<p>cassat, is the source of your stress mainly academic or are there social aspects of BS life that are also stressful?</p>
<p>Cassat & pwalsh, I still fumble explaining the PA experience to people nearly 30 years later. The academic preparation was incredible–I’ve never had any trouble grinding away at complex intellectual problems, and I have a doctorate in an extremely rarified field. So intellectually, PA was a huge gift, but socially and developmentally, it was rotten (not generalizing for others, just reflecting on myself.) I got out of there whenever I could, including weekends, a semester off campus, etc. My advice, Cassat, is to use your Andover experience as a springboard for the college experience you truly want. That is what I did–to the chagrin of both the school and my family–but I got out of college the social skills and passion for life that I totally missed out on in high school. A different question-- and one that I don’t know the answer to currently–is whether the Academy walks its talk in terms of providing genuine ethical preparation as part of the curriculum. In my day it was quite clear that financial and political power ruled at PA and there was no real moral compass that bound the community.</p>
<p>These schools want the grads to go to Wall St and Washington so that they can write big checks as alumni. The moral compass is probably worse now than it was during your time.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s true at Exeter, and I’d guess Andover is about the same. I gauge moral compass by the speakers the school chooses to bring to assembly; the diversity of faculty; the books my kid brings home from school, particularly from religion and English classes; the emphasis on “students from all quarters to all quarters”; the comments focusing on character on grade reports; the continuous school-wide concern for service and the environment, the emphasis from college counseling on a good fit over an Ivy, and all speak to a high moral compass. The school is exacting, rigorous, difficult, demanding, but the ends seem to me to be to produce ethical, moral leaders who will leave things better than our generation has.</p>
<p>HarvestMoon-
It’s both, to be honest. The pressure of college admissions looms over my head every day, on top of the many exams and projects I have every week. I’d say the stress that is most important to manage is academics–obviously, doing well is absolutely vital. Social stress isn’t as important to eradicate. I’d much rather get a good grade on a paper than have a really stable group of friends–and everyone I know feels the same way. That’s the issue with Andover, you defer happiness when you come here. You know that it will be “worth it” so you stick out these very, very trying years.</p>
<p>classicalmama-
Thank you so much for the advice. You described my feelings perfectly. And, I, too, get off campus whenever I can, visiting friends at nearby colleges or even just going home for the weekend. Andover wants its students to be happy–but to maintain the same community we have now, it would be impossible to ensure that everyone is content.</p>
<p>pwalsh-
Money is definitely a focal point of campus–who has it, who doesn’t, who donated how much to the Senior Fund, etc. But, while the school does want big checks, our Head of School spent about 20 minutes discussing why students should consider going into the teaching profession at our last All School Meeting. Passion > Paycheck.</p>
<p>Hang in there cassat, the finish line is well in sight!</p>