<p>^This is true.</p>
<p>Let it be known though that this past Winter, the school started to consider proving transportation to and from Boston during the weekends. Numerous surveys were given to students and faculty, and plans for this are awaiting consideration. Since an overwhelming majority of people said they would support and use travel to Boston, it is expected that next year this transportation will be available.</p>
<p>This raises another question: What are weekends like at the schools?</p>
<p>For Exeter, there is usually a dance once or twice a term. There are busses to Stop and Shop, Walmart (although I’m not sure if this is going to be continued) and the nearby mall for movies and shopping. There is also usually a movie being screened on campus on Saturday evenings. In addition, there are sports games/practices on Saturday afternoons, and club meetings during the weekend. Clubs also host events, we’ve had several musicians come in, and our own students perform in plays/musicals/concerts once in a while. The school sends out an email to students just before the weekend every week to announce all events/activities. Check-in for all boarders is at 10 on Fridays (with no Sat. classes), 11 on Saturdays, and 8 on Sundays – unless the student is on restrictions, of course.</p>
<p>They are amazingly similar schools. It comes down 100% to the personality and feel of the school. You can’t go wrong with either of them</p>
<p>Great info…thanks so much. I love the respect and admiration that the parents and students of one school give to the other. One of Americas greatest and oldest rivalries ,but filled with the best intentions. I am surprised no one has mentioned the Harkness table approach of Exeter. We wonder how that can relate effectively to math and science which is thought to require a more didactic approach. Can everyone please give some opinions on this subject?</p>
<p>Maths at Exeter very much incorporates the Harkness method. Not sure if you’ve heard much about the program, but in essence: students prepare usually 7-8 problems a night, then during the next class, the students present a problem of their choice to the class. </p>
<p>With the way the Exeter math textbooks are set up, there really is no way for classes to be traditional. There are no units, no sections or chapters, just word problems. Students basically discover concepts on their own. Then, a few problems will reinforce the concept, and a few pages later, students are expected to apply the concept to a problem that requires further thinking. Sometimes, multiple concepts can be used to solve the same problem different ways. Some are faster, some are easier to make mistakes, and its important for students to share their methods. </p>
<p>Now, I’m not going to lie, the math class I was in during Prep fall wasn’t very Harkness-y. I was in 13T, so all of us had solid algebra skills, and had minimal trouble with our problem sets. After a student presented their problem, there were occasions where someone would point out a mistake or a quicker way to solve it, but for the most part, we’d just nod in agreement. Our teacher was great though, as she gave us challenge problems. Those really g enabled us to throw our ideas across the Harkness table. </p>
<p>Our 210 class engaged in many discussions, and I loved it. We were all very eager to cover new material, and caught on quick, so we usually had left over time in class to do new problems. In addition, we had many curious students. They’d ask a question that went beyond the problem we were assigned, and the teacher expected us to come up an answer. Thus, we would quickly sketch graphs and scribble down numbers. No student kept their progress to themselves – we built off of each other. Our class would not stop working until everyone was satisfied with the answer we collectively came up with. Then, with the final approval from our teacher, we’d all high-five each other and celebrate. (:</p>
<p>–
This is just a reflection of my experience and opinion thus far. Hopefully it’ll help provide some insight for prospective students/parents.</p>
<p>Thanks PieLover… How was Chemistry and Biology with Harkness?</p>
<p>@CACADParent</p>
<p>I agree with PieLover regarding the math class done Harkness style. It is exactly as descirbed. </p>
<p>As far as science? My son is a 9th grader or “prep” as they refer to them at Exeter and is taking Biology. Science translates very well with Harkness. He has been very successful transitioning to that method of teaching. I observed his class during parents weekend. I was very impressed.</p>
<p>This particular style fits extremely well with the type of personality my son has, so it has been easy for him to slide right in. He is very sociable and outgoing. For a child who is shy, it may be more difficult to transition, but in the prep year along with teaching in the particular subjects the teachers also indirectly teach how to be successful with Harkness without embarrassing the students.</p>