<p>Wow this thread is full of people I know, eh? </p>
<p>Sup Batch, Mykbibby, skim… :P</p>
<p>I can’t say anything about Exeter’s language programs, but I can say that Andover’s is top notch. I’m sure Exeter’s is as well. It sounds like Invent is an Exeter student who’s pretty… erm… supportive of his school or something.</p>
<p>As for humanities - generally, Exeter is more well known for math/science (as was stated above), and Andover is more well known for the English department/History/humanities. I can’t tell you how the actual teaching compares since I’ve never taken an Exeter class obviously, but that is the general consensus. Also, as a traditionally math/science person, I’ve absolutely loved the English and history classes I took at Andover - and it takes a lot for me to enjoy that. Best classes I’ve ever taken.</p>
<p>Music: From what I’ve heard, Andover definitely has a better music program. If it means anything to you, last year we had three out of the 10 or so total acceptances in the extremely selective Columbia/Julliard dual degree, as well as some in the Harvard/NEC (the ones that got into both chose Harvard/NEC). This year, I think one went to the Columbia/Julliard program. Music definitely takes time though. I quit after my sophomore year.</p>
<p>I have seen scores of Andover students, alumni, parents pumping up the school with a lot of promotional videos and other marketing materials. I don’t see Exeter doing much advertising. Is it because Exeter thinks they are clearly superior, people know it, and they come to them without the marketing hoopla? Slow waters run deep and dry leaves make a lot of noise, I suppose. :D</p>
<p>Invent, I RES tagged your username as [■■■■■ that posts meaningless comments with na</p>
<p>CBatch, as someone who knows both Andover and Exeter rather well, I see Invent’s last comment as pretty accurate. Andover really does have a slick, dynamo-like marketing machine, and - for whatever reason(s) - Exeter has chosen not to compete with that. Realistically, these two schools are both excellent, comprehensive, comparably strong in math/science, comparably strong in English/languages, comparably strong in arts/music, etc. In other words, substantively they are virtually identical, whereas stylistically they differ a bit. Any truly strong student of good character, no matter their individual strengths and interests, will not go wrong choosing either of these schools.</p>
<p>What CBatch said about that ■■■■■ now banned from this forum was also true. That said, I agree Andover is doing a better job in making their school known to a wider audience although Exeter’s standing is firm as a rock also. IMO, Andover has a stronger admissions team than Exeter does.</p>
<p>I’m confused. I thought Invent had already been revealed as a fraud at some point, though he purports to be a Deerfield student omniscient of all things BS. I agree that s/he spouts much volatile nonsense and seems creepy-bitter about Andover. How do we get him/her off this board?</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, Invent was sort of a self-appointed counter to the seemingly endless trash talking of a British student at Andover last year (now graduated, I believe). However, I agree that it’s now time for Invent to call a halt to it.</p>
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<p>TomTheCat? He talked facts, not trash.</p>
<p>The Andover and Exeter thread from earlier this month went into the whole foreign language question in detail. The consensus, after much back and forth, was that the two have more or less the same number of classes and the same number of languages at the same level. End of story. </p>
<p>I also wish we could put to rest the Exeter is a math/science school myth. While Exeter has amazing math and science, my humanities oriented kid is incredibly challenged by his history, English, and foreign language classes. The American history sequence of courses at Exeter is known to be one of the most challenging classes the students take. If you look at the curriculum, you’ll note that students are required to take more classes in the humanities than in math and science. It’s true that Exeter has very advanced levels of math and some science, but so does Andover.</p>
<p>[The</a> Exonian](<a href=“http://theexonian.com/2012/03/29/news/pea_welcomes_admitted_students]The”>http://theexonian.com/2012/03/29/news/pea_welcomes_admitted_students)
[235th</a> Admitted Class Visits Campus | The Phillipian Online](<a href=“http://phillipian.net/articles/2012/03/29/235th-admitted-class-visits-campus]235th”>235th Admitted Class Visits Campus – The Phillipian)</p>
<p>And the Andover piece contains some additional admissions data, e.g. only 12% of prospective boarders were admitted, and applications to 9th grade increased while applications to other grades dropped, etc.</p>
<p>Wow, the day students admit rate is 23%, almost twice that of boarders. I’m packing my stuff, I don’t care if it’s a cold, gloomy town or what not. :D</p>
<p>I figure the number of international students somewhat distorted the admit rate for boarding applicants. And getting admitted as a day student shouldn’t be much easier as the day student pool could be stronger than the overall pool (say, more than 75% are academically admissible?). </p>
<p>To be eligible as a day student, you don’t have to move to Andover, which is nice but expensive. Living in one of probably 10+ towns you would qualify too.</p>
<p>
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<p>Seconded. I was a complete humanities nerd at Exeter (English, history, classics, theatre - you name it) and loved it! While the English courses were more writing than literature-based (we had our termly dose of Shakespeare, etc., but our reading seemed secondary to our writing practice), the history courses were phenomenal (I’m still in touch with my upper year history teacher - five years on a paper I wrote for her class has morphed into my doctoral project). The Greek/Latin was difficult (probably the greatest academic challenge at Exeter, and a bit of a “cult” for those students who get really into it) but well worth it. Exeter’s very much a “humanities” school.</p>
<p>Went to revisit days at both exeter and Andover. Amazing schools, no doubt about it.</p>
<p>Just to have some fun, here are my tongue-in-cheek impressions of the revisits. Don’t get offended/angry. Quite a few were actual words from admission officers / faculties.</p>
<p>Top 10 Things Overheard at the Exeter Revisit Day:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Forget Andover, Deerfield or St. Pauls. They don’t have Harkness Table. Lawrenceville? Their Harkess Table is fake. They haven’t even figured out what wood to use yet.</p></li>
<li><p>Who cares about AP? We have Harkness Table. College Admissions? Do you really think that any self-respecting colleges would consider a non-Harkness student over a Harkness student? </p></li>
<li><p>Q - I saw only a few students were actively participating in today’s math class.
A - This is the first week of the Spring term. They are not in Harkness mode yet.</p></li>
<li><p>Q - I saw only a few students were actively participating in today’s math class.
A - Most students were intimated by all you parents sitting in the classroom.</p></li>
<li><p>Q - I saw only a few students were actively participating in today’s math class.
A - Don’t be fooled by uninitiated eyes. The rest of them were actually engaging in an intense discussion using telepathy.</p></li>
<li><p>Q - The Ornithology class I went seemed just like any other lecture-style classes.
A - Did you notice that the table is oval? Isn’t it fascinating that you can study birds Harkness style?</p></li>
<li><p>Why do we need a student support system? Harkness students know when and where to get help. If no help is available, they will form self-help groups themselves.</p></li>
<li><p>Harkness method is just one of the many teaching methods? Are you saying the Holy Bible is only one of the many books? Harkness table is meant to be worshipped. Heretics will be expelled to You-Know-Where in Massachusetts.</p></li>
<li><p>We can discuss and debate anything you want around the Harkness Table as long as it’s not about the Harkness Table. </p></li>
<li><p>Harkness Table = Solution to Anything and Everything; Exeter = Harkness Table; Any Questions?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Top 10 Things Overheard at the Andover Revisit Day:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>We never say Andover is the best school. The best school is where your kids will attend, and that’s Andover.</p></li>
<li><p>We only admit nice kids. Repeat after me: I AM nice, I AM nice,
</p></li>
<li><p>Your choice is between boarding and not boarding. Since you applied, you already made the decision.</p></li>
<li><p>Other schools? What other schools?</p></li>
<li><p>Did I say we only admit nice kids?</p></li>
<li><p>A school is not measured by how many presidents, senators, judges, Nobel-prize winners it educated. You are future presidents, senators, judges and Nobel-prize winners.</p></li>
<li><p>Did I say Presidents of the United States?</p></li>
<li><p>Campus safety? Your daughters and sons will be practically living in a bubble for the next 4 years. </p></li>
<li><p>If you don’t reply by noon Eastern Time on April 10th, your place will be immediately offered at 12:01pm to one of the thousands of students who are eagerly waiting. You and your kid will be regretting for the rest of your life. </p></li>
<li><p>You will either accept our admission or you are out of your mind. The decision is yours, and we completely respect your decision.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Tolkein, very funny! Yeah that’s about right. Exeter has the “cool”: I am who I am and obviously the best (who else has the great Harkness as I do???). If you don’t choose me, what can I say - it’s your loss. Andover has the “air”: Welcome to the best of the best! Yeah go ahead and feel good about yourself because you’ve been selected. What other choices? You must be kidding.</p>
<p>D"Andrew: That’s the most succinct and accurate summary of the differences we endlessly debate that I’ve ever read. :)</p>
<p>I loved the 10 things overheard at exeter/andover revisit days! They said almost exactly those things at the Andover revisit day!</p>
<p>my opinion on the drug problems at andover is that the same thing happens at many other boarding schools. and its not like all 1100 kids were in on it, it was a dozen or so. drugs are a problem in high schools all over america, and it isn’t the schools fault. teenagers will be teenagers. I don’t know why this person keeps bringing that up, trying to tell people that andover is a terrible school because two unfortunate things happened, then were reported in the school paper? its just really irritating.</p>
<p>^^the post @andover2016 is referencing was removed by the moderators.</p>
<p>Yes, there is someone who very persistently tries to paint Andover as a “bad school” because of how the school dealt with students who chose to break school rules regarding drugs: students suffered serious consequences for their actions, including expulsion. To me, that shows that Andover has a procedure in place to deal with issues (and there will always be incidences of students breaking the rules) in an open and forthright manner, instead of sweeping things under the rug.</p>
<p>My theory: this “serial poster” is one of the students that was expelled, and is “stuck in the past,” unable to move on with their life, and is still trying to blame the school instead of taking responsibility for their own actions and choosing to do something productive with their time. (just a “gut feeling" . . . absolutely no facts to back that up!)</p>