Letter to the Editor, from Director of Admissions Michael Gary

Dear Editor,I read the article, "Students Twice as Likely to Choose Andover Over Exeter" in last week’s paper and wanted to clarify a few things and give some context to the issue.First, it’s important to remember that not every school is going to be the right fit for every student. Both Exeter and Andover offer amazing experiences for their students and will appeal to different people for different reasons. What’s important is that the students are honest with themselves before making a selection, so they end up in a place that’s right for them. How many students choose Andover over Exeter is just one metric that helps us understand trends in the composition of our school over time. There are many factors that go into telling that whole story as we look to maintain a diverse student body and greater accessibility due to our generous financial aid program.The perception, rightly or not, that Exeter is more rigorous academically is appealing to the student who loves to learn and wishes to be offered the opportunity to reach their full potential in that regard. That’s attractive to some, but not to others—and it’s just one part of the Exeter experience.The suggestion from Phillip Chang ‘15 that this trend of choosing Andover over Exeter started under Tom Hassan’s principalship—and that his longevity at the Academy is the cause—is inaccurate. In fact, Exeter has flourished under his leadership and experienced its lowest admit rate, highest yield and seen the largest number of top quality students enroll. Much of this can likely be attributed to his emphasis on providing many more global opportunities for our students and faculty, an emphasis on community connections and improved facilities. All of this, including his own connection to the students, is noted enthusiastically by our visitors.We are extremely proud of the students who have decided that Exeter is a good fit for them, and they can expect that we will do everything we can to ensure a successful experience while they’re here and a bright future after graduation. And for those who made a different choice, we wish the best for them too.Michael GaryDirector of AdmissionsPhillips Exeter Academy