Deerfield Academy » From the Caswell

More Than Your Scores

pgimbel — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:31:41 +0000

With Deerfield’s application deadline fast approaching, we are receiving many questions from both prospective students and parents about the importance of the SSAT or other standardized test scores and how test scores impact a student’s chance of admission. I have been assuring students and parents that Deerfield’s admission process considers every student as a unique individual with the potential to contribute more to our community than any test score could report. We consider a student’s character, academic accomplishments, teacher recommendations, extra-curricular participation, personal essays and the interview to help us better understand each student’s personality and strengths. At Deerfield, we do not have a minimum score cut-off and understand that a student’s test scores are but one part of the application – and not the most important part! We look forward to receiving your application and getting to know you.

For those students who are just beginning the application process, Deerfield does offer an extended application deadline of February 8^th.

I look forward to reading your application!

Joy, Hope and Peace from Deerfield

pgimbel — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:24:02 +0000

At a time when we are holding our loved ones particularly close, I feel particularly fortunate to be a member of the Deerfield community. In the wake of unspeakable national tragedy and with the holidays approaching, I’m moved to see that our students are only more inspired to reach out to our greater community through their service and their concern.

During the holiday season we take time to assist those who are suffering, but we also take time to appreciate each other. Students show their spirit in the many Deerfield holiday celebrations: Handel’s Messiah is performed by the chorus, the Nutcracker Suite is performed by our dancers, our Holiday Revels and Carols are performed by all. Even Santa pays an early visit the littlest ones in our community.

I believe that consistently showing acts of sharing and kindness to your loved ones, neighbors and strangers makes the world a better place. I wish for you holiday season that is full of the same love, trust and community spirit that we experience daily at Deerfield. Wishing all of you a happy and peaceful holiday season.

Dive In

Savage, Caroline — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:15:42 +0000

Deerfield is back in full swing after a restful, week-long Thanksgiving break. Our winter term has just begun, and the buzz around campus is of team try-outs, auditions for Little Shop of Horrors, and winter term course offerings.

As our students dive back into their academics and co-curriculars, it too is the perfect time to dive into your Deerfield application. Most of you have already started the process by requesting information about Deerfield. Many of you have visited us this fall for an interview and tour. However, if you haven’t yet completed these steps, don’t worry. You still have plenty of time to get started. Prospective families have until February 1st to visit campus or contact a Regional Representative for an interview.

Regardless of where you are in our 5 step process, now is a good time to concentrate on the written portion of our application. If you haven’t already asked your teachers for their recommendations, you should do so now. In addition to the common portions of the Gateway application, Deerfield requires two personal essays designed to give you a chance to tell us more about yourself. Both our recommendation forms and our application essays can be found online, or you can download the application materials. My best advice regarding your essays is to be true to yourself and your own perspective, so that we can get to know and understand you better. So if you see our application as a challenge, we hope you also see it as an opportunity. If questions or problems arise, we are here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us.

Spirit Week

pgimbel — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:50:51 +0000

At Deerfield, spirit and tradition run deep. Tomorrow our teams compete in the final games of the fall athletic season, which is preceded by spirit week when our students take part in new as well as longstanding traditions. Last night, cheerleaders did their annual spirit run where they led each dormitory in battle cries that could be heard throughout the village. Today everyone shows their support by donning their green and white, and tonight — the bonfire rally on the south fields.

While visiting schools, it’s important to ask yourself, “Can I see myself here? What are the ways in which I could contribute to this community? Are the academic, athletic, arts and other co-curricular opportunities what I’m looking for?” Most importantly, “Does this place feel like it could be my home away from home?” Consider your answers to these questions, and you’re off to a great start in the application process.This year, seeing prospective families touring amidst the display of Deerfield spirit and pride, I am reminded of how important it is for you, the prospective student, to find the right school community for you. I’ve had many prospective families ask me what are the most important criteria when considering boarding schools. If you are considering Deerfield, I have no doubt that academic excellence is of the utmost importance to you. But when considering a school, place, community, opportunity and culture are equally important.

Learning About You

pgimbel — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:44:13 +0000

Applying to boarding school is an exciting time full of possibility but the process of making an application to a school can also be intimidating. You have undoubtedly noticed the variety of forms to be completed and the number of questions to be answered. But remember one thing: behind the forms and questions is a single purpose–our getting to know you as a distinct individual. Deerfield is a place where individual talents and interests matter. Our admission process reflects this value. We seek to evaluate each candidate as a unique person. Our application has been designed to be clear and straightforward. We hope that you will be equally direct with us in your responses. If you keep in mind the fundamental question “What are the important things Deerfield should know about me?”, you will present yourself well. So if you see our application as a challenge, we hope you also see it as an opportunity. If questions or problems arise, we are here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to learning about you!

For Applicants

pgimbel — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:36:45 +0000

Over the course of this admission season, I hope you’ll find my blog helpful as you think about choosing a boarding school that is the right fit for you, and, most importantly, in applying to Deerfield. In fact, we’ve enhanced the For Applicants section of our site with new and helpful features for prospective students and families. I encourage you to further explore our site to find out more about why Deerfield is such a special community. We give you the opportunity to ask a student what it’s really like to attend Deerfield and the opportunity to better understand the Deerfield Experience as student new to the Academy.

New Student Introductions

pgimbel — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:35:32 +0000

Tonight Deerfield welcomed our 208 new students when they participated in “New Student Introductions”, our treasured tradition in the Memorial Building Lobby. This tradition is my personal favorite! All our new students gather in the “Mem Lobby” encircled by every member of the Deerfield faculty who take their places around the perimeter of the room. We are a community deeply rooted in our history and in no event is this more apparent than New Student Introductions. Our tradition begins with our new students being serenaded by our two a cappella groups, the Mellow-D’s and Rhapso-D’s. Joe Lyons, the Chair of our History Department, then shares historic accounts of our village and the important part it has played in American history. Our Head of School, Dr. Margarita Curtis, continues on with historic accounts of Deerfield Academy. As the faculty introduce themselves, our new students get a glimpse of whom they will meet tomorrow in their first day of classes. Finally, I call the names of our new students, who rise to their feet and introduce themselves to the faculty and to each other and in doing so become active members of the Deerfield community. Our treasured tradition gives our new students their first insight into Deerfield’s motto “Be Worthy of Your Heritage” – being rooted in one’s own heritage while searching out new opportunities in order to leave their own legacy for our Deerfield community.

Summer Tours

pgimbel — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:20:32 +0000

I’ve just returned to my desk after overhearing our summer tour guide, Jared, engaged in conversation with a prospective family – in Chinese. Jared, who just completed his freshman year and participated in Deerfield’s summer trip to China, has been eager to try out his linguistic skills and has done so with much success. Bravo, Jared!

Jared also exemplifies our tour guides who go the “extra mile” when guiding prospective students and their families through our beautiful campus. Donna Kimball, our visit coordinator “extraordinaire” received the following note from a family who visited last month:

Many thanks for your help in facilitating our enjoyable campus visit last Friday. It was most pleasant to realize the spirit of helpfulness and generosity is still the essence of Deerfield. This was evidenced, not only by your help, but also by our personable guide Jared’s attentiveness to our wishes. He did much more than just merely walk us around in the predetermined route. During our tour Jared pointed out examples on campus which exemplified the Deerfield spirit such as the various scoreboards with the substitution of “Guests” in place of the usual “Visitors”. Our sincere thanks for a most helpful and revealing visit.

But Jared is only one of our excellent guides. I’m impressed with all of our Deerfield tour guides: their warmth, their genuine interest and pride in sharing with prospective families our campus and our community. This summer, we’ve met families a record number of families, many of whom have come from abroad: China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Egypt, Nigeria, Ukraine – the list goes on. The American families we have met this summer show great geographic diversity as well, from New Hampshire to California, from Illinois to Texas. Next week, new and returning students will arrive on campus, and I’m looking forward to hearing about their summer adventures in every corner of the U.S. and the world.

Commencement

pgimbel — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:09:45 +0000

Commencement is always an exciting day on campus. This morning’s ceremony on this beautiful New England morning was lovely. I’m continually struck by the confidence and optimism of each graduating Deerfield class – no doubt the result four years of trials and successes. And the class of 2012 has been a successful one indeed! The top 4 colleges for enrollment for Deerfield’s graduating seniors are Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, and Harvard. Equally exciting is this class’ sense of individualism indicated by the 79 schools that our class of 187 students have chosen.

There accomplishments are varied and great. But, as I look back on the class of 2012, it’s this class’ particular contributions to the legacy of Deerfield Academy that are top of mind. Nina Shevzov-Zebrun, our Robert Crow award winner, which goes to the outstanding scholar of the senior class, represents all that we hope for in a young Deerfield scholar: intelligence, insight, industry and insatiable curiosity. Brad Hakes, our Deerfield Cup winner, embodies the Deerfield spirit through his quiet leadership, exemplary scholarship, and generous sportsmanship. Both students inspire us to be our best selves.

In fact, many seniors have offered leadership in ways that will have a lasting effect on the Deerfield community. Perhaps most notable are Theo Lipsky and Charles Jones who led the effort to pen a new values statement that encompasses the responsible citizenship that we hope to foster in our students. This student-authored declaration, “I will act with respect, honesty, and concern for others and will seek to inspire the same values in our community and beyond,” has been adopted by our administration and will live on at Deerfield long after today.

What continually amazes me, year after year, is that this senior class, though highly accomplished, is not exceptional in their dedication to creating a Deerfield community that is vital, inclusive and distinctive. Every class represents a new and exciting chapter in the Deerfield legacy.

April 10: Candidate Reply Date

pgimbel — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:06:13 +0000

On April 10th, our Candidate Reply Date, we felt a mixture of pride and excitement as we watched our admission efforts rewarded with remarkably talented new students enthusiastically committing to a Deerfield education. In the past year, our Admission Office Team met with over 2,500 students and families from across the U.S. and around the world. We are excited by the diversity that our new students will add to our Deerfield community; they represent 29 states and 22 countries and our Deerfield community will be enriched by more students of color and international students than in previous years.