<p>School cultures can be and often are very different; just compare Deerfield Academy to St. Marks, or Exeter to anywhere else. Also, if you can, visit St. George School! All of these elite prep schools will introduce you to very interesting, brilliant and accomplished students. Additionally, you will learn to write well-- which is an indication of ability to reason well.</p>
<p>thanks everyone…that really helps. NMH sounds really nice, i got that feel from the video also.</p>
<p>Regarding Exeter, icy9ff8 wrote: “Architecturally speaking, the campus is similar to many bland state school universities, but the setting is magnificent.” Wow, “bland” is the last word I would use to describe the architecture at Exeter. </p>
<p>First, standing stately in the quad is the renowned Class of 1945 Library designed by famed architect, Louis I. Kahn, that earned the American Institute of Architects’ twenty-five year award and even has its’ own commemorative U.S. postage stamp. Learn more about it at <a href=“http://www.exeter/libaray/4513_4522.aspx[/url]”>www.exeter/libaray/4513_4522.aspx</a>. Then, there is the Elm Street Dining Hall also designed by Kahn.</p>
<p>Another impressive building, both inside and out, is the hub of the campus, the Phelps Academy Center. This building, which blends the best of modern technology and design with the stately Georgian style buildings surrounding it, is one of the few LEED (Leadership in Energy Design) certified buildings in New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Most of the classroom buildings and dorms are brick Georgian style ivy covered buildings that blend beautifully with the charm of downtown Exeter with its many independent shops, eateries, and 18th & 19th century homes.</p>
<p>I do agree with icy9ff8 that the Love Gymnasium, with it’s modern additions, is a concrete monstrosity, however is it none the less, an outstanding athletic facility.</p>
<p>Take a look at these photos taken around the campus and see for yourself. [SeacoastNH.com</a> - Phillips Exeter Academy on Foot](<a href=“http://seacoastnh.com/Travel/Scenic_Walks/Phillips_Exeter_Academy_on_Foot/]SeacoastNH.com”>http://seacoastnh.com/Travel/Scenic_Walks/Phillips_Exeter_Academy_on_Foot/)</p>
<p>I have only been to Exeter on three or four different occasions. I did not care for the buildings and have discussed prep school campuses with dozens of parents. We all seemed to be in agreement regarding Exeter. Only the gym is truly unattractive. The setting is magnificent, but the buildings were not as attractive as on many other prep school campuses. The photos are nice, but, in my opinion, are not fairly representative of the campus as a whole.</p>
<p>I love the feel of Deerfield. All the kids on bikes, a real New England campus.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Groton and Middlesex has the most “community feel” to the campus because all the main buildings and dorms are surrounding the “Circle.” Everyone notices the Circle and that makes everyone meet each other, playing on it or walking around it. In Groton, students don’t have bikes like Deerfield, but they have the scooters =] which are funner, but slower. I actually like almost every campus i visited. Each has a unique touch</p>
<p>yeah lots of people at hotchkiss own scooters. i guess a lot of people do bikes, too. </p>
<p>ripsticks are also pretty popular. (:</p>
<p>NMH has the most gorgeous views overlooking the CT river valley and the mountains across the valley. The campus is beautiful with over a thousand acres of woodland and rolling hills. The building (most of them) are also architecturally pleasing…except for the science building (too blocky and modern) and the modulars (which are sort of hidden and, temporary).
Exeter is a charming small town and the campus blends in nicely. It is also quite scenic with some nice old archticture. I agree, the gymnasium is hideous!
I do not care for Andover as much with the main road running through the campus. It does have the feel of a college campus, I guess.
Loomis was pretty, particularly how all of the dorms are arranged in a closed-in quad. And…they have acres and acres of soccer fields. I like NMH’s new fields overlooking the mountains, better, though.
I have not seen Hotchkiss and only saw the soccer fields at Choate. Like all prep schools, they seem to have cornered the market on lots of nice, green, turf!</p>
<p>Middlesex has one of the most beautiful campuses of all private schools I’ve seen. I’m not a huge fan of Andover’s campus, personally.</p>
<p>what’s st. paul’s like?</p>
<p>Because this thread has gone beyond the campuses that the OP questioned, readers might enjoy this thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/216547-most-beautiful-campus-academics.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/216547-most-beautiful-campus-academics.html</a> . Some people included photos of some campuses.</p>
<p>Nelly</p>
<p>I’m a big Choate booster. I went there in the 70’s and Prpddjr is there now. Having said that, I think the St.Paul’s campus is just terrifically beautiful - nicer than Choate. Deerfield also has a beautiful campus, if you don’t mind being in the middle of nowhere surrounded by cow fields. </p>
<p>But Choate has the best kids, is the most diverse, has a better arts program, a wider variety of dorms, and a great course selection.:)</p>