I meant unhooked, yes.
This is tough because the schools actually have a lot in common. Revisits would be very helpful if possible.
Deerfield has a very athletic reputation. Yet, many of those athletes are also serious artists or debaters or STEM geeks. The other side of that same coin is that there are very erudite kids at Hotchkiss who also play high level sport. You will find all kinds of kids at both schools.
What is important to you? My child was attracted to the single rooms in years 10/11/12 at DA, because they thought a super social school would be wonderful if they also had an escape hatch to rest and study when desired. I think that’s a helpful detail to understanding the student experience.
The school also offers a very niche set of classes in an area of their interest. Have you perused the courses that are offered at each school? You create your own culture when you share a common interest with others.
DA has seriously minimized the presence of cell phones on campus M-F. They pretty much stay in the room. The school is becoming 100% boarding. Add the seated meals and you have a very well integrated group of kids. They all know each other. The dominant culture is enthusiasm for the whole place.
If you cannot revisit, perhaps request that Admissions at each school set up a 1:1 zoom for you and a current student. I think you will get the best answers from the kids themselves.
Recently, in the DA student paper, Dr. Bruder was congratulated on her appointment as the next head of Hotchkiss and was asked what is the difference between the two schools. Her reply? “One is school with a lake. The other is a school with a river.” So I think it is safe to assume both schools value diplomatic leadership and a dry sense of humor.
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Congratulations on two excellent choices. IMHO, there are far more similarities than differences between these two schools.
Size: Both schools offer a medium-sized student body (DA at 650; Hotchkiss at 620) that is almost 100% boarding.
Diversity: Both are excellent in terms of racial and economic diversity, with roughly 40% of students identifying as POC and a similar ratio receiving FA. Hotchkiss may have a higher percentage of international students, but just by a tad.
Vibe/culture: I agree with previous posters that DA has traditionally placed more focus on sports, while Hotchkiss is renowned for its debate and music programs. The choice is purely personal.
Physical settings: Both are bucolic, located in a small town (Deerfield, MA and Lakeville/Salisbury, CA) with few things to write home about. DA kids take weekly shuttles to Greenfield for shopping and meals, while Hotchkiss kids go to Millerton, NY (just over the state border). Most of Hotchkiss classrooms/halls are connected to the Main Building, which maybe be a small plus in snowy weather. Overall, the settings are really very, very similar.
The really noticeable differences are:
Campus life: DA is much older (by almost a century) and therefore comes with more traditions. For example, the dress code is strict, and the school arranges 7 sit-down meals per week, which is a great way to get to know members of the community. Some students find it a burden at first, but most of them end up being grateful for the opportunity to connect with others. In contrast, Hotchkiss kids rarely have to dress up, and the vibe is quite relaxed in the Dining Commons and around campus. Verdict: Small edge to DA for the social aspect, although kids may think differently.
Academics: DA appears to offer more interesting, innovative courses, while Hotchkiss seems to have a more structured curriculum. Additionally, DA offers AP courses by while Hotchkiss has their proprietary material that prepare students for AP exams administered nearby. Another slight edge to DA for families that care.
Lastly, DA does not have classes on Saturdays, while Hotchkiss does. Therefore, some DA kids leave campus on Friday evenings unless they have sports events the next day.
Bottom line: I would definitely suggest that plan for revisits to see where your student feels more at home. Good luck!
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Deerfield Academy’s campus is similar to that of a small college whereas Hotchkiss’ one building for classes is more akin to a traditional high school setting.
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This was one reason we loved it. Getting outside frequently for fresh air and walking from one building to the next and seeing friends, is fun. Because there are only three class periods each day, these transitions are not rushed. It does feel like a small college.
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Many private schools have now done away with actually calling advanced classes AP because it restricted what the teachers had to cover (teach to the test) and calling them advanced studies or something instead where the students can also take the AP gives them more freedom. Both of my kids’ schools did not offer the AP, rather their own advanced courses, and it has not been a disadvantage at all. I think many prep schools are headed in this direction.
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While OP has not returned to this thread since the original post, I thought I would add that Hotchkiss seniors appear to have achieved considerable success this cycle with prestige college acceptances, with more than usual to HYP, etc.
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Thanks! So this year was unsual, in what way? Some specific schools or overall?
Already did one revisit - one to go! Will come down to the wire - i hope we are not deciding on the 9th night!
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Not @ameridad responding, but every school’s classes differ from year to year in their strengths and overall strength. Ours (not one of these 2 and one that is less selective than these 2), for example, had a year when 4 were admitted to MIT in the ED round. That is unusual anywhere.
A class may also have more big donor legacies who are also strong students, a bunch of powerhouse athletic recruits, etc.
This can also go the other way. At any of these schools, there are plenty of wow kids, but perhaps few have that extra bump to get them into the uber-selective school.
This is one of the reasons that schools show matriculations for several years.
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From the May 30 edition of The Hotchkiss Record (school newspaper), one can see there were three matriculants apiece to Harvard and Yale and two to Princeton from the class of 2025. From the Hotchkiss 2026 college decisions on Instagram, one can see there are already six future matriculants to Harvard, five to Yale and four to Princeton, not including other students who were accepted to one or more of this trio but have yet to decide. And I have been told there are numerous kids in this latter category. (I was told something like 9 or 10 acceptances in total to Yale, for example.) More class of 26 heading to Brown and Dartmouth next year as well, I believe. It looks like more outstanding students without legacy/athletics (and big other hooks) were admitted this cycle from Hotchkiss.
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Hi @BoardingSchool11, I was just wondering if you had any feedback to share after your revisits. How did the campus visits/conversations affect your decision? A close friend is in similar shoes and would love to learn your perspective. Feel free to PM me by hitting my profile and then the “envelope.” Thanks and good luck with your final decision.