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I am a current student at Phillips Academy and I have had the pleasure of going through the entire process of Andover. Freshman all the way through. I have attended a public school before attending Andover and the difference is hard to explain. There are more opportunities in an academic sense at Andover then there is at any public school in the nation. If you are accepted to either Andover or any of its peer schools then the opportunities presented to you are indescribable. The stress is high and so is the pace of life but after Andover you can confidently take on anything. There are downsides but to be completely honest, the rewards outweigh the difficulties of this Academy and the people you meet you will know for the rest of your life.
While I agree that Andover provides many of the wonderful opportunities listed above, it is easy for students to fall through the cracks while their peers outshine them. Andover fails to acknowledge when its students are struggling, and the competitive nature makes it hard for students to admit when they are having trouble. Some of Andover's policies are ludicrous (jsut get a copy of the rule book, the rule book).
PA provides students with many opportunities. There are always chances to get involved in theater, debate, economics, science labs, music classes ... lots of options, perhaps too many options. That would be my only complaint; students have so many choices, and the school does not really teach kids how to choose wisely so that they can really concentrate on one or two things. The teachers are great, and the other students are usually excited to learn.
Andover has an extremely challenging academic program and a busy school life. Students will never find themselves complaining about boredom--instead, they will be complaining about the overwhelming about of stuff they have to do!
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