<p>For a very outgoing student with interest in the arts and instrumental music, which school would you recommend, and why? Please know that I am not seeking rank and competition, but pros and cons about the boarding experience at two schools which are extraordinary.</p>
<p>I have read the individual threads for Andover and all of SPS' 2450(!) Forum posts, and commend you all for all the great information and work you have put in to share your knowledge.</p>
<p>Still, at times it seems a student should have more than one life so he could spend years at each of these superb schools.</p>
<p>Please chime in about "feel", comparing and contrasting Andover and SPS, each of which is an amazing school, and specifically why you would choose one over the other.</p>
<p>Yep. Both are academically tough. SPS is 100% boarding, no study hall. That has advantages and disadvantages. With freedom, comes responsibility.</p>
<p>The most disctinctive differences - of course you already know - one is large and the other is small; one is “open campus” in the suburbs and the other secluded. I think both have strong arts programs. It may be easier for an advanced musician to join an orchastra in Boston if she goes to Andover - I remember an Andover parent once pointed out. I don’t know. I think “a very outgoing student with interest in the arts and instrumental music” would fit in either, but sounds to me more like an Andover candidate? Again, you couldn’t go wrong if you had to make a choice between these two.</p>
<p>But we all do have to make choices, before and (possibly even) after March 10. Andover and SPS both seem so superb, it is not the question of which is “better”, but in what ways they would be really different, and why you would select one over the other.</p>
<p>They both have superb academics, facilities, a diverse student body, and laudable missions. I do not find SPS small, and Andover is really nestled around Harold Parker State Forest, which makes it rather secluded and quaint. I do find them surprisingly similar once the appearances are peeled away, which is why I ask for help with differentiating better than blue to red or gorilla to pelican. They both have amazing leadership, solid foundations and an extensive support network, talented students and a thriving community, so in what ways are they *really *different? Perhaps expectations on students by the school? The attitude towards students? Their approach to priorities in education? Their emphasis on what makes a student successful in life, happy in their relationships, loyal to their community? Perhaps quite different students gravitate to each? I really am uncertain how to differentiate between two such great schools.</p>
<p>By the way, this holds not only for Andover and SPS, but many pairings which I have seen as I browsed the Forum. Most people seem to choose not between 10 equally-liked schools, but 2 maybe 3 in the end. Hence the pairings.</p>
<p>The easiest answer is to wait and see who accepts you before you even start asking these questions. When it comes to schools like Andover, Exeter, and SPS, many, many kids find that the decision is made for them because they are accepted by one and waitlisted or rejected by the others. </p>
<p>I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your questions, and it’s a great idea to use this time to think about who you are and what you really hope for in a high school–not just these pairings, but out of any school. If you are lucky enough to have a choice, you’ll have opportunities to revisit, email current students, chat on Facebook, hear from faculty, etc. </p>
<p>But I’d say, wait a little while…why get yourself all convinced that, say, SPS is the school for you, only to find out that Exeter is the school that wants you?</p>
<p>If you mean religious because of chapel…I think I’d take a closer look at both schools. Not sure about Andover, but Exeter, which is also a secular school, requires that students take religion classes and has mandatory assembly twice a week that I think closely resembles chapel at Episcopal schools like SPS and Groton, at least the way chapel was described to us. It’s not like the old days described to me by older Episcopal bs alums, where they began every school day on their knees reciting morning prayer!</p>
<p>I’d like to know what people with a closer affiliation to SPS or Groton think.</p>
<p>As an Episcopalian, though, I’d say that core values of the Epsicopal church–such as respect for reason and emphasis on the “via media” (that is, welcoming and respecting divergent voices and beliefs in one church)–are also core values at all of these boarding schools. </p>
<p>I’d be surprised to hear that the Episcopal schools require student participation in anything specifically Episcopalian/Christian, though I did see the Book of Common Prayer in every row of the Groton chapel (for Sunday services?), and a student there once mentioned something about saying or singing grace before sit-down meals. There are no formal meals at Exeter, but they do have optional weekly chapel on Thursday nights (though it’s often more a romantic than spiritual experience…) and various optional religious services in their chapel on the week-end. </p>
<p>This topic interests me because-- I admit–I was a bit disappointed that my kid didn’t go to an Episcopal school, so I’ve been pleasantly surprised by all of the similarities. Of course, the OP was asking about Andover, not Exeter, and perhaps I’m assuming A and E are more alike than they really are.</p>
<p>@classical: "I’d say that core values of the Epsicopal church–such as respect for reason and emphasis on the “via media” (that is, welcoming and respecting divergent voices and beliefs in one church)–are also core values at all of these boarding schools. </p>
<p>I’d be surprised to hear that the Episcopal schools require student participation in anything specifically Episcopalian/Christian." </p>
<p>I think you’re essentially saying that Episcopalian = secular?</p>
<p>Groton does have a more significant requirement for religious practice than other “Episcopalian” schools from what I understand.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what SPS chapel is like in action (other than it’s gorgeous), but Assemblies at Exeter tend to be more like town meetings. they seem similar to the required assemblies at all the other schools we visited. No religious component involved. There is a church on the grounds but those meetings are voluntary.</p>
<p>Well, I’d say the Episcopal church functions pretty comfortably in the secular world, and that these schools–that are “affiliated” with the church, not sponsored by it–tend to embrace the more secular values of the church and keep the specifically Christian stuff optional. Yes, the Episcopal church has more traditionally Christian beliefs too-I wasn’t going there because I don’t think those specifically Christian practices (Morning Prayer, Eucharist, or specifically Christian prayers like the Creed) are part of Chapel. </p>
<p>Here’s a description of SPS chapel from their website:
“Four mornings a week, students and faculty hear inspirational musical performances, reflect on the thoughts and ideas of the world’s sacred traditions, and appreciate the challenging, uplifting, and provocative talks presented by students, faculty, and visiting speakers.” </p>
<p>So like Exeter’s Assembly, Chapel tends to focus on a talk by a guest speaker, faculty member, or students. Exeter’s speakers come from all walks of life, but many of the talks seem to focus on social justice and political change (including, this fall, P.J. O’Rourke and the Rev. Jim Wallis). The talks archived on line at SPS seem more meditative, and may be closer to Exeter’s optional weekly meditation, and the music/spiritual traditions more like evening chapel, where different students play each week and the Rev. reads from various sacred and inspirational texts. At any rate, all of the schools values are clearly centered on respecting and hearing from multiple faith traditions and with acting ethically in the world. </p>
<p>As an aside–In what way do you see town meeting, Exie? I grew up in a town run by town meeting, so I tend to think of them as democratic assemblies gathered to discuss and vote.</p>
<p>That was one of the things my husband and I liked best about SPS (not so sure about our son!)–the idea of the whole starting each day together in such a peaceful, meditative way. No idea how early Dive–I saw a schedule at some point, but maybe not on the website as I can’t find it now. If you really hate the idea of all-school assemblies/chapel, it looks like Andover only has one a week. Exeter, by the way has three, not two as I said earlier, mid-morning, with a period on a fourth day reserved for meditation, which is optional. </p>
<p>Interestingly, SPS and Andover require one religion class and Exeter and Groton require 2.</p>
<p>Interesting. I think this is one area where parents and kids may disagree. I don’t think many kids would like those many mandatory meetings every week. And I don’t blame them after knowing how swamped they can be by all kinds of commitments.</p>
<p>Re SPS-religion-chapel: Classicalmama, you have it about right. DAndrew: lots of stuff in life is mandatory… like classes? The Morning Chapel is just a place to start the day. From there everyone disburses to their classes for the day. No big deal. A lot of the program is done by students. Here is the program from last Friday’s Chapel: [St</a>. Paul’s School ~ Friday, February 11, 2011](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=587162]St”>http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=587162) </p>
<p>It can be nice to walk 5 minutes to class or 5 minutes to see a teacher or 5 minutes to endless friends, activities, sports, plays, movies, or meals. A pretty nice life!</p>