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[quote=Anonymous][quote]I didn't read the thread, but wanted to comment. Yes, there are great private schools here where your child will get a wonderful education equal to or even better than the education he could expect to receive at Andover.

FWIW, my father and brother went to Andover. Both were bent by the experience. Really ruined, if you must know the truth. I know this may not be typical, but it happened in my family. And my brother chose Andover because my father went there.

I stayed at home and went to public school. I went to an Ivy, so had no problem getting in from a public school.

Personally, I would never send my children to boarding school. I know parents who do, and whose kids ended up leaving their boarding schools and coming home. IMHO, these kids are too young to be away from home. That was certainly the case with my brother. I think it's extremely important for parents to keep close ties to their children during the teen years. I shudder to think what my kids would be doing if I were not around them. These are tough years -- why depend on strangers to raise your kids during this crucial time? I'd never do it, not even for Andover.[/quote]

Sounds like George Bushes.

Schools like Exeter and Andover require a mature and confident student at 14.  The experience at smaller more nurturing and structured environments like Middlesex and Groton may have yielded the exact opposite effect.  Exeter and Andover are like going to Amherst, Williams and Swarthmore ... 4 years earlier.  Some kids can't handle and manage the course choices, athletic choices, club and activity choices.  These choices seem infinite.  For the right student (fit) mature with excellent organisation and management skills an opportunity like Andover and Exeter is God sent.  For others, there are smaller and more structured and nurturing environments equally as life changing.

It's very important to match the kid to the school environment and ethos.  My older child would thrive at Groton over Exeter.  The younger one would thrive at Andover, Exeter, or Choate.  The child may outgrow Groton/Middlesex before the 12th Grade.
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