Question: If I’m applying to Exeter and I’m extremely strong academics-wise, have great recommendations, wrote about a passion for learning, etc; but don’t have as many sports or other such activities, which will weigh more in admissions? Will they value my academics enough to overlook my lack of other activities? I don’t mean I didn’t have any, I just didn’t have as many as a lot of applicants. Does Exeter value academics most in the applications process?
If you don’t have any other activities, getting in is going to be way harder. People that are amazing academically also have good extracurriculars.
Exeter values quality over quantity. A person who does 2-3 ECs but has done them for 6-10 years is going to be valued more than a person who does 10 ECs but only for a few months to a year.
Every school values quality over quantity. But do you have outside interests/activities? I do not think anyone wants the person who has nothing but A’s and a 99% SSAT its boring and doesn’t make for a good community member. Boarding schools want kids who will participate in the community in varied ways, this is not just done through academics and athletics…
Don’t listen to people in chances forums. They are not on the admissions committee. Just apply, do your best, and see what happens.
Are you saying that you get stellar grades, or do you mean you’re good at academic clubs? (Ex: Science Olympiad, MathCounts, etc) If you’re talking about those kinds of clubs, that’s good. But if all you have are good grades, I’m sorry but that doesn’t make you stand out among applicants.