Milton or Exeter ?? Chime in please!

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Yes, I have signed up for the revisits, but honestly I don't expect a clear winner coming out of it. After all, I am not that sensitive to tell any real difference, and I hate to give my gut feeling too much credence.</p>

<p>Yes, Milton is 50% boarding, but I find it inline with Exeter's 80% in term of boarding experience.</p>

<p>Yes, Milton doesn't have Saturday classes which Exeter has, but even Exetonians are debating whether they should have them, so who am I to judge the merit?</p>

<p>Yes, Milton is closer to Boston, but I couldn't care less, as I am living around Boston all my life, and New Hampshire is my back yard. </p>

<p>Yes, Milton seems to have better matriculation, but I also heard part of that was due to kids of many Harvard professors going to Milton.</p>

<p>Yes, they all offer excellent academics programs, and I don't think any subtle or even slightly meaningful difference is going to matter to me.</p>

<p>Yes, many people consider Exeter more prestigious, but Milton is right up there too, is it not?</p>

<p>Please don't remind me this is all about "fit" as I can fit in anywhere and as a result will feel nothing. Am I too tentative? Am I getting closer to a decision or am I getting hopelessly lost?</p>

<p>In stead of throwing darts on the wall to settle the matter, I believe I may have better luck submitting my case to the CC audience. So chime in or shout, M or E?</p>

2

<p>If you have to ask…PEA</p>

3

<p>Milton 10char</p>

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<p>Milton! Also, what grade would you enter?</p>

5

<p>Exeter is bigger, more famous, and has facilities so spectacular that they could be considered over the top (two ice rinks, for Pete’s sake). Milton is a more modest place with incredible academics and a more intellectual atmosphere (IMO). Take your pick; you can’t go wrong.</p>

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<p>What are your particular interests?</p>

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<p>How do you feel about the fact that Milton is about 50% boarding vs. 50% day students. Perhaps there might be less a sense of a cohesive boarding community? I don’t have any inside knowledge on this, I’ve just noted this. </p>

<p>On the other hand, Exeter seemed a little colder, more harried — and I don’t believe the educational experience will be any better than at Milton’s although on this board I have the impression that Exeter has more prestige.</p>

<p>DH seems to hold Exeter in higher regard, I am guessing because at the Ivy he attended there were some smart Exonians (is that what they’re called?) there; however, at another Ivy, or in another major, he might have met some smart Miltonians…</p>

<p>Good luck with your choice!</p>

8

<p>Thanks for everybody’s feedback so far. Please keep them coming.</p>

<p>I am entering 9th grade.</p>

<p>

I don’t know, which may be part of my problem. I seem to enjoy and do well in a lot of things. Like I am very good at math, but it is not something I want to hang my hat on. I enjoy writing, and am a serious debater, but I don’t want to just focus on that either. Both schools can adequately provide me the challenges no matter what I intend to do, and this makes the choice so difficult.</p>

<p>

I talked just today to a Milton resource. Milton mixes grades when it assigns dorms, so the community has more to do with whoever reside in your dorm, and the sports teams (or other art/music programs) a student is involved with. Besides, IMO, 50% vs 80% is not going to make that much of a difference.</p>

<p>

My source also told me the average day homework load is about two to 3 hours in Milton if a person manages time well and is efficient. But I read on CC the average for Exeter is four to five hours. I have no problem working long hours if needed, but I have some doubt about the true value of working long hours of homework on a daily basis.</p>

<p>If you are to make a choice between Milton and Exeter, what’s your pick and why?</p>

9

<p>my daughter was at exeter for the summer, and the exeter teachers said she did well relative to exeter students. but the thing is exeter teachers seems a little cold (relative to those from other school we met). i would say exeter is definitely a more well know program, but milton is a better environment</p>

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<p>I picked Exeter…
Just that you know, PEA has reduced their saturday classes from 25 to 8 which is around one per month.</p>

11

<p>I would suggest Milton over Exeter. When I toured and interviewed at Milton, it seemed like such a warm atmosphere. When I got a little lost on my way to the admissions office, everyone around was happy to help and one tall boy ended up doing it very nicely and cheerfully. My tour guide was really sweet, too. Exeter seemed like a harsher place with a dining hall meant for students who need to work through meals and I saw very few, if any, smiling faces. Also, my tour guide at Exeter told me that they usually get about 5-6 hours of homework.</p>

12

<p>I attend Andover… so obviously I’m not too fond of Exeter. But there really is no debate in the matter… Exeter is by FAR a better school to attend than Milton. The facilities, students, and the enviornment are a mile and a half superior to Miltion. Go revisit both schools, and get a feel for which you like better… but I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Exeter.</p>

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<p>would anyone agree with the following saying:</p>

<p>a) andover and exeter are by far a different type of program from other elite schools
* much more depth/breadth in academic,
* but also much harder and students getting more Bs and there are fewer,
* also much more competitive (“super competitive” at these two schools particularly exeter, whereas other elite schools are “just competitive”)</p>

<p>b) but milton matriculation rate compares well with most other schools (maybe except andover, though I seen some data that says it’s close to andover)</p>

<p>c) Milton’s math/science program is not as developed as the other schools, but liberal and performance arts is as strong as any school including andover/exeter</p>

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<p>hi hkdad, I mostly agree with what you said, and I am particularly interested to know more about c)</p>

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<p>Can some Miltonians or parents help confirm either way that status of Milton’s math/science program? Thanks.</p>

15

<p>Regarding math/science - it’s really just a question of looking at the course offerings at the two schools. If you’re an entering 9th grader and have already completed calculus, you’d find limited opportunities at Milton (unlike Exeter, where they’d easily be able to keep you occupied for the next four years!) . . . but Milton will also give you the opportunity to take a class at MIT (or elsewhere) if you require a course that they don’t offer.</p>

<p>As for humanities, Milton, as already noted, is hard to beat. Their humanities program is excellent!</p>

<p>For performing arts, I think Milton is head and shoulders above many of the other schools. This is, as far as I’m concerned, their strongest asset.</p>

<p>Other programs offered at Milton and not available at Exeter include a downhill ski team and a really cool underwater robotics team!</p>

<p>Downsides to Milton (in my view): the high number of day students - leading to an impetus to leave campus on the weekends, rather than stay around and be part of the campus “community.”</p>

<p>Also, the food. I believe Milton uses a contract food service, whereas Exeter has its own dining service, allowing it to be more responsive to student needs and requests. Also, if I’m correct, at least one of Exeter’s two dining halls is open at all times during the day, so if you want to get a bagel and cream cheese and just hang out in the dining hall, you can do that. Not so at Milton - where dining rooms are open during mealtimes only.</p>

<p>Also, the guest speakers at Exeter are extraordinary. . . the chances of you getting to hear them anywhere else (including Milton) is slim to none.</p>

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<p>Thanks dodgersmom. The information is awesome.</p>

<p>btw, if I go to Milton, I will be one of those boarders that disappear in action as I will head home for swimming training in my home club during weekend.</p>

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<p>hootoo, then you should pick Milton as you wouldn’t be able to go home on weekend if you were in Exeter.
My child will probably need to go home to do her crafts and sewing on weekend too.
Nothing is better to be near home!!</p>

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<p>Just wondering, why Exeter has the most extraordinary guest speakers? I thought Milton’s the best since it’s so close to Boston and Harvard/MIT/Wellesley.</p>

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<p>It’s not about proximity, it’s about who the school alumni are . . . although I’m sure it’s more than that, because not all the speakers are alumni. Just go to the Exeter website and look under “events” to see who the guest speakers have been at the school assemblies this year. There are some pretty impressive names . . .</p>

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<p>Any school can invite terrific guest speakers, they don’t need to be Alumni or anything. Go look at Milton’s events calendar and they have terrific ones. In fact all schools invite terrific speakers. If you think that Exeter has a hold on terrific speakers, I have a bridge to sell…</p>