"Teachers here share their enthusiasm and excite you--that's the key difference."

Ryan - Class of 2008 Skokie, Illinois

When Ryan arrived at Andover, he saw himself as a dedicated "science guy" with no desire to reevaluate his interests. But his lower-year English class changed all that. With the support of an inspiring instructor, Ryan's confidence in the subject slowly built. "I discovered I had some aptitude for literary analysis," he explains. "In many ways, that class was the first big step to opening my eyes to the world."

Though Ryan continued to study organic chemistry, quantum mechanics, and the like, he also explored a new found appreciation for the humanities. "I became fascinated by politics," he says, "and thoroughly enjoyed international relations and economics, all the while pushing further and further into the sciences."

Much like other high schools, Andover insists its students take classes in various disciplines. But here, Ryan says, there is an X-factor that makes those experiences more than just requirements: "The teachers here share their enthusiasm and excite you in the courses you take--that's the key difference."