Deerfield Academy - Review #9

Deerfield is set in a historic New England village preserved from the 18th century. History and heritage are therefore prevalent in all aspects of life at the school. The campus matches the lovely town tactfully, yet also fosters modern design--in the newer buildings--without compromising the overall appearance of the place. Students can't help but appreciate the authenticity of a place where history and heritage literally dictate how everything looks and operates.

I was able to choose what academic strength I ultimately wanted to foster the most, and for me this was writing. I was not forced to take complex science courses that I didn't want or need to take to further my education; instead I was able to work closely with caring teachers and really hone my skills. The campus literary magazine was something to strive for, and my writing improved greatly.

It is easy to be intimidated when surrounded by very, very qualified peers, so my advice would be to be brave and open-minded when approaching new potential friends. By senior year, everyone is surprised by the friendships they have developed in spite of initial first impressions.

I liked the beautiful campus and the academic freedoms that students could use to develop as thinkers, rather than just test-takers. The faculty always inspired students and encouraged this.

Grilled Chocolate Chip Muffins are a must have at the Greer Snack Bar. Definitely go for a hike up to the rock and look at the beautiful Deerfield River Valley.

Teachers at Deerfield are allowed the freedom to teach what they are passionate and extra knowledgeable about, which fosters more enthusiastic learning among students. Very few courses, even those with "AP" designations, are taught specifically with standardized testing in mind, which means students take away more actual knowledge and spend less time memorizing quickly forgotten facts. All students, basically, are extremely qualified and bright, which makes peer driven discussions advanced and interesting.

Deerfield students enjoy excellent athletic facilities, including a state of the art athletic building, an Olympic size swimming and diving center, a brand new squash center and excellently maintained outdoor fields. Many sports programs are nationally competitive and good coaching and post graduate student recruiting allows Deerfield to remain at the foremost of national sports, especially lacrosse and squash. There are a lot of lower-level and recreational opportunities for students of all levels, too, and each team has a designated space/field to use. Some kind of activity is required every trimester; most students opt to participate in a sport, but community service, theater or arts exemptions are also options.

A wide range of arts classes are available, from introductory courses where students learn the foundations of art, to much more advanced courses where students are allowed significant artistic freedoms. A brand new arts facility was opened about two years ago, which includes a beautiful gallery, several different theaters, and an inspiring space in which to learn and make art.

A very wide range of clubs is available at Deerfield and it is very easy for students to get involved. These can be altruistic/service oriented, academic, artistic, musical, political, athletic, or just plain fun clubs. Most students participate in some sort of extracurricular activity and it is also very easy for students to set up a club or group that may not already exist. Funding is available for groups, too!

Dorm life is extremely fun. The dorms are mostly nice, and even the older ones, which are not as state of the art, have a lot of character. Most students live in singles; almost nobody has to live in a double if they don't want to, and there is no additional cost for a single. Proctors are typically very influential players in the lives of underclassmen; two or three senior proctors live on every freshman floor and act as a surrogate older brother or sister for underclassmen. Dorm bonding is important and highly encouraged by faculty and administration, especially through "feeds," late night snack sessions, and outings. For upper classmen, there is a nice range of dorm choices from tiny, intimate dorm buildings to very large, more college-esq dorms.

The dining hall is more or less the center of campus and the food is quite good. Sit down meals are required for most lunches and several dinners each week. These formal meals are served by rotating student waiters. Class dress is required and proper manners are required. Students sit at the same table of 9 students and 1 faculty member for 3 weeks at a time, and these tables are randomly assigned, meaning students have an opportunity to meet and talk with lots of peers with whom they may not have otherwise crossed paths.

The town is tiny and very rural. It is beautiful to drive and walk through and a few very cute stores--namely Richardson's Candy Kitchen and the William's Sugar House--are within walking distance, but there is not much else in the area besides houses. For dining and shopping, Greenfield is a short (10 minute) cab ride away. This town has a few good options for food, as well as a movie theater and some stores, but it's still a pretty small place.

It's easy to meet people at Deerfield with the range of clubs, sports, activities, dorms, classes and sit down tables. My closest friends were from dorms and sports teams. Peers are generally smart and interesting people, and there are lots of great conversations to be had.