<p>How do the two schools stack up against each other nowadays? I am a PA grad but would love to hear how people compare the two schools now on these measures: (a) social life, (b) acceptance of diversity (e.g., is Groton welcoming if you didn't grow up on Park Avenue?), (c) academics; and (d), for kids who aren't jocks?</p>
<p>I read in a PA alumni monthly recently PA Trustee Oscar Tang say that Andover and Groton "really aren't peer schools." Was he referring to their size and target student populations or was he referring to their academics?</p>
<p>There seem to be a lot of people on this board hesitating between Andover and Groton (among other choices). What will make people decide one way or another? </p>
<p>Any perspective you can offer would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>I think they're both on par with each other on the level of education the student would be receiving, but one of the only downsides of Groton's size for me, anyway, is the amount of courses offered. Groton's average SAT score is higher than Andover's, and has better college matriculation, which both may be because of their size. Groton also has a larger boarding population, as well as a per person endowment.</p>
<p>Thanks Jonathan1. Did you go to Groton? Does the small size ever feel claustrophobic? On the one hand, I feel that Groton is the sort of place where you get to do everything, even if you're not the best. I am not sure that's true about Andover anymore, given that it's admitting Olympic potential athletes, people who already plan to be actors and actresses, or artists, or musicians, or whatever. What I wonder is whether at Groton you'd be able to try more new things, just because you'd have to, to make all the school's activities work. Is that how it is?</p>
<p>Hi, I go to Groton. Personally I love the small size campus/student body. You are right. In my first year here I tired two new sports, played 1 varsity and also tried theatre. I come from a working middle class family and find fitting in socially very easy. To me there are some spoiled little rich kids but there are also ALOT of kids that, yes, are rich, but understand that that isn't how life always is or how hard their parents have to work!</p>