<p>I'm pretty new here so hellos to everyone. On this site about Prep Schools, there are so many HADES posts so this is a change of view. I'm thinking about applying to Stevenson in ninth grade, (going to eighth grade after Summer), and I was hoping to ask some people that were applying there or students there and maybe parents to post some info about the school. I checked out the website - and it seems pretty good. Nice college acceptances and a few Ivy leagues too. </p>
<p>I saw their profile too on BSR. I'm not very familiar with acceptance rates, so what would it take to be accepted into Stevenson. Do you have to do much. Any tips for interviews, and details about the people there and the campus vibes and feels. Plus can you describe some dorms and how they are? How's the food and faculty? Are the classes engaging? Any info about this school would be great. </p>
<p>P.S. Info on Cate and Thacher would be great too!</p>
<p>BUMPP!!! lol I am also looking at this school but I feel like I already have my top schools so I’m looking for advice on whether or not some schools are good or not so please guys any info would be nice btw Thacher is one of my main schools too it looks awesome</p>
<p>Plainjane23…best of luck with Thacher! Its combination of fantastic academics (amazing faculty), the outdoors programs, the horse program, the honor code, and the quality and warmth of the community are unbeatable. It’s very tough to get in, but if you’re able to make it happen, you’ll have an extraordinary experience (as will your family!)</p>
<p>I have been to all three. My quick impressions were: Thacher is the most competitive to get into by a shade over Cate and I was very impressed by the faculty that I met. Thacher is easily the most pretentious (especially the Director of Admissions) and probably has the most Republicans (not saying whether that is good or bad). The horse program at Thacher is intriguing (and a I am sure an awesome experience), but not for everyone. Cate has the best campus (but that is subjective–but not really here), the best athletic facilities, the most diversity among the student body and sports that dominated Thacher this year–although I don’t know if this is always the case. Cate boasts the highest SAT scores of the three, but it is very close. Stevenson has a nice campus next to one of the most beautiful beaches and golf courses in the world. While Thacher and Cate have very few day students, 50% of Stevenson’s students are non-boarders. Stevenson’s sports are top notch and the school is in a league with local public schools. Thacher and Cate probably have stronger academics than Stevenson but I doubt that there is any appreciable difference among the top 25% of the classes in any of those schools. Due to its size (about twice that of Cate and Thacher) and the number of day students, Stevenson feels a bit more like a public school in an affluent area than the other two. Hopefully, this helps.</p>
<p>miachaela- when you say thacher is mostly republican would you think that that would make it hard for a more democratic person to participate in a politics cub?</p>
<p>As an avowed liberal, we were totally at home at Thacher. Republicans are in the minority by a significant margin, although just as well respected as anyone else. And re: the “pretentious” comment you made about Bill McMahon. I think if you polled 1000 people about that guy, “pretentious” would probably be the last word anyone would pick. Easy-going, outdoorsman, smart, devoted to the school…those would be accurate. There’s not a pretentious bone in that guy’s body.</p>
<p>Plainjane23, as I said, these were my quick impressions. I could be wrong of course. Regarding politics, for example, Cate and Stevenson are openly inviting to the LGBT community and so indicated in their mission statements and they have LGBT clubs. Thacher, at the time, did not. This was not of interest to my child but is an indication to me of a broader attitude about values and beliefs. My feeling was that Thacher’s approach–while truly unique and intriguing–had been in place for a long time and might not be as flexible as at other places. I could be wrong but that was my gut feeling. I have no reason to believe that there a liberal or conservative bias there just a 1950’s approach compared to a 21st century one. </p>
<p>As for Mr. McMahon, my first experience with him was in a room where he indicated how lucky our kids would be to be admitted and that all the Thacher kids go to great colleges–which I know is not the case (as it is not the case anywhere). None of the other schools I have visited boasted in such a fashion. Perhaps I misunderstood him or mistakenly took his enthusiasm for something else. </p>
<p>In the end I left Thacher very impressed. My child did not care for it, but I certainly would consider and recommend it to my three younger children if they are interested.</p>
btw Thacher is one of my main schools too it looks awesome</p>