Ask a prep school student

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>So, I'm a senior at an all-girls prep school in Washington, D.C. My brothers all went to [the oldest boy's school in the United States], also near DC, where they were day students but really good friends with boarders there. Between all of us, we have a lot of prep-school experience.</p>

<p>I'm sure a lot of people looking at prep schools have questions about life in a prep school, which is a LOT different from public school. I know I did before I went.</p>

<p>So this is to ask me/any other CCer at a prep school anything you want. Really. Anything. About student life, tradition, single sex ed, hell, even academics. Hypothetical, do-you-think-it's-even-worth-it questions are great, too.</p>

<p>You can PM me, too.</p>

<p>...er, go!</p>

2

<p>Good idea! </p>

<p>I have a bunch:
1. How much homework can you expect nightly?
2. What about sick days? Do you just call in? As in, the same as a public school?
3. Are the academics more difficult? Or just higher in volume...
4. Hazing? (This hadn't even crossed my mind initially, only until some I told I was applying to Exeter said something to the tune of "Oh my but what about the hazing?" Ugh.)
5. SLEEP. Please tell me. I've managed to squeeze in 8-9 hours nightly for the past couple years, how BAD is the lack of sleep?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

3

<p>Okay...
How many schools did you apply to.
What were your scores
What schools did you get accepted/ waitlisted.
Why did you choose the school you chose
What were your chances based upon your "hooks"
What talents do you have.. Basically your 'resume' if you may say.
Where were you located.
How hard was it compared to your public school? ( How easy was it, say, how many people passed the classes)
Where is your current prep school stand among the other schools?
Did you get FA? How much? </p>

<p>Thanks, sorry for having lots of questions! I have more than the poster above (=</p>

4

<p>I think I'll start from the beginning. And just so you know, I'm currently at Exeter.</p>

<p>
[quote]
1. How much homework can you expect nightly?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I generally have around three hours of homework a night, but it varies per night. Really, it's what you make of it. If you choose to spend four hours doing one subject, you're going to spend your entire life doing homework, but if you make good use of your time, you can usually be in bed by 11:30. </p>

<p>
[quote]
2. What about sick days? Do you just call in? As in, the same as a public school?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not sure about the day student procedure, but here at Exeter, if a boarder is sick enough to miss class, they have to go to the health center. As in, they can't just call or email and say "I have strep and I'm going to have to miss all my classes today." The student has to go to the health center and if they're so sick that they can't walk there, campus security will take them.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. Are the academics more difficult? Or just higher in volume...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depends on your old school. My old school was a not-very-challenging public school, so I find that both apply. The academics are much, much, much more challenging and I am held to higher standards than before. I also have a lot more homework than before.</p>

<p>
[quote]
4. Hazing? (This hadn't even crossed my mind initially, only until some I told I was applying to Exeter said something to the tune of "Oh my but what about the hazing?" Ugh.)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I know for a fact that Exeter has a no tolerance policy for hazing and I think that other prep schools do also. As in, you get caught hazing someone and two weeks later, you're gone. I haven't been hazed, I know has been hazed, and no one in my dorm would haze anyone else. </p>

<p>
[quote]
5. SLEEP. Please tell me. I've managed to squeeze in 8-9 hours nightly for the past couple years, how BAD is the lack of sleep?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This ties in with number one. If you spend loads of time on homework, you won't get much sleep, whereas if you get your homework done relatively quickly, you'll get more sleep. Most people I know (including me) get more or less seven hours of sleep. </p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

5

<p>So I am a prep at Exeter.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How much homework can you expect nightly?
I'll be honest, sometimes I don't do all of my homework out of laziness. There will be those days. Like right now, I have 2 hours till lights out and I'm answering your questions =). But you can expect 2-3. It's really not bad considering the fact that they give you the study hours from 8-10 here, I don't know how other schools are though.</p></li>
<li><p>What about sick days? Do you just call in? As in, the same as a public school?
You go to the health center, in which they are really nice about what ever your problem is, and you sleep or get medicine. We also have fatigue visits, where, if you are really tired, you can go to the Health Center and not get an absent slip...thing.</p></li>
<li><p>Are the academics more difficult? Or just higher in volume...
More demanding, you have to actually work because they are higher in volume. So both. Once again, it's really nice how they give you time to work, but it can be stressful.</p></li>
<li><p>Hazing? (This hadn't even crossed my mind initially, only until some I told I was applying to Exeter said something to the tune of "Oh my but what about the hazing?" Ugh.)
What hazing rather? No one gets hazed here as far as I know. Everyone has friends. The campus is really chill. Seriously, I know of no hazing. </p></li>
<li><p>SLEEP. Please tell me. I've managed to squeeze in 8-9 hours nightly for the past couple years, how BAD is the lack of sleep?
It can be as bad as you make it. I'm in a dorm where lights out means lights out, so we go to sleep at 11. Other dorms though don't enforce it and people are up till 3 in the morning. Seriously, you just set your priorities and go with it.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Other persons questions:</p>

<p>How many schools did you apply to?
One. Just Exeter, but apply to as many as you want. Some people here applied to like... 9.
What were your scores?
No idea for sure, but I think I got an 89% average. That's not great, it's not horrid though either. Your scores really aren't the only thing that matter, so just study, and you will be fine.
What schools did you get accepted/ waitlisted?
Accepted into Exeter!!! ...and my public school?
Why did you choose the school you chose?
Too long of an answer. Hogwarts. Adventure. Kick AwesomeneSS.
What were your chances based upon your "hooks"?
I think they were great BECAUSE I imagined me getting in. I strongly believe in believing in yourself.
What talents do you have.. Basically your 'resume' if you may say.
Lame question. I asked it all last year. But really, it doesn't matter what someone else has done, it matters what you have. Be well rounded, and be yourself.
Where were you located.
Illinois.
How hard was it compared to your public school? ( How easy was it, say, how many people passed the classes)
Harder, I think only about 3% of my old school would be able to attend boarding school without cracking from pressure, knowing time management, or being okay with the distance. That sounds like this sucks, but it isn't. I have so much fun here! Just you do have to realize the responsibility.
Where is your current prep school stand among the other schools?
Exeter...um, really up there?
Did you get FA? How much?
Almost full.</p>

6

<ol>
<li><p>What is your relationship like with day students (or vice versa)</p></li>
<li><p>What do you do in your free time ( if you have any)</p></li>
<li><p>Do you play a sport? And if so how much of your day/night does this take up</p></li>
</ol>

<p>4.What is your relationship like with your teachers </p>

<ol>
<li>What is your relationship like with friends from the public school or school you would otherwise be attending?</li>
</ol>

7

<p>sportincourty: </p>

<p>
[quote]
Like right now, I have 2 hours till lights out and I'm answering your questions =).

[/quote]

[quote]
I'm in a dorm where lights out means lights out, so we go to sleep at 11.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Haha. I love hearing all you Merrillites complain about lights out. Unlike McConnell, where our favorite dorm faculty member walks around chatting with everyone at 11:45. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Other dorms though don't enforce it and people are up till 3 in the morning.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's us. :P</p>

8

<p>I'm on a roll. Oh, and I'm a prep, like Sportincourty. </p>

<p>
[quote]
How many schools did you apply to.

[/quote]

six...I think</p>

<p>
[quote]
What were your scores

[/quote]

99 %ile overall</p>

<p>
[quote]
What schools did you get accepted/ waitlisted.

[/quote]

accepted: Loomis, Exeter
waitlisted: Andover, Hotchkiss, Choate</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why did you choose the school you chose

[/quote]

For its awesomeness and aweinspiringness.</p>

<p>
[quote]
What were your chances based upon your "hooks"

[/quote]

I honestly have no idea. I'm not sure that anyone knows their own chances. </p>

<p>
[quote]
What talents do you have.. Basically your 'resume' if you may say.

[/quote]

I really can't think of any right now. Maybe I'll get back to you if I discover that I have any. Unless being able to read for hours and hours without getting bored counts.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Where were you located.

[/quote]

Texas!</p>

<p>
[quote]
How hard was it compared to your public school? ( How easy was it, say, how many people passed the classes)

[/quote]

My public school had extremely low standards--as in, if you pay attention in class at least a third of the time and do at least a third of your homework, you can pass all of your classes. And that wouldn't fly here at Exeter. Really, I can only think of one person in my grade at my old school that would survive Exeter. But I'm not saying that Exeter is this grueling, cutthroat place that some people think it is.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Where is your current prep school stand among the other schools?

[/quote]

Judge for yourself. It depends on how you're ranking the schools.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Did you get FA? How much?

[/quote]

Mind if I don't answer that?</p>

<p>
[quote]
1. What is your relationship like with day students (or vice versa)

[/quote]

I feel like day students are an important part of the Exeter community, but a boarder definitely gets a lot more out of Exeter. Don't take that as necessarily true, though. I don't think I've been here long enough to know all about dstuds. </p>

<p>
[quote]
2. What do you do in your free time ( if you have any)

[/quote]

I'm still learning how to manage my time properly, but if I have any free time, it goes towards reading and talking to friends.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. Do you play a sport? And if so how much of your day/night does this take up

[/quote]

No, I don't play a sport. Go prep spaz!</p>

<p>
[quote]
4.What is your relationship like with your teachers

[/quote]

I haven't been here quite long enough to answer that very well. It's totally different from my old school, though. You see your teachers in their everyday lives, walking their dog, going to meals at dining hall, spending time with their family, and all of a sudden, they take a different persona. They're not just the people who grade your papers and your tests, anymore. And most of them are extremely willing to meet with you after class and talk to you. </p>

<p>
[quote]
5. What is your relationship like with friends from the public school or school you would otherwise be attending?

[/quote]

Back home at public school, I didn't get very involved in social life because there were very few people that shared the same interests as me. Very few people actually cared about their academics more than who they were going to the dance with next week or whether or not they had the cuter clothes than than everyone else. I'm totally the opposite of that, so I didn't fit in very well. By eighth grade, though, all the kids in the advanced program pretty much stuck together and I had one really special friend who I haven't stayed in touch with very well.</p>

9

<p>You guys are awesome. Great info.
Now I'll be a mom and say, "GET TO WORK!" :)</p>

10

<ol>
<li><p>how'd you study for the SSAT?</p></li>
<li><p>This question is regarding that question about if low scores can get you in a top school. well, have you met anyone with low scores? what do you think got them in the school?</p></li>
<li><p>how many muslim people actually attend Exeter? how do they feel? how do their parents feel? how is it for them?</p></li>
<li><p>what were your essay topics?</p></li>
<li><p>any tips for getting into top schools?</p></li>
<li><p>what does your top school consider a hook?</p></li>
<li><p>what do you think got you accepted to your school?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>sorry for the questions, but in my opinion their relatively short. :)</p>

11

<p>YAY! People thought I had a good idea.</p>

<ol>
<li>What is your relationship like with day students (or vice versa)</li>
</ol>

<p>Well, this doesn't apply to me, but my brothers used to get to Prep early and eat breakfast with the boarders. If they had to stay late (ex if my mom couldn't pick them up before 7), they would eat dinner with them, too. We always had boarders over to our house on the weekends, and sometimes, the holidays. So there was a lot of intermingling and friendliness, and one of my brother's best friends was a boarder. As I understand it, boarders really like to be able to go to a real HOUSE sometimes.</p>

<ol>
<li>What do you do in your free time ( if you have any)</li>
</ol>

<p>Tons of stuff. My school is in DC, after all. Movies and shopping, mostly.
3. Do you play a sport? And if so how much of your day/night does this take up</p>

<p>Nope. I do do tech for the theater and dance, though, and they can take up to 40 hours a week. Usually it's around 20.</p>

<p>4.What is your relationship like with your teachers </p>

<p>Pretty chill. It honestly depends on the teacher, just like it does at any other school. As you get older, the relationship changes (ie, teachers are authority figures to freshmen and mentors/guides to seniors)</p>

<ol>
<li>What is your relationship like with friends from the public school or school you would otherwise be attending?</li>
</ol>

<p>Honestly, I don't see them much anymore. We pretty much have lost contact. (But then, I didn't have a facebook as a freshman, so that changes things.) If you have really good friends in middle school, you'll still be friends. But kind-of friends will probably become people you only see "around".</p>

<p>Other Questions
1. how'd you study for the SSAT?
I didn't. I went in on a Saturday, took it, then went to the Silver Diner with my dad for breakfast.</p>

<p>Honestly-test prep is silly.</p>

<ol>
<li>This question is regarding that question about if low scores can get you in a top school. well, have you met anyone with low scores? what do you think got them in the school?</li>
</ol>

<p>Low SSAT scores- yeah, you can still get in. Low GPA and SSAT scores- I know one person, but they have their own charity and they're a world champion baton twirler. Just a low GPA- me. But my SSATs/HSPTs and my interview/essay were excellent.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>how many muslim people actually attend Exeter? how do they feel? how do their parents feel? how is it for them?
I don't know I don't go there.</p></li>
<li><p>what were your essay topics?
Oh, god, I can't remember. I know I had one personal statement, and I had to talk about my heroine (for an all girls), but I don't remember above that. It was a while ago.</p></li>
<li><p>any tips for getting into top schools?
Not really- just write a good essay and speak maturely when interviewed.</p></li>
<li><p>what does your top school consider a hook?
IDK--I wasn't even thinking about "hooks" at the time, just grades and stuff</p></li>
<li><p>what do you think got you accepted to your school?
Honestly? My interview. I interview VERY well, and I am also v. good at persuasive writing</p></li>
</ol>

12

<p>Wow thanks so much everyone! This was clearly a brilliant idea! And I was lucky enough to be answered by someone that goes to the only school I'm applying to - Exeter!</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
1. how'd you study for the SSAT?

[/quote]

I whipped out a Princeton Review test prep book during Thanksgiving break and took a few practice tests from the SSAT book. (I took it in December.)</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. This question is regarding that question about if low scores can get you in a top school. well, have you met anyone with low scores? what do you think got them in the school?

[/quote]

I really haven't asked around about SSAT scores, 'cause honestly, once you're here, no one cares what got you here. </p>

<p>
[quote]
3. how many muslim people actually attend Exeter? how do they feel? how do their parents feel? how is it for them?

[/quote]

I'm not sure exactly how many muslim students actually attend here. I know that there are six kids from Saudi, two of whom are Hindu, and one from Turkey. I know I see several girls walking around with head scarves on and no one makes fun of them or bothers them or anything. No one looks twice at them because they have a scarf wrapped around their hair, the way that no one would look twice at someone for wearing oh, flip flops to class. There's no discrimination about beliefs or anything. To most people it's just another interesting fact about you and your life. That's it. Nothing like, "OHMIGOD! You're Muslim! Get away from me!" That would never happen.</p>

<p>
[quote]
4. what were your essay topics?

[/quote]

The only one I can remember is "Write about your favorite activity." or something along those lines. Sorry. </p>

<p>
[quote]
5. any tips for getting into top schools?

[/quote]

Be yourself. In your essays, try to convey a sense of who you are so that they can get to know you. Be honest and sincere when you're interviewing. After all, they have to know who they're admitting. ;)</p>

<p>
[quote]
6. what does your top school consider a hook?

[/quote]

Here's Exeter's College Counseling Office's definition: <a href="http://college.exeter.edu/published/.../appendix.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://college.exeter.edu/published/.../appendix.html&lt;/a>
Here's a thread to look into: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/144779-hookology-101-special-college-applicant-qualities-admissions-advantages.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/144779-hookology-101-special-college-applicant-qualities-admissions-advantages.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
7. what do you think got you accepted to your school?

[/quote]

Erm...I have no idea whatsoever.</p>

14

<ol>
<li><p>What is your relationship like with day students (or vice versa): I have a few really good day student friends. There are two types of day students: those that, two months into school, you say "Wait, you don't board?" to and those that, two months into school, you say "wait, who are you?" to. My friends tend to be the first type, always active around campus. I suggest if you are a day student, staying on campus as much as possible.</p></li>
<li><p>What do you do in your free time ( if you have any): go to town, watch a movie, go to dances- we have so many more than my old school, just hang out with friends, write...I don't have that much, but I have enough.</p></li>
<li><p>Do you play a sport? And if so how much of your day/night does this take up- I did cross country in the fall, which isn't that time consuming. It would be from 3:15-4:45 probably. Now I'm doing hockey which will probably be more time consuming. XC didn't have races Wednesdays, only Saturdays, but hockey will have games both times.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>4.What is your relationship like with your teachers: I LOVE (most) of my teachers. They're all just incredibly fabulous. They actually want to be there and teach, and their energy shines through.</p>

<ol>
<li>What is your relationship like with friends from the public school or school you would otherwise be attending? Ha, well. Currently we're in a bit of a tiff because they changed our Thanksgiving day race plans without telling me, and now I can't do them. I think my boarding school friends are much better friends than my home friends, and I have thought that since I came here, but I still hang out with my home friends when I'm home, etc. And I've remained really close with my camp friends, as I always will.</li>
</ol>

15

<p>bump..........</p>

16

<p>more questions:</p>

<p>what grade did you apply for? </p>

<p>did you generally feel like you would be accepted after visiting the school?</p>

<p>do you know anyone at your school that had high ssat scores and a low gpa?</p>

<p>is it hard leaving parents/family/friends? do you get homesick often?</p>

<p>what do you do on the weekends / do they get boring after a while? </p>

<p>do you have much free time?</p>

17

<p>Also, how hard was moving?
How big is your dorm?
Do you like your roommate?
What about shopping?</p>

18

<p>I think day students get the best of both worlds :)</p>

19

<p>These questions is particularly for the exonians out there ^.^</p>

<p>How prevalent is the atheist community on campus, if at all?</p>

<p>Do you really form a parent like relationship with your advisor?</p>

<p>What is the worst thing about exeter?</p>

<p>If anyone is a tour guide for exeter, do you fill out a form about who you toured?</p>

<p>What do you discuss with friends at lunch?</p>

20

<p>im at sps</p>

<p>what grade did you apply for? 9th</p>

<p>did you generally feel like you would be accepted after visiting the school? yeah but i don't really remember my visit...</p>

<p>do you know anyone at your school that had high ssat scores and a low gpa? nope</p>

<p>is it hard leaving parents/family/friends? do you get homesick often? i didn't cry when they left because your so busy the first few days and every day you don't have time to be homesick...also everyone here becomes like your family...close knit definitely is an understantment</p>

<p>what do you do on the weekends / do they get boring after a while? i mean i'm sure they can for some people but my friends and i find things to do every single weekend...there is a dance every weekend which is fun and also there is intervis every weekend....um they also have movies and we go to the mall a lot (shopping and fun) ...we go out to dinner at the local restaurants....haha everything</p>

<p>do you have much free time? i strangely do feel as though i have a perfect amount of free time, because whenever i have it i'm always with friends and i'm never bored
Also, how hard was moving? moving wasn't bad...at first i was really nervous i forgot something but now its like if you need something like batteries you can go ask anyone in your dorm and most likely they'll have whatever you need
How big is your dorm? my dorm is 30 ish people, but you get SO close with everyone
Do you like your roommate? yes, and although most people aren't very very good friends with there room mates no one absolutely hates their roommate</p>

<p>What about shopping? hahaha like i said before, we go shopping at the mall ALL THE TIME love ittt</p>