<p>What do you think is better about one over the other? I'm most interested in the experience. They both have more clubs that I would love to join and more amazing courses than I could ever take in my two year experience.</p>
<p>What do you think sets one apart from the other, in great detail?</p>
<p>check out the earlier thread "andover or exeter"....</p>
<p>eg,</p>
<p>Who has nicer dorms? Bigger, cleaner, unique?</p>
<p>Who has the best guest speakers?</p>
<p>Which students.. read more interesting books (for fun)?</p>
<p>Which alumni network is more useful?</p>
<p>Which has more new opportunities and resources (eg, Exeter's amazing library or Andover's art museum)?</p>
<p>Which grades are more inflated/deflated? Which is easier for humanities-oriented students?</p>
<p>Better art program?</p>
<p>Etc..</p>
<p>And if I wanted to reference stereotypes, then I could answer many of my own questions! But I would like first-person perspective... Anyone?</p>
<p>I think it will be pretty hard for someone to give you a direct comparision of the programs because to have first hand knowledge you would have to have attended both schools. (Perhaps there is a parent out there who has had two children attend the two different schools.) Anybody who is a student at one of the schools will only be able to comment on their experience. That is why I think is so hard for some kids to make a decision.... sometimes you just have to go with "your gut", how did you feel during the tour, the interview or when you check out the website.</p>
<p>make a list of things that are important to you -- you may want nice, clean, large bathrooms with good mirrors and another kids might not care at all.</p>
<p>if you have the chance, do the revisits to both -- keeping in mind your preferences. takes notes and write down scores (maybe Andover's bathrooms are a 7, and breakfast is a 10 while Exeter's bathrooms are a 10 but the breakfast is a 2)</p>
<p>For some of your preferences, you can do research from home. If you aren't into Robotics, it won't matter is a school is the best in the nation in robotics. Same goes for foreign language -- if you take French, you won't care that the school offers Russian, Hindi and Arabic -- however, you do want to know that French students score well on the AP, or the the French teacher has been there 20 years and is well-loved, or that the French class spends every other year in Paris over spring break.</p>
<p>Try to write things down -- it will help clarify things for you.</p>
<p>good luck -- I think you would be happy at either school.</p>
<p>My DD says she thinks Exeter spent all their money on the science center and let the rest of the campus go. Her friend there pants at the SPS facilities.</p>
<p>Thompson Student Life Center is the newest renovation and perhaps your daughter is unaware of the size of the Exeter endowment/budget???? Your statement is almost laughable.</p>
<p>Has your DD checked out the new student center at Exeter??!! It is AWESOME!! It was just finished so it was done AFTER the science center.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what "let the rest of the campus go" means specifically. In addition to the science center and student center previously noted, there is the music center that is gorgeous. Grounds are very well maintained.</p>
<p>Well i spent the summer at exeter so i know a little first hand.</p>
<p>Awesome library, all i can say
The academic campus is pretty compact (unlike Andover) so you wont really waste time shuffling between classes
their sports facilities are outstanding
They made us stay in a girl's dorm, it was very nice, it was incredibly large and had hardwood floors, although some were smaller and had carpet
The sience center is completely up to date, is amazing, it has many facilities </p>
<p>I cant really compare it to andover as i dont really have any first hand experience there, but exeter is awesome (i didn't see any really run-down areas)</p>
<p>omg that's amazing.. does andover have anything like that?</p>
<p>
[quote]
**kirmum
[/quote]
** Was your daughter on the campus? I find the report by her "friend" to have little validity. Interesting post, I am glad to see others refute it as did I.</p>
<p>hazmat - you have great pride!</p>
<p>now.. next step.. HOW do I get one of those lovely, hardwood, spacious dorms that was mentioned before? (entering 11th grade female)</p>
<p>i don't like carpet.. i know it's a bit superficial but carpet is a swamp of bacteria and i always get it extremely dirty..</p>
<p>i know that at tabor, my cousin had a master bedroom size room (and then some) w/ an ocean view w/ only one other roommate!</p>
<p>how nice can the dorms get at exeter? andover?</p>
<p>its just luck, i would have personally enjoyed the carpeted floor more, the hard would gets VISIBLY filthy, where as in the carpet it hinds </p>
<p>The carpet and hardwood floors are spread out, it seemed pretty random to me</p>
<p>You guys are funny, I remember as a 14 year old at boarding school (many many years ago) the last thing on my mind was whether I had carpet or hardwood!! Of course I was too busy watching the dinosaurs out my window!! ;)</p>
<p>My daugher and I both visited Exeter year before last, before the new student center. It was also my least favorite of the schools we visited but each to his own. It was the oly one of 5 top schools she passed on applying to. Muc preferred Andover, SPS and Deerfield. Groton hjad the worst dorm but I thought Exeter was a close second.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.schooldesigns.com/catalog/images/208as2002.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.schooldesigns.com/catalog/images/208as2002.jpg</a>
This is the phelps science center</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flc.losrios.edu/%7Ejimener/images/exeter.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.flc.losrios.edu/~jimener/images/exeter.jpg</a>
<a href="http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004news/exeter/e4_18.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004news/exeter/e4_18.jpg</a>
the MASSIVE library it also has nooks where you can study
(largest secondary school library in the world)</p>
<p>I guess my judgement of dorm rooms was more based on how little time and life actually occur there. I can totally understand that dorm rooms aren't attractive but what I experienced was the other students, the facilities were fine for me. I can totally understand that some folks would have a hard time moving from cushy home standards to any dorm room. Clearly you guys weren't a fit for Exeter.</p>
<p>We are suckers for great dorms.</p>
<p>SPS had the set up we loved from first sight and Andover had some really nice dorms. SPS has mostly smallish (20ish kids) houses with lots of staff spread throughout. Teachers have amazing three floor homes within my daughter's dorm. Every dorm has a kitchen and big commons. They are spacious, fresh, clean and newly renovated. Given studying, dorm events, advisor interaction and the friendships formed, I find lots of time is spent in the dorm. </p>
<p>My daughter was 13, we wanted it to feel like home.</p>
<p>I looked at St Paul's. I visited for sports later. I think it is fair to say that Exeter and St Paul's differ in many ways. I can totally understand your dorm attitude, my grandmother hasn't liked a dorm room I have had to date. I have lived in many a summer cabin at camp and dorm rooms up to this point.......they all become similar. I am a guy, maybe that is it. Does the AC work? Do the windows open? Can I sleep comfortably? Closet big enough for clothes? That and the favored, long time Exeter employees that maintain the dorms....yup those are the real deal. Wake you up if you put a note on the door, help you out, talk. There is much more to dorm life than the room. Just coming from a different place. Is your daughter at SPS?</p>
