Why would someone choose Exeter over Andover, or vice-versa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family ties/legacy at one or the other.

Most of the kids at these schools don’t have legacy.

[Anonymous]

I knew Exeter as a school for serious grinds though I know many grads who don’t fit that description at all. I never knew of a single stereotype about Andover except that it’s much bigger than the other boarding schools ans has always had more international students. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew Exeter as a school for serious grinds though I know many grads who don’t fit that description at all. I never knew of a single stereotype about Andover except that it’s much bigger than the other boarding schools ans has always had more international students. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

The academic rigor is the same at both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

[Anonymous]

I’m an andover alum and I find this a strange question. all schools have their own vibe that speaks to people differently. how would you decide between bowdoin and colby? amherst and williams? harvard and yale?

Andover is larger, closer to a city (close enough that you can get a day pass and ride the commuter bus), and by virtue of being larger might have more options (sports, extra curricular, elective). Some might feel the campus is too large, esp. if you end up living in the Abbot dorms down the road. Exeter has more of the New England boarding feel; smaller, tighter. teaching staff is different - if you love a certain subject you might find a teacher who really speaks to you at one versus the other.

if you’re lucky enough to get into both, you go to whichever one feels more like home when you visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

Exeter does not use math textbooks. Andover does. My son went to Exeter. Andover is discussion based, Exeter is Harkness. Harkness is discussion based on steroids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

Exeter does not use math textbooks. Andover does. My son went to Exeter. Andover is discussion based, Exeter is Harkness. Harkness is discussion based on steroids.

Ok, looks like they use problem sets. Basically a textbook they wrote: https://exeter.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Math1-2020.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

Apparently Harkness also teaches you to be an insufferable ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an andover alum and I find this a strange question. all schools have their own vibe that speaks to people differently. how would you decide between bowdoin and colby? amherst and williams? harvard and yale?

Andover is larger, closer to a city (close enough that you can get a day pass and ride the commuter bus), and by virtue of being larger might have more options (sports, extra curricular, elective). Some might feel the campus is too large, esp. if you end up living in the Abbot dorms down the road. Exeter has more of the New England boarding feel; smaller, tighter. teaching staff is different - if you love a certain subject you might find a teacher who really speaks to you at one versus the other.

if you’re lucky enough to get into both, you go to whichever one feels more like home when you visit.

Bowdoin is much better than Colby. Andover and Exeter are on a par.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

Apparently Harkness also teaches you to be an insufferable ass.

I’m not the person who wrote that, but they’re totally right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

Exeter does not use math textbooks. Andover does. My son went to Exeter. Andover is discussion based, Exeter is Harkness. Harkness is discussion based on steroids.

Ok, looks like they use problem sets. Basically a textbook they wrote: https://exeter.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Math1-2020.pdf

NP. I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm a math educator and wanted to clarify your assumption. Exeter math is absolutely not a textbook. Yes, there is a book for math class, but it is a very specific problem set, presented in a very specific order, designed for constructivist, cooperative learning. It is well known in the math education community. Locally, Potomac uses an in-house math program that is structured quite similarly. It is common to hear feedback like PP's son's about this type of math curriculum; it can be great, particularly in the hands of a skilled teacher, but it can also leave students who thrive in a traditional math classroom feeling unsure and confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

Apparently Harkness also teaches you to be an insufferable ass.

Perfect training for becoming a DCUM poster.

[Anonymous]

let your son decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

Exeter does not use math textbooks. Andover does. My son went to Exeter. Andover is discussion based, Exeter is Harkness. Harkness is discussion based on steroids.

Ok, looks like they use problem sets. Basically a textbook they wrote: https://exeter.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Math1-2020.pdf

NP. I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm a math educator and wanted to clarify your assumption. Exeter math is absolutely not a textbook. Yes, there is a book for math class, but it is a very specific problem set, presented in a very specific order, designed for constructivist, cooperative learning. It is well known in the math education community. Locally, Potomac uses an in-house math program that is structured quite similarly. It is common to hear feedback like PP's son's about this type of math curriculum; it can be great, particularly in the hands of a skilled teacher, but it can also leave students who thrive in a traditional math classroom feeling unsure and confused.

Thank you for this. I was called a troll because I said that my son, who went to Exeter, didn’t have a math textbook. I didn’t have the bandwidth to argue with this poster. I never sat in on his math classes but it’s something I heard about over and over from my son and his friends. Some classes went better than others... it depended on the skill of the teacher and the students in the class. A few bad eggs or a weak teacher and the class was horrible.