<p>WorriedOne- I have never toured PEA, so I can’t compare the two too well. However, I am a 4 year senior at PA. My favorite part about the school is the variety of courses. I’m interested in filmmaking, and Andover offers three film courses (which you can take as many times as you like) and currently even offers an animation course. I also love the diversity of the student body (though I’m sure that’s the same at Exeter). Which I’m not sure is the same at Exeter (please no one get mad at me if I’m incorrect) is that Andover has the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and the Addison Gallery. Both are really exceptional facilities, and classes use them from time to time.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any tips for Revisit Days? What questions should I ask?</p>
<p>WorriedOne1000,</p>
<p>Here’s a response to your most recent questions. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>The Andover Revisit Day was a game changer for me. The quality of the classes, the friendliness of the students, and the beauty of the campus all sold me on Andover. But if I had to choose one thing that might mean the most to a student comparing Andover and Exeter, it would be the amazing dining hall at Paresky Commons where I ate a great lunch with fun people. To get a sense of how nice Paresky is, check out these images: [Paresky</a> Commons Opens its Doors](<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/mediagallery/pareskycommonsrenovation/4-23-09_update/pages/default.aspx]Paresky”>http://www.andover.edu/mediagallery/pareskycommonsrenovation/4-23-09_update/pages/default.aspx). You can also learn more about the great food Paresky serves by clicking on [Welcome</a> to CampusDish at Phillips Academy!](<a href=“http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSNE/PhillipsAcademy/LocationsMenus/Paresky1stFloor.htm]Welcome”>http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSNE/PhillipsAcademy/LocationsMenus/Paresky1stFloor.htm)</p></li>
<li><p>What I like most about Andover is the opportunity it provides students to follow their passions no matter what they are. There is an amazing variety of varsity and junior varsity teams to play on, clubs and community service organization to participate in, creative opportunities to pursue, student publications to write for, world class facilities such as the Science Building to enjoy, five residential clusters to live in, and hundreds of classes to take. The best thing is getting to do all this at Andover. The worst thing is not having the time to do everything you want. </p></li>
<li><p>My best advice for the Andover revisit is to relax and have fun. Dress casually because there thankfully isn’t a dress code at Andover. Attend the classes. Eat at Paresky Commons. Sit in the peaceful Cochran Chapel. Check out a fancy reading room in the library. Visit a dorm. Try to squeeze in a visit to the Addison Gallery. Soak in the campus ambience. In short, walk in the shoes of an Andover student for a day. Ask yourself: do those shoes feel comfortable? If they do, you will know that Andover is a good fit for you. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Have a great time!</p>
<p>"…there thankfully isn’t a dress code at Andover."</p>
<p>I have to say that my D loves the dress code at Exeter. She says it just creates a different vibe in class when everyone looks nice. Of course when they are not in class, they can wear whatever they want. The girls dress code is not that strict. They just come to class looking “classy.” </p>
<p>@Blueisbest, Can you wear a T-shirt and sweats to class if you wanted?</p>
<p>everyone looks nice? Wait till you see how the boys can creatively wreck the look of shirt and tie… ;)</p>
<p>D’s Response to that: “O.K., about 90% of the time they look nice…and the girls inform them the other 10% of the time when they don’t.”</p>
<p>Ranabona: at PA, you can wear practically anythig as long as it’s “appropriate”. So yes you can wear sweats amd a t shirt</p>
<p>Andover waitlisted me. Sadly. Exeter accepted me. Yay! I am an international so i was so excited. I guess i am going to Exeter or Choate? I know this isnt the place but is Exeter better than Choate?</p>
<p>Big red all the way. Andover denied me, but thankfully, Exeter took me.</p>
<p>Ranabona,</p>
<p>I hope you understand that I was expressing an opinion, not criticizing Exeter, when I used the word “thankfully” in connection with my observation that Andover does not have a dress code. I prefer the freedom Andover gives its students. And I like the fact that this freedom creates a fit at Andover that is as relaxed and casual as a t-shirt and sweat pants. For me, what students know is more important than what they wear to class. But I respect the fact that people have different opinions on this subject.</p>
<p>WorriedOne1000,</p>
<p>Other quality of life issues you might want to consider are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How do you feel about Saturday classes? Would you prefer to have more as a student at Exeter or less as a student at Andover? <a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/documents/2011-2012_DOS_calendar.pdf[/url]”>http://www.exeter.edu/documents/2011-2012_DOS_calendar.pdf</a>;
<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/Academics/Documents/11-12_FINAL_Calendar.pdf[/url]”>http://www.andover.edu/Academics/Documents/11-12_FINAL_Calendar.pdf</a>.</p></li>
<li><p>Whats your opinion about Internet access? According to its website, Exeter terminates Internet access at 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday night and 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. [Phillips</a> Exeter Academy | Technology for Students](<a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/_its_/8516_8682.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.exeter.edu/_its_/8516_8682.aspx). Are you okay with that? Or would you rather have the freedom of unrestricted Internet access the students at Andover enjoy? </p></li>
<li><p>As Exeter and Andover are large schools, would you be happier in a single dorm where you could remain your entire stay at Exeter? Or would you prefer to live in one of the five residential clusters at Andover that bring the advantages of a small school to an institution that already has the advantages of size? [Phillips</a> Academy - Clusters](<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/StudentLife/ResidentialDayStudentLife/Pages/Clusters.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.andover.edu/StudentLife/ResidentialDayStudentLife/Pages/Clusters.aspx) </p></li>
<li><p>Would you rather eat in Paresky Commons at Andover or in one of the two dining halls at Exeter?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I ask these questions because I think they will help you reach your own conclusions about the overall happiness of the students at A and E.</p>
<p>Britanorex,</p>
<p>Congrats! Sounds like you have two great choices.</p>
<p>I just wantd to say bluebiet ^ andover’s internet closes at night as well. I went to the camp, and this may not be the same for the school, but I’m pretty sure the internet closes down sometimes between 10:30-12:00 a.m.</p>
<p>Also, Exeter has been working on lowering Saturday classes and pushing classes to start later. A sleep expert visited; and they’ve been trying to give students more sleep. </p>
<p>My brother currently attends groton; where they change dorms often, if not every year. He says he wishes he could stay in one dorm; changing dorms is such a pain. So to some, staying in one dorm is an advantage; although staying in multiple has it’s advantages.</p>
<p>Exeter’s Internet policy has been taken under advisement.</p>
<p>@Blueisbest</p>
<p>All in all, I am appreciating your respectful, well thought out comparisons of the two schools. I was just making your point with the dress code that different people have different preferences.</p>
<p>After all, I have to find SOMETHING in which to give you a hard time (can’t make one of those winking smiles or it would go right here).</p>
<p>Two points:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Ninth graders (juniors) at Andover do have a lights out policy at 11 am. Thus, the Andover Blue Book states, “To ensure that students get an adequate amount of sleep and develop healthy sleep habits, juniors are required to be in their own rooms with the lights out by 11 p.m. on nights before classes.” There is no lights out policy after ninth grade for Andover students. Nor is there any time when these students do not have access to the Internet. While Andover encourages students to be sensible about Internet use, it allows students the freedom to act responsibly. </p></li>
<li><p>On the one hand, Exeter encourages students to create a common bond with the people in their dorm. On the other hand, Andover fosters close relationships between the people in each dorm as well as the 200 or so other people who live in their cluster. Andover students can also spend multiple years in the same dorm. According to the Andover Blue Book, “Juniors [ninth graders] must move to another dorm for 10th grade; older students have the option of moving or remaining in their current rooms and/or current dormitory."</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ranabona,</p>
<p>Thanks! I totally agree. The Andover-Exeter rivalry is supposed to be fun. I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t unintentionally offend you. I’m glad I didn’t!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help!</p>
<p>Question: If students at Andover or Exeter can’t finish their homework before lights-out, will they be able to stay up later? How strict are the schools about lights-out?</p>
<p>I gather that it depends on the dorm, but in my son’s dorm, they’re not very strict. I think as long as you’re doing homework and not making noise, staying up isn’t much of an issue. Students are generally given lots of independence, provided they don’t infringe on one another’s space/need for quiet.</p>
<p>WorriedOne1000,</p>
<p>The key things are time management and common sense. If you practice time management, you probably won’t have to worry too terribly much about lights out at 11 p.m. in ninth grade. Plus, you’ll hone good study habits that you will need even more as an upperclassman. If you do get into a jam in ninth grade, you can always ask for an occasional exception to the lights out rule for academic reasons. Classicalmama makes some good points. Just use your common sense, and you will be fine.</p>
<p>Have fun at your Revisit Days!</p>
<p>WorriedOne1000,</p>
<p>Here’s is some information from the Andover website that I thought you might find interesting:</p>
<p>“Ninth grade boarders live in junior dormitories with house counselors who have experience working with our youngest students. Junior dorms provide comfort and a chance for our youngest students to get to know others who are also new to campus. It is our belief that juniors benefit from more structure, so we ask the ninth graders to observe a few additional rules including a mandatory lights out on the nights before classes. All junior dorms are run by faculty members who live in the dorms and are called house counselors. Upper class prefects are also selected to live in the junior dorms to help the ninth graders transition and to serve as big brothers/big sisters to the ninth grade students. The prefects also assist the house counselors by helping with enforcement of study hours, check-in each night and lights out. Junior dormitories have frequent gatherings, to celebrate birthdays, campus events and other holidays, and also to meet as a dorm.” [Phillips</a> Academy -](<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/Admission/NewStudentExperience/Pages/9th.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.andover.edu/Admission/NewStudentExperience/Pages/9th.aspx)</p>
<p>FYI: Prefects have the authority to grant exceptions to the lights out rule.</p>