<p>Can anyone point out some similarities or differences between DA and SPS ? </p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>swissbrit</p>
<p>Similarities: They are both in NE. Differences: DA is in MA and SPS is in NH. :D</p>
<p>to the comment above: derp?</p>
<p>Deerfield is usually better at most sports. SPS is all boarding and less rural. I think the dress code at SPS than Deerfield. Those are just off the top of my head</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Well apart from pulsar.</p>
<p>very good info if you care to dig through this thread.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/5254-st-pauls-school-vs-exeter.html?highlight=paleozoic[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/5254-st-pauls-school-vs-exeter.html?highlight=paleozoic</a></p>
<p>We looked at both schools, in detail, and both had great positives. I loved the sense of community that they both promote. The are around the same size. SPS gives a more freedom in terms of formal study hall. SPS is 100% boarding where DA is about 85% I believe. DA is very “preppy” with a formal dress code where as SPS is casual. DA is extremely rural where SPS has a huge campus, but is in a city. SPS has its own dance company (important for my d). I loved them both. My d liked SPS, but loved DA. It was an easy choice for us; my d was selected by DA, waitlisted by SPS. DA was her first choice. </p>
<p>You cant go wrong at either place–excellent schools, faculty, staff and students.</p>
<p>Although I have not visited DA, I don’t know that I’d consider SPS “in a city”. The campus is quite removed from the the town of Concord. It is not like Exeter or even Choate, where you literally in town or a few blocks away. When you’re on the SPS campus, it feels as removed from any town center (with sidewalks) as something like Groton.</p>
<p>SPS is absolutely positively not in a city. In fact, our campus is surrounded by 2,000 acres of wooded areas. We do have access to Concord via cab though.</p>
<p>SPS & DA are about equally rural; you need a cab to go into ‘town’ [Concord or Greenfield]. But close enough that food places will deliver. Both have gorgeous settings. SPS buildings are a little more spread out than DA’s. DA has a formal dress code [although the girls seem to get away with a lot]. DA’s food is better [actually, it is really good! But the kids take it for granted]. DA regulates/coordinates student activities more than SPS. It seems that almost every hour is somehow regulated at DA, and that’s not the case with SPS.
Athletic facilities are about the same. SPS has newer auditorium, but DA has perhaps the nicest science center in the country. Not sure if it really matters that SPS is all boarding, because the DA day students spend a lot of time in school. It might matter in terms of economics, since DA day students that live within certain boundaries pay a lot less than the regular ‘day’ tuition.
SPS competes in the ISL while DA plays in WNEPSSA. The major difference: no PG’s in the ISL. SPS is dropping ski racing while DA has one of the most competitive ski teams.
On our visits, we found DA students much friendlier. Faculty was equally friendly at both schools.
Both incredible schools, best to visit and walk around campus. SPS has an interesting setup during visits where you park in a lot then walk through a path through the trees to reach the admissions offices. For hockey players, SPS figures prominently in hockey history.</p>
<p>Re SPS: I think the view when you walk out of Sheldon, over Library Pond, on a sunny Summer or Fall day is one of the most inspiring on any BS tour.</p>
<p>Both schools are exceptionally beautiful.</p>
<p>To me, there are many similarities but with one fundamental difference. Deerfield, founded in the eighteenth century, somehow embodies the spirit of the new nation – democratic, egalitarian and forward looking; while St. Paul’s, founded in mid-nineteenth century, was, by then, looking more toward the great public schools of England as its model, and, as such, has less of an “American” feel and more of a class conscious one. ‘Aristocratic’ might well sum up what St. Paul’s was, and maybe still is, all about.</p>
<p>Now, I admit that there has been much cross-over of styles, so that you can find a good measure of both the democratic and the aristocratic at St. Paul’s and at Deerfield.</p>
<p>Not to mention that both have a dose of the proletariat too…but I’ll leave that for someone else.</p>
<p>The good thing is that very, very few will have to decide between the two!</p>
<p>Lol, catg! Nor will many have to decide between SPS and Exeter!</p>
<p>I find it funny that Deerfield is 15 minutes from Northampton and Greenfield, yet they say Greenfield(a VERY small “city”) is the closest to them. (…o.O?)</p>
<p>Grrenfield is only 5 minutes away, not 15.</p>
<p>^??? I could’ve sworn it wasn’t that close. [GOOGLE CHECK!] So it is… still wouldn’t cite it as a destination/“city” though, imo. </p>
<p>I was estimating by distance/time on 91.</p>
<p>Rad- I stayed in Greenfield last weekend and it was 8 minutes, 5 miles from DA. No need to get on R91</p>
<p>leanid: yes indeed, Deerfield has a lot of history. There are many tourists walking around town and the school.</p>
<p>From DA, Greenfield is the closest ‘city’ (more like a small town), but there are a ton of restaurant and shopping choices just to the south, even a Whole Foods in Hadley. UMASS, Amherst College, and a few other schools are nearby and thus there are a ton of dining and hotel options. We are not strangers to New Hampshire but feel SPS more isolated than DA. Not neccessarily a negative, as some kids are looking for a place with more isolation.</p>
<p>@AlexzMom: I meant judging how long it takes for me to get there on 91 </p>
<p>@alextwoofour: Northampton?by name? local shopping at its best??? You mentioned whole foods, but not Northampton? Sorry, that just puzzles me.</p>