<p>I declined at Exeter because I would rather have the nurturing yet still academically challenging environment and large student body of a top school like Choate. I got identical aid offers from Exeter and Choate, and it boiled down to- Do I want to go to a place that encourages such competition and enmity between students, where my best may not be good enough, ever? Or do I want to go to Choate, and be able to make my own path?</p>