Phillips Exeter vs. Phillips Andover: Which Elite Boarding School Is Right for You?

Beyond the E/A games, choosing whether to attend Exeter or Andover can be a daunting decision. Both schools are historic and elite co-ed boarding schools in the US, founded by members of the same Phillips family in the 1780s. While it would be easy to say they are equivalent, there are distinct differences between them in their approaches to curriculum, college counseling, dorm life, campus traditions, and more. Read on for our comprehensive guide to choosing which school may be right for you. 

You can also register for an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, July 9th, at 8 PM ET, with Crimson experts on Exeter vs Andover here. 

Exeter vs. Andover: College Admissions and Ivy League Admissions

Ivy League Feeder Schools 

Phillips Exeter and Phillips Andover have long been known as feeder schools for the Ivy League and other top universities. Historically, Exeter was the feeder school for Harvard, while Andover sent more students to Yale, based on religious affiliations. While these trends have changed, both matriculate a significant number of students to the Ivy League each year. 

Recently, between 2022 to 2024, Exeter sent at least ten students to universities like Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, UPenn, and Yale. Meanwhile, from 2021 to 2024, Andover sent over 30 students to Yale, UChicago, and Cornell, with 20-29 attending Brown, Columbia, Harvard, and MIT, and 10-19 students going to Princeton and UPenn. 

College Counseling Approaches 

Both Andover and Exeter feature highly personalized college counseling programs, but a key difference is that Exeter begins formal counseling in junior year, whereas Andover begins earlier, in sophomore year. Exeter’s counselors work with students on college lists, essays, and interviews, emphasizing fit, character, and long-term goals. Andover’s counselors focus more on self-discovery, identity, and purpose, helping students to create meaningful applications to their top picks. 

Alumni Networks and Career Success

Exeter’s Influential Alumni

Exeter alumni are strong in technology, STEM, creative writing, the arts, and public service. Notable graduates include Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, bestselling author Dan brown, President Franklin Pierce, and actor Alessandro Nivola. After graduation, Exonians benefit continuously from mentorship programs and career opportunities with other alumni. 

Andover’s Legacy 

Andover’s distinguished alumni are strongly present in politics, economics, and the arts, including Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy Jr., and actors like Jack Lemmon, James Spader, and Olivia Wilde. Their alumni provide mentorship and support post-graduation as well. 

Academic Philosophy: Exeter’s Harkness vs. Andover’s Interdisciplinary Learning

Exeter’s Harkness Method 

Exeter is known for its signature Harkness method teaching style involving student-led discussions around an oval table. There is no raised hands or traditional lecturing in any class, even mathematics and physics. This emphasis on dialogue encourages students to listen respectfully, develop confidence in public speaking, and learn how to engage in critical thinking no matter the subject. 

For myself, as an Exonian, the Harkness method was the hallmark of my Exeter experience, pushing me to develop as a scholar and not just a student. By learning to voice my thoughts effectively and to engage with my fellow classmates, I became much more confident in my intellectual abilities as a whole. 

Curiously, Exeter also does not offer any AP classes, believing its curriculum to be more rigorous than AP guidelines, although students may still take AP exams independently. This allows Exeter’s teachers to design more rigorous upper-level courses. There are over 450 courses total–more than any U.S. boarding school–including classes like Asian American History and Literature and A Global History of Witchcraft. 

One of my favorite classes my senior year was dedicated to reading NYTimes Bestselling non-fiction books with one of Exeter’s most well-known and beloved philosophy professors. Exeter constantly pushed my intellectual boundaries, exposing me to stimulating and thoughtful discussions with brilliant minds. 

Andover’s Interdisciplinary Curriculum

While Andover doesn’t employ the Harkness method, it combines different teaching methods such as lectures, seminars, labs, and group projects to support interdisciplinary learning. Unlike Exeter, it provides a full range of over 300 courses, including AP and post-AP classes, preparing students to succeed on their AP exams. Courses include Rememories: Trauma and Survival in 20th-Century Literature History of Financial Crises and Civic Reactions (1700s–present). 

Civic engagement is a key part of its curriculum, with programs like Abbott Independent Scholars (AISP) and summer research fellowships supporting unique student projects. Andover students frequently connect their academics to socially conscious initiatives. Students can also take their studies abroad with Learning in the World, from Finland to the Arctic. Andover’s hybrid learning methods support critical thinking and exposure to diverse perspectives. 

Extracurriculars and Leadership Opportunities

Athletics at Exeter and Andover

Both schools compete in the NEPSAC league, with Exeter’s strongest sports being crew, squash, wrestling, swimming, and track & field. Exeter’s recently renovated Thompson Field House features collegiate-level facilities, including an indoor track, weight and wrestling rooms. The Saltonstall Boathouse, just a few minutes from campus, is a gorgeous space for student rowers. I was lucky enough to row on the varsity team, and I enjoyed every second on the Exeter River. 

Andover is known for strong football and lacrosse, and a swim team that has produced Olympians and national champions. Similarly, Andover offers elite training facilities at its new Pan Athletic Center, a 70,000 square foot center featuring a swimming/diving complex, dance studios, and the Athletics Hall of Honor. Andover encourages all students to participate in physical activities. 

Arts and Performing Arts 

Exeter students benefit from a studio-based visual arts program, multiple theater productions each year, and a variety of music ensembles. Students can display their work at the Lamont Gallery, or perform in the new Goel Center for Theater and Dance or the Bowld Music Center. It’s also common for students to create their own Independent Studies projects to perform or display their art. I dabbled in painting classes, participated in mainstage theater productions, and even found time for Dramat, the student theater club. Exonians always find ways to manage their studies and extracurriculars, even if it means doing homework on the stairs in the theater building between classes. 

Andover provides classes in 14 different visual arts media, 3-4 annual theater productions, numerous concerts, and extensive film and digital arts programs. Students can enter student film festivals, curate a professional-level exhibit at the Addison Gallery of American Art, or perform at the Tang Theater. Andover offers students more hands-on experience, encouraging them to bring their art beyond the student community. 

Student Leadership Opportunities

Students can find strong leadership opportunities at both school through student government and dorm life. At Exeter, there are over 100 student-led clubs, including a 75-member Student Council (StuCo). Popular clubs include the Exonian newspaper, ESSO or the Exeter Student Service Organization, Science Olympiad, Robotics Club, and more. 

At Andover, 150+ student clubs like The Philippian newspaper, Model UN, Asian Society, and Andover Political Union offer students the chance to develop their leadership skills in any area that interests them. For student government, school-wide officers are elected and work alongside cluster presidents. 

Campus Culture and Traditions 

Exeter and “Non Sibi” 

Phillips Exeter’s academic culture is deeply rooted in the Latin phrase “non sibi,” or not for oneself. This highlights the importance of community responsibility, or passing on one’s efforts and knowledge to others however possible. In such a competitive environment, it was encouraging to think our ambitions were meant to support not just ourselves, but everyone around us in our immediate and more global communities. Students must attend a weekly lecture in the Assembly Hall featuring distinguished guest speakers who often emphasize this spirit of responsibility. 

Andover’s Focus on Service 

Andover celebrates community service through important campus traditions like Non Sibi Day, a campus-wide service initiative. Students are encouraged to volunteer in local, national, or global outreach projects. Other traditions like Founders Day, which honors Andover’s establishment, offer a space to reflect on Andover’s mission. 

Residential Life: Independence vs. Community

Exeter Dorm Life 

Exeter’s 25 dorms are divided by gender and class year. Each dorm features a range of 15-40 students, a live-in faculty adviser and student proctors who facilitate nightly check-ins around 8 pm and quiet study hours. The dorm life emphasizes personal accountability and independence, with students expected to maintain their space and schedules independently. 

Andover’s Cluster System

Andover’s dorms are organized into five unique clusters, each with its own Dean and student leaders. The dorm buildings range in style from smaller cottages with 4 students to larger, traditional brick buildings with 30-40. Each cluster includes about 220 students and 40 faculty families. Events in each cluster foster a strong feeling of community, reflecting Andover’s emphasis on community. 

Which Boarding School is Right for Your Student?

Phillips Exeter Academy is the best choice for students who are drawn by the Harkness method and who seek an academically intense environment. Students are pushed to develop their curiosity, humility, and critical thinking skills. 

Phillips Andover, known as “a private school with a public purpose,” leans more toward offering a social diverse and civically-minded atmosphere. It focuses on inclusion, community, and social impact, supporting students who are passionate about making a difference. 

Both campuses feature ambitious, well-rounded faculty and students, some of the top in their respective fields.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Is Andover harder to get into than Exeter?

Both schools are highly competitive, with admissions acceptance rates around 13-14% each year. Students should prepare well in advance of deadlines, especially preparing for the SSAT as soon as possible. 

2. Which is better for college admissions, Exeter or Andover?

Exeter and Andover both help students to attend top schools, but their approaches in counseling and academics are slightly different. Neither is better, but they offer distinct strengths depending on a student’s goals and values. 

3. What is residential life like at Andover vs. Exeter?

Andover features a unique cluster system which encourages a strong sense of community between dorms, while Exeter’s dormitories are larger and divided based on gender and class year. 

4. What are the main traditions at Andover and Exeter?

The oldest tradition includes the Andover/Exeter or Exeter/Andover sports rivalry, which takes place on campus each fall and spring. Other traditions include assembly speakers at Exeter and a campus-wide service day at Andover.

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