Emily Brill '02

There is no question about it; Deerfield Academy is the place to be this fall. More than 1600 applications represent every state and over 35 countries from around the globe.

But everything has its downside, and Deerfield's soaring popularity is no exception. The current boarding facilities on this campus were designed to hold exactly 504 students. This fall, however, the boarding population exceeds that capacity by 21 students.

According to Dean of Admissions Patricia Gimbel, the problem is not that she and her staff were too generous with acceptance letters, but rather a higher percentage of accepted students than usual chose to enroll. In other words, Deerfield is not only getting more applicants, but it is also having more success in securing the enrollment of accepted students-a success rate that Mrs. Gimbel said was unprecedented and, therefore, impossible to have predicted.

Over-enrollment, as Assistant Headmaster Pamela Bonanno pointed out, has particularly affected Mather I and II; Pocumtuck I and II; McAlister I and II; and Field I. Rather than building additional common rooms in these dorms, the school has been forced to add additional beds. "We have reached our full capacity," said Mrs. Bonanno.

Although to some, slight over enrollment may seem trivial, a great deal may be at stake for the future. Dean of Faculty Richard Bonanno agreed, "If this continues," he asserted, "I believe it definitely has the potential to affect the school in a serious way."

Over-enrollment has the potential to affect what makes Deerfield such a tightly knit and supportive community. Part of Deerfield's charm is its small environment in which it is easy for students to develop meaningful relationships with the faculty and each other.

The faculty is currently debating what the best method is to reduce the numbers, but remains unified in the belief that a change must take place. "I'd like to see it get it down to 504," said Mrs. Bonanno, referring to the boarding student population.

Mrs. Gimbel, shares this goal, but points out that "to bring the acceptance rate low enough to accomplish that goal in one year would make this process much too brutal." instead, Mrs. Gimbel proposes that the school reduce its number of boarders gradually over the next two or three years.

When asked for a response to Mrs. Gimbel's proposal, Mrs. Bonanno replied, "It's a good plan, but it's the same strategy as last year. The problem is that we're not moving in the right direction." While there are 610 students enrolled for this year as opposed to 614 from last year, six of whom were abroad.

Still, the Admissions Office stands proudly by its record. One need only take a few glances around to realize the extraordinary level of achievement, diversity, dedication, and talent that exists in the Deerfield student body.

Mrs. Gimbel is well aware of the problem, but it's clear that like everyone else in the administration, she believes in the importance of having a school that is still small enough to be able to sit down and have dinner together.