<p>Is the Harkness Method as exciting as Exeter makes it sound? Anyone from Exeter feel free to correct me on this as this is coming from someone who chose Andover, but I’ve heard from people with a math/science bent that Harkness can get really annoying in those classes where kids need to first learn from the teacher and then perhaps discuss the material. I’ve heard that such classes are easily derailed by one person or a small group of people who don’t understand. I can fully understand and support Harkness discussions in opinion-based classes like English, History, RelPhil, etc. where the students read something and then need to discuss it in class. I don’t see why this method would be useful in math or science, when it is more beneficial to learn the concepts directly from the teacher. I think Andover does it better (again, I’m biased). In technical classes, we learn directly from the teacher (we’re free to ask questions and bounce around ideas, but it’s very much directed by the teacher) and if we still don’t understand there’s always conference period (half an hour set aside three times a week just for going to meet with teachers), personal meetings with the teacher, study groups, math/science study hall, etc.</p>