<p>It really depends on what you consider bad. My bad teachers at Andover were better than pretty much all of my college professors. Additionally, teachers I consider to be bad are not necessarily judged that way by others. Similarly, some students really dislike a specific teacher in the math department. I had him for 7 trimesters and found him to be amazing.</p>
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<p>I’m not convinced with your argument which looks like a spin by a politician (no offense). Can you please explain to me your statement about not all the teachers are good, several are very good?</p>
<p>My dictionary says: Not good = bad =/= better than college professors.</p>
<p>There are several exceptional teachers whom I credit with giving me more mathematical intuition than anything else ever has. Teachers like the head of the math club (who was mentioned earlier) are simply put, amazing. Then there are teachers who do not measure up to those standards. They cover the material, but they don’t inspire. They don’t challenge the students to their fullest potential, even if they are reasonable at explaining the material. For me, this is a bad teacher. It just says something that most college math professors do not live up to even these standards. (For other students, the first group is bad because they challenge students at what is perceived as too high a level, while the first are not bad because they baby the students and let them focus on other classes.)</p>
<p>pulsar: 1) Andover does not meet your requirements; 2) Your school is better than Andover. We get it and congratulations!</p>
<p>agreed with DAndrew
From everything you’ve said, Andover is obviously not the right place for you!</p>
<p>DA, Disappointed to see that you give up easily, be a little more tenacious. It works for me.</p>
<p>ABB, I’m only asking questions, not saying anything. People in the know are saying something.</p>
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<p>Uroogla, what of the Andover students who want to continue math? Do they form a small clique, or would it be hard to distinguish the math students from the rest of the student body?</p>
<p>We appreciated the chance to meet teachers. If my son’s lucky enough to have a choice of schools, we’ll try to meet the teachers. There weren’t enormously long lines. I didn’t notice any pompous questions (which an earlier thread had warned about.) The student panel was informative. Pulsar, I think the videos on Andover’s website would give you an idea of the students’ ability to think and speak for themselves. However, you will miss the hot chocolate and cookies, which were worth the trip. There seemed to be a neverending supply.</p>
<p>The parent talk was interesting. The Dean’s Journal blog on Andover’s website has touched on many of the topics, over time. “How to prepare your child for boarding school.” From memory (not notes), don’t hover, let your child take charge of his academic life, don’t write his papers for him, work on the time management skills, especially if he currently has timewasting habits, such as videogames. Someone asked about the SSAT’s importance, and the answer was, (again, from memory), lower scores and high grades & good recommendations, you might have a chance. High scores and low grades, you will not get in. (pindrop silence.) </p>
<p>If another parent recalls the talk differently, please correct me.</p>
<p>I also learned that my 8th grader can’t navigate worth beans. He can read a map. He can plot a course somewhere if he’s been there before. It’s the translation from the map to the real world which needs work.</p>
<p>Few math students plan to continue math. Those who are more math/science oriented tend to hang out (not always, but often), but they tend to pursue science, not math, in college. I remember that when I was co-president, the math club consisted primarily of my group of friends. Since I graduated, Andover has instituted a more rigorous set of advanced math courses in linear algebra and multivariable calculus, as well as accelerating the precalculus sequence; this suggests not only that the faculty found the original program insufficient, but that the school has had more interest in upper level math classes lately. Those in these classes that I’ve spoken to, however, are not interesting in being a math major.</p>
<p>Navigating campus is hard at first - I spent a couple hours wandering around during orientation to become comfortable with campus.</p>
<p>pulsar, I didn’t give up anything, and what are you tenacious for? Are you fighting a war with an imaginary enemy or what? ;)</p>
<p>DA, tenacious for all things important.</p>
<p>Periwinkle, Thank you. I watched the videos and found some useful info. Some day students’ performance was just OK. Oh, I miss the cookies, yum…</p>
<p>Thank you, Uroogla. </p>
<p>I’m more worried about the kid driving in a few years!</p>