Andover vs Deerfield

[Anonymous]

My kid is a recruited athlete for both schools and will almost certainly get admitted. Both have great outcomes. Andover seems more global and forward-looking but Deerfield seems more warm and inviting. Which is a better option?

[Anonymous]

As a recruited athlete your kid's experience will be most shaped by their teammates and coaches. If those are truly equally appealing at both schools I would choose Deerfield, they seem to have much happier kids than Andover does.

[Anonymous]

Deerfield has an incredible campus environment and warm student body. Andover is much bigger and feels much colder as a result.

[Anonymous]

My child chose Deerfield. Also an athlete. The comments about the community being warm and social are very accurate, and we are grateful that turned out to be true. That was a primary reason, but our family also thought the following was meaningful:

1. Class schedule. The 90 minute classes suit our student really well. And no chaotic Monday. This could be a negative or positive, depending on how your kid learns best.
2. The kids have more frequent contact/conversation with adults outside of the classroom. My student really enjoys the seated meals and the conversations that take place there.
3. It’s an amazing place to be an athlete! The teams are so well supported and the kids get a lot of cred for their efforts and achievement. College recruiting is real.
4. They are genuinely competing with themselves for their best possible outcome in all endeavors. We couldn’t shake the feeling at Andover that the kids are competing with each other. This can also be a positive or negative, depending on your kid.
5. The size meant there would always be new people to discover, and room to grow as they age up, but not so many that they felt lost or unseen.
6. The amazing coach! The chemistry with the coach and the fact that they stated they were definitely not leaving the school anytime soon, meant so much to my kid. Tough. Demanding. Clear. Caring. Reliable. Life comes down to people, doesn’t it?

Both schools are fantastic and filled with accomplished peers. Only your family can answer the question of which best fits your child. A wise strategy is to apply to both, get to know the coaches, and revisit with a student host in April. Young teens can change quickly, and keeping doors open up to the decision is just smart. I hope your kid makes a great match!

[Anonymous]

Adding, not sure in what way Andover feels more global and forward thinking? Genuinely curious how you quantify this. Similar international percentage of students from dozens of countries. Please share your thoughts?

The phone policy at Deerfield is intended to prioritize face to face communication, focused reading and writing, and the natural development of a long attention span. Feels old fashioned, but is actually a stealth flex for building future success in a tech driven world where the above qualities will be lacking in most people, yet prized in the few who possess them. (St. Andrew’s in DE has a similar, excellent policy, but that’s an entirely different direction.)

[Anonymous]

Deerfield seems to be more relaxed and the kids seem much more happier there. Deerfield prioritizes balance and it's a serious sports school alongside serious academics. I think the sit-down dinners and dress code result in a more cohesive student body. I also appreciate their conservative grading philosophy, because it rewards exceptional work and pushes students to work harder.

Deerfield has a serious claim to being the best boarding school in the country. Personally, I think Andover is great but too big and impersonal.

[Anonymous]

Wow, yet another troll post? This time it's Andover vs Deerfield. Oh, and of course, the obligatory "recruited athlete" shtick.