Governors and Brooks

ArtsandSports
Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:21:20 +0000

This forum has been enormously helpful to me as a first time prospective prep school parent. Thank you to all who share their knowledge and experience with schools and the process of applying. This is my first, but definitely not my last post, as I hope to give back over the next several years.

My son applied as a freshman day student to Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter, Governors Academy, and Brooks School, each within comfortable driving distance from our home. He was waitlisted at Andover and Exeter, and accepted at both Governors and Brooks. He is strong in academics, athletics, and theater. Scored in low 90s on SSATs. He is a bit younger as he skipped ahead one year of school, but is physically and socially mature enough, if not yet self-organized. My son liked both Governors and Brooks very much and feels he would be happy at both schools.

Any insights into the following questions on Governors and Brooks would be greatly appreciated:


After reviewing this forum extensively, it seems there is quite a bit more knowledge and reference to Brooks than to Governors. As the schools seem similar in may ways, e.g. small and supportive, strong athletics, less developed music/theater, and geographically close, I was wondering why Brooks is referenced more. Is Brooks a more well-known and/or recognized school? Is it more prominent in some way? Is Governors less known for some reason?
The recent acceptance letter from Brooks alluded to (did not use the term acceptance rate) an acceptance rate of less than 10% this year. That appears to be lower than Andover’s 14%. Any thoughts on that? Is Brooks a “hot” school this year? e.g. a growing reputation? Or is this simply a difference in the wway the acceptance stats are presented?
While there are many similarities between Governors and Brooks, my general impression from two visits to each school is that Governors appears to have a bit more focus on delivering academics where Brooks appears to have a bit more focus on the broader educational “experience”, e.g. self-discovery rather than traditional college prep work. Is that a fair assessment? any comments on this? Very difficult to make a good assessment on two visits and a sitting in one or two classes.
Any other insights into distinctions? or decision factors between the two schools? Reputation with colleges? with educators? with students? strength of alumni networks?


Any insights on these questions, or other comparisons, would be very helpful. My son will need to make a decision soon.