 He attended the public schools in Poultney, Vermont, until the age of eight, at which time he began an accelerated course of studies preparing for college under the private tutelage of Henry Howe, the former principal of the Canandaiga Academy in Canandaigua, New York.In 1824, at the age of 10, he passed the admission exams for Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont and was admitted to the college.However, concerned about the difference in age between Buel and the other college students, his teacher and family persuaded him to continue his independent studies for three years.