his Mburg roommate for 36 hours, to be followed by a brief visit this weekend from another school friend. The bonds they make at Mburg - any boarding school - are so strong!! Best to you!!!
@hellomaisy @dramakid2 @twinsmama I really appreciate the insights about our impression of the emphasis on athletics at Mercersburg not being accurate. It is input like this that makes this community so helpful! My husband and I each came away with the concern regarding athletics, so perhaps our tour was simply slanted a bit much in that direction and we didn’t ask enough questions while we were there about the relative importance of arts to the school.
Mercersburg was added to our list based on the rave reviews I read here, and each interaction we have had with the school (at local MABS event and on our school visit) has reinforced all of the wonderful things I have heard here.
@CaliMex We have had tour guides ranging from sophomores through seniors. Two schools (Mercersburg and Exeter) had freshmen along as apprentice tour guides.
@hellomaisy I hope your son had a good first semester in college and that your daughter is off to a great start in high school! My kids are doing well and - like your son - are also maintaining their strong bonds with their Mercersburg friends, even as they add new college friends. It’s a beautiful thing.
@CaliMex, DS is a sophomore and has been leading tours all year. I recall most of our tour guides at various schools bring juniors and seniors. It’s a small school, and with seniors in particular being very busy themselves in the fall, I guess they have to expand the pool.
FWIW @CaliMex we have tour guides ranging from freshman through seniors…also for great for prospective students who want to speak with first & second year students wanting to participate in specialty EC’s like dance company.
After going to a number of schools with very polish senior tour guides, one of our best experiences was getting to an open house a bit late and running into a first-semester freshman that helped us find our way to the correct building. It was so refreshing to see the raw material rather than the finished product.
^^^^ This really resonates with me. We were invited to a reception followed by a play. There were lots of kids at the reception, frosh through seniors, who had volunteered to chat (and probably to get free food!) This was probably THE event that propelled this school to the top of the list. It was clear that the school was transparent and wanted us to see who the students were. As parents, we walked away thinking we’d be thrilled for DS to have those kinds of kids for friends - they were so down to earth and comfortable in their skin, and had such good humor aND kindness in dealing with each other. And it was a totally hilarious conversation with 2 freshmen about FL placement that showcased this for us.
Thank you for starting this thread, @westcoastmom987 . We were somewhat surprised by the Deerfield Admissions “cattle-call” while waiting for interviews to begin in the Academy Building. An AO, coach or tour guide would come to the steps of the large waiting room, literally yell an applicant’s name, and be unaware who had checked-in or was present. Definitely the most disorganized and impersonal experience we had among many BS interviews. It was also bizarre that coaches would meet with prospective students and have personal discussions in the middle of the library/waiting room, surrounded by many other families and a significant din that made it hard to hear and focus. Deerfield can do better. Other schools made us feel more valued and welcomed, especially in light of the significant effort families take in travelling to campus
@BordDuLac Would be great for Deerfield to have that feedback. At another school, we experienced a loud man talking in third person about his daughter who was sitting next to him and her prowess on the lacrosse field. He also made many references to people the interviewer/coach and he knew in common. I don’t know what their results were and I personally liked that school. My kid and I thought it was very odd.
@Happytimes2001 we had a similar experience a couple of years ago at Groton with a “crew” family - they had a loud conversation in the waiting room with an AO who used to be their crew coach - discussed people they knew in common and how well “junior’s” older sibling was doing at Groton. AO saying “well, we are looking forward to having you too”…very chummy. We also saw another family who had a visit from the French teacher and lots of hugs all around. Must have been Legacy Day ^:)^ …We also thought it was interesting that the school posted (in beautiful calligraphy), on the wall of the Admissions office, the names of each student, parents, and school they were from…it is a beautiful tradition, but also a bit unnerving for an anxious applicant to see their name on the board…but we did see that there were applicants from all over the world that day. First of many wake-up calls and how very grateful we all were to have this opportunity. India, Argentina, Mexico, Hong Kong. When the AO announced “GolfKiddo from Pahokee”…kind of funny…It was kiddo’s first interview anywhere and it had an impact. :))
I loved the pin map at Exeter and especially that DD could place a pin where there were none, based solely on where she was born. Plus, there was no way to squeeze in a pin for MA.