<p>Though SPS and PEA are of different styles and have different qualities, how would you all compare the two? Both are excellent, and it would delight me to hear your opinion on the matter. Thanks!</p>
<p>Bumpity Bump Bump</p>
<p>SPS all the way. smaller school and 100 percent boarding makes it very unique.</p>
<p>Bumpity bump bump</p>
<p>They don’t compare. Exeter is better. The wall could tell you that.
Go Big Red!!!</p>
<p>Urbanflop, what reasons make you think that Exeter is better than St. Paul’s?</p>
<p>Do I need a reason?..LOL that was just a post. I like Exeter better, but I don’t have any information on St. Pauls; I didn’t apply there. Besides, I am going to be an Exonian this fall!</p>
<p>Brother went to Exeter, I went to St. Paul’s. Exeter is twice as large, but that also impacts cohesion. Exeter has more course offerings and some describe it as being more like a college. SPS is more like a home. Both are exceptionally strong academically. Exeter has a larger endowment, but SPS has more per student. Exeter hates Andover, SPS hates no one :). Exeter is in a town. SPS is near a city. Exeter has more buildings, SPS has more land and woods. Exeter is closer to the Ocean and Boston. SPS is closer to the mountains and in the state capitol. Exeter has a river, SPS has a river and ponds. Exeter is older, but SPS was historically considered more socially prestigious. SPS is based on the English model and was established as an Episcopal school, Exeter is an academy. Both have Harkness tables. Exeter ‘owns’ and makes the tables, but Harkness went to SPS.</p>
<p>People that go to Exeter like Exeter more. People who go to SPS like SPS more. Both are correct.</p>
<p>Both are wonderful schools. That is as fair as I can be.</p>
<p>Very insightful Winterset. Many thanks!</p>
<p>Agree with the comment that both can provide a wonderful education and are deserving of their reputations, yet the style of the schools is VERY different. Other differences between the 2 schools:
Exeter: 2 dining halls, all informal, cafeteria style meals
SPS: 1 dining hall, a couple sit down meals per week</p>
<p>Exeter: tie for boys for classes
SPS: less formal but still neatly attired</p>
<p>Exeter: few all school meetings
SPS: the whole community comes together 4 times per week during morning chapel for an all school meeting</p>
<p>Exeter: day students; many faculty live off campus
SPS: all boarding, all faculty live on campus</p>
<p>Exeter: If your child doesn’t make a Varsity or JV team, will take “Prep Spazz”, a PE course
SPS: If your child doesn’t make Varsity or JV team (which might be easier in the case of JV given the smaller school size) you child can take fitness class or sign up for several different choices of coed intramural teams focused on things like hockey, soccer, tennis, crew, etc.</p>
<p>Exeter: campus melds into town with town streets running through campus; easy access to small downtown area
SPS: within walking or biking distance to town but campus is more separate with plenty of green space and woods for exploring</p>
<p>Exeter: lots of different classes but near impossible to take more than 5 classes at a time
SPS: more schedule flexibility gives students freedom to take an extra class if they can handle it</p>
<p>Exeter: Most students stay in the same dorm for all 4 years
SPS: It is unusual for a student to stay in the same dorm for all 4 years; the housing system encourages students to live in at least 2 dorms to encourage community development.</p>
<p>One of the things I love about Exeter is that it is intertwined with the town. However, my sister who went there says that the town gets very small after your first few months, and the nearest city is Portstmouth, which is not very accessible at all. Exeter is much bigger and has students with more specialized interests. It seems to me like a very big, thriving school where you can always find your perfect niche. At SPS, it seems like everyone is still fantastic, but more well rounded, because as SPS is smaller they can’t afford to accept kids who only excel in one or two particular areas. Neither approach is better, they are just different.</p>
<p>At SPS, the campus is much more insular, not connected to a town AT ALL. However, it is only a few miles from Concord, which is a small but real city, with cool thrift stores, different food shops, mainstream stores, lots of variety. I just got back from my revisit there and there was this thrift shop where they sell everything for 3 dollars, and its nice stuff. I got two pairs of jeans that I love for 6 dollars. Not really relevant, but I love the idea that Concord is at most 3 miles from Campus. There are shuttles from SPS on weekends and when its nice you can walk or bike in. </p>
<p>Winterset, great post!</p>
<p>Great info everyone!</p>
<p>Bumpity Bump Bump</p>
<p>So what are you thinking thematrix? Have you attended revisits? Are you going to?</p>
<p>I see the religious connection as a big difference. Personally, I wouldn’t want to go to mandatory chapel a few times a week. However, a devote Episcopalian or someone slightly religious might enjoy that.</p>
<p>It’s weird that Harkness went to St. Paul’s. Why didn’t he give money to his own school and say “use this teaching method” instead of giving it to Exeter?</p>
<p>Wickedcrazy, I have attended the SPS revisit and the Exeter revisit. Both are excellent; it’s really difficult to choose!</p>
<p>Musisat, I believe Harkness gave money to St. Paul’s as well.</p>
<p>SPS’ morning chapel is less about religion and more of a community meeting with announcements, funny skits, etc.</p>
<p>also Exeter does have the whole school get together multiple times a week. they call it “Assembly”. It has nothing to do with religion; they usually have an interesting person who is quite accomplished and can encourage kids to go for things come in and speak for about half an hour. it’s great</p>
<p>Obviously, Edward Harkness like Exeter better…:D</p>