I have been accepted to both Phillips Exeter Academy and Phillips Academy Andover. Prior to my admission, I was sure t that Exeter was my first choice; Andover was merely a backup. However, my ‘backup’ ended up giving me a full scholarship, free laptop and tablet, a paid-for summer trip, as well as a $20 stipend, per week. I’m sure one can understand why I am reluctant to go to Exeter if it means turning down that kind of offer. When I visited the two schools, I saw immediately that Andover’s residential life is much better; dorms are quieter, and I could more easily get a single. However, the academics and intellectualism at Andover couldn’t hold a candle to those of Exeter. At Andover, I never saw a truly Socratic discussion, let alone a Harkness Table. In addition, at Exeter, I was very impressed with their extracurricular activities, especially the Science Bowl program. At Andover, I never saw any math or science clubs, even though I was paired with a freshman in BC Calculus and AP Physics C. If the two schools’ financial offers were the same, I would accept four years at Exeter in a heartbeat, but my parents say it would come to a $37,000 difference by the time I graduate, and my whole family thinks I would be happier at Andover. Sorry for rambling, but please respond!
I know two students from Andover, one currently at Yale, one still at Andover. Both were/are happy and both are Physics/Math kids. I am sure Andover has Math League, go online and look it up. If it were my DD, I would tell her to go to Andover and promise to put the money into college/grad school. Congrats on getting into two great schools and getting great FA packages from both. I am impressed!
You went to see a single day at each school and can confidently make those statements? Especially this one: “However, the academics and intellectualism at Andover couldn’t hold a candle to those of Exeter.” ?
I know that Andover’s revisit day didn’t allow seeing any clubs, be they Math Club or Model UN.
“At Andover, I never saw a truly Socratic discussion, let alone a Harkness Table.” Let alone a Harkness Table! You sound very Exeter :stuckouttongueclosedeyes:
Best of luck with your decision. I’m sure you will enjoy either school.
I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Andover’s academics…both Exeter and Andover are very academically rigorous!
However, from your post, it sounds like you much more prefer Socratic/Harkness discussions. The Harkness method is definitely Exeter’s theme. Although, I think Andover has a couple of classes that use Harkness too.
You should choose which school YOU want to go, ** not ** what your family thinks you’ll be happy at (though their input should be highly valued)! You will be spending four years of your life at either Andover or Exeter, not your parents, so your family should not make the decision for you.
From your posts, it seems like you prefer Exeter over Andover, but are reluctant to decline the Andover offer because of the financial benefits. You should think carefully about this and discuss the choices with your family. If you chose Andover, would you be eventually be unhappy there because you would rather have Exeter? If you choose Andover, will you always wonder “what if” with Exeter? and vice versa? Is the free electronics, paid-for summer trips and tuition and $20 a week worth it? Do you think having the Exeter education is worth the $37,000 difference? Try to be open to all possibilities and think very carefully about your options before choosing one.
Good luck, and I hope you will be able to attend the school you think is right for you!
Exeter!! If you feel it’s right, then go with your gut 
For a lot of people, when visiting campus, they feel an instant “click” or connection with a particular school. If this happened with Exeter and you 100% love it and have no regrets, I say go for it!
If you’re still a bit hesitant, perhaps you could try to reach out to current Andover/Exeter families for more input on their experiences at Andover/Exeter?
Sorry to be digressing, but I highly doubt that any school, especially one as prestigious as Andover, would give students “stipends” like you said.
Rachmaninoff, I can understand your doubt, but it’s true. From the offer: “Weekly Student Stipend: $20 / week during academic year”
@sanguine12 You have 18 posts. @mathman has over 2,500. There is no need to be rude like you are being to both him and the OP.
OP-
I think you are underestimating Andover’s academics. If money is a true problem, go with Andover.
$37,000 is a lot of money. Think about it this way. Would you rather go to your dream school, or go to (a really awesome) school and get a free car for college? $37,000 is more than enough to get a respectable car (or anything else comparable)
All,
I deleted the inappropriate comments and all related discussion. Please stick to the topic at hand and review our forum guidelines if you have any questions.
What I would recommend is that you discuss this thoroughly with your parents about this matter. There is not much else to say about this other than if money is an issue, then Andover will be a better option. If not, then go with your gut.
Besides the “scholarship” package issue I detect another concern: Calculus BC as an entering prep (9th grader).
While this is an increasingly not too infrequent happening at some schools; it is rare at Exeter – even for entering CDB and non-CDB scholars (some of whom have already taken Calculus in University, Community College, High School and online [e.g., Khan Academy, MOOC, AoPS]). Exeter has a series of well designed Transition Math courses for entering students (regardless of entry level, grade, college math courses and the like). Exeter neither encourages nor recommends bypassing this transition sequence. If this feat is critical to your decision you may want to pursue getting prep Calculus BC math placement in writing before you even sign your Exeter contract. Good luck!
I wouldn’t worry about $$. CB will pay for it
If you are smart and willing to work hard, go to Exeter. If you want more fun in high school, then go to Andover.
The “it’s more fun at Andover” is a stereotype…it’s not all lackadaisical fun and games there…a quite large percentage of Andover students admitted that they were unhappy there in the student life survey. Not discounting Andover at all, just showing that the stereotype isn’t exactly true. Unfortunately, because of the stereotype, a lot of people seem to think that Exeter is a super strict school where everyone is nerdy while Andover is meant for the super popular, cool kids whose student life is “chill and laid-back.” Both schools are fun, but both schools do have unhappy kids because of how rigorous they are.
From a discussion between Andover and Exeter kids: You have to be smart and insanely hard-working to be at the top of either school; however, Andover likes seeing itself as the cool-on-the-outside but secretly geeky kid and Exeter likes seeing itself as the nerd who will someday be everyone’s boss.
I don’t know how much I agree with those kids, but that seemed to be the popular thought at the end of their discussion.
@UIButton, CDB only pays for the cost a day student would have.
@TVelocity oh sorry!
Perhaps further discussion with Exeter’s financial aid office could help. The two schools are similar in the amount of aid given (Exeter a little more, usually), so if that is your preference, try to appeal, and tell them the offer you received from Andover.
Calc BC as a prep is not likely to happen, but what does happen is amazing. Calc BC is not anything Exeter cares much about - kids take the exam and get 5s (almost all) but math is way beyond Calc BC level all the way through. Exeter is not about APs in general - kids take them and get 5s in all the subjects, but classes go well beyond AP curriculum.
The prep transition terms in math emphasize complex problem solving, based on prior coursework and placement tests. From there, classes go up to graduate level theoretical math. My D was ready for Calc BC in prep year, placed into and liked transition math, and has completed multivariable calculus and linear algebra as well as statistics and computer science by senior year, and loved every minute of Exeter math (and got a 5 on BC calc AP exam). They will let you fly at your own speed once the problem solving ability is assured.
From our Exeter perspective (my D also chose between Andover and Exeter), the academics at the two schools seem pretty comparable. There are wonderful math and science opportunities at both. The “feel” is the main difference.