<p>Hey all, I graduated from Exeter this year. I've been at the school for four years so I know it very VERY well. Ask away about anything - academics, admissions, dorm life, sports, etc!</p>
<p>EDIT: I might also add that I've worked with the Exeter admissions office for all four years, so I know the admissions officers personally and how the admissions process works.</p>
<p>Why did you decide to attend Exeter?</p>
<p>What have been some of the best parts of your time there?</p>
<p>Any advice for applicants or new students, or things you wish you had known or done earlier?</p>
<p>And thanks for coming back and good luck in college!</p>
<p>Hello 2prepMom!</p>
<p>I decided to attend Exeter because of “push” and “pull” reasons. The “pull” was definitely the Harkness system, the amazing teachers, and a tight-knit dorm life. The “push” reasons - I wanted to get away from my former school because of lack of opportunities, and my dad also went to Exeter.</p>
<p>Best parts of my time there - rather than specific moments I would say experiences. I grew to love history there, I made some amazing friends who will stay with me for a lifetime, and I got to become friends with teachers. Some of them became my second parents. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if you know about our grading system. Our GPAs are based on a scale of 11. If you are looking to get into a great college (Ivy League + Stanford + MIT + UChicago), you definitely have to have above a 10 (top 20% of the class). Although I eventually graduated with above a 10, I wish I had known earlier when I had the time to raise my grades. </p>
<p>Hope I answered your questions</p>
<p>I have one question for my friend whose son is likely to apply to Exeter this Fall.
Since he does not have access to CC, I think I may ask for him. (My son has just started in the boarding school in the West.) </p>
<p>As you spent four years with the admissions, what does Exeter look for most to the applicants, hopefully compared to other top notch counterpart such as Andover?<br>
I know it’s not the smartest question but sometimes simple is better.</p>
<p>What is the workload like for the average student there? Do many kids find it overwhelming? What resources are there to help 1st-year students adapt to the school and the workload (help them learn better study habits, how to manage time wisely, etc.)? Thanks!</p>
<p>Dear patronyork, although it’s a simple question it’s also one that’s very hard to answer. Every year we read applications from all different types of people and what we look for to round out every incoming class differs from year to year - if our football team is losing talented seniors this year we might accept more football kids, if we don’t have enough people from the Caribbean we might accept more Caribbean kids.</p>
<p>One of the biggest misconceptions about Exeter (and even college) admissions is that we’re not looking for well-rounded people, we’re hoping to make a well-rounded CLASS. That said, we look for people who are deeply passionate about the things they do. We’re not looking for people who have breadth but no depth. In fact we’re looking for the opposite - depth. We want kids who are passionate about making a difference in the world, and people who are willing to learn from each other’s differences and work to be the future leaders of the world. As you probably know, Exeter is the only school that uses the Harkness method for all classes - Exeter also looks for people who can contribute meaningful ideas to enrich and expand knowledge at the table. I hope this has answered your question.</p>
<p>twinsmama, the workload here is difficult but manageable. I’ve always had great time management and organization skills so I got through Exeter without any problem. During my prep year I was able to finish my work by 11 (we had free time throughout the day). Just like in college, your first two years you have classes more frequently throughout the week but less homework. During upper and senior years you have classes less (3-4x a week) but with more homework, like essays and projects. </p>
<p>Unfortunately there are not many resources for 1st years on time management. We all learn on our own how to manage time. There are adults, like your advisor + dorm faculty, that can give you advice, but they aren’t parents. However, Exonians definitely learn throughout the course of their time here and are better off than most others at college.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your information. It helped. </p>
<p>I heard that Exeter puts more importance on the academic aspect of applicants than others such as ECs, compared to other top schools. It it true?</p>
<p>BTW, I guess you have started your college life and wish you all the best!</p>
<p>Sulz, this year there have been a number of new changes designed to help new preps adjust to the time management and workload challenges. </p>
<p>First term prep year is now pass-fail on the transcript (but preps alone get to see the actual grades), and the mandatory study hours will also have optional supervised quite study halls for preps who choose a quiet supervised environment to study in.</p>
<p>Exeter does try new stuff to see how it works - ending almost all Saturday classes has worked out well, for example.</p>
<p>This is true, but the question asked was are there any RESOURCES. Having pass-fail, ending Saturday classes, and mandatory study hours definitely helps to alleviate the stress for new students, but there is no one to tell or advise them how to study, how to manage time, or how to juggle everything at once. It’s really up to the student to figure out how to use effectively the mandatory study hours and lack of Saturday classes.</p>
<p>I would say this is true. Exeter is an academic institution so the first thing it’s going to look at is the courses you’ve taken and the grades you’ve gotten in them. They want people who will thrive at the Harkness table.</p>
<p>Thank you, that is pretty much the way I thought it would be.</p>
<p>Do you have any tips for applicant essays? I’m a fully dedicated dancer… Do you know anything about the dance programs? I checked the Exeter site, but it doesn’t specifically list if there is pointe or not. I’m planning on doing my “passionate topic” essay about dance and a “challenging myself” to be learning capsule endoscopy. Are those good ideas? Sorry for bugging you, I’m just really curious and attentive.</p>
<p>Dear CJut12,</p>
<p>I’m going to be completely honest with you - the dance program at Exeter isn’t that great. There’s only one teacher/choreographer for the entire dance program and there is rarely any focus on pointe - more so modern dance. I think only seniors get to choreograph pieces. Time commitment is big - about 15 hrs a week, but many kids who have done dance for many many years have dropped out of the dance program to do something else. If you are looking to further your passion in dance, this is not the place for you. </p>
<p>If you are still thinking of applying, I think those topics would make very good essay topics!</p>
<p>I am currently a Indian 9th grader in Indiana. I am applying to Exeter for 10th grade.</p>
<p>Grades:
8th grade- Gifted/Talented Program And High School Math All As one A- in Orchestra.
GPA 3.928
(9th grade grades are not in but I am most likely all As (so far))
Classes for 9th-
Biology A
Algebra 2 A
English Academic Advanced Honors
Latin
Sociology
Psychology
PE
Health</p>
<p>ECs
Spell Bowl 6yrs Captain 3yrs
MathCounts/Bowl 5yrs Top 12 2yrs
Tennis-5yrs Team 2yrs
Dance- I have choregraphed Indian dances but its mostly just at functions.
Student Council- 2yrs
Battle of the Books- 2yrs
Volunteer- 1yr
Religous Competition and Volunteer at an Indian “Church”
English Bowl- 3yrs Captain 1yr
StandClub ( raises money for poor places and victims of genocide and what not)
Swimming ( I learn)
I play hockey (recreational)
I do pretty much anything I can.
i play 2nd chair violin all through middle school and some in elementary-6yrs
gone to state science fair 2 times 1 time reigonal 1st place at school 3 times</p>
<p>SSAT/PSAT/SAT
SSAT- Last i got a 90 percentile… This year aiming for 95-99.
PSAT- I am going to take it in October so far practicing and tests i have gotten 200-230
SAT- I took it in 7th I got a 1630 without prep sooo I gues I could use this to predict my SSAT score.</p>
<p>MEEEE</p>
<p>I am very enthusiatic about learning and have very high ambitions in life. For my essay one of them i am writing about wanting to become a traveling doctor that works in remote places because some places dont have access to medical carewhile we have too much.</p>
<p>Hi, thanks for answering questions!</p>
<p>No one answered in the other thread and I have a couple questions since I’m considering applying:</p>
<p>What do you think about Harkness? Is it mostly centered around discussion? What is the grading generally like?</p>
<p>How is the extracurricular selection? How many activities can you generally do in one semester?</p>
<p>What is dorm life and the community like? What do you usually do on weekends? How often do most people go home every year?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>What are your opinions about the computer science courses in Exeter? </p>
<p>Are there many students taking the computer science courses?</p>
<p>I just read through 17 pages of an old thread called, “If you’re considering Exeter / going to Exeter.” I would search for it, @wkdexeterfl, it discusses computer science and electives in addition to a bunch more. :D</p>
<p>do you know how the admissions officers view reapplicants? is it to one’s advantage if they applied one year, were waitlisted, and then applied again the next year? this is my situation. i’m applying for 11th grade, which i know is a competitive grade, but im hoping since i was waitlisted, that means i was at least KIND of academically admissable/a good applicant.</p>
<p>I just have one quick question. How badly will a B in Geometry 1st semester 8th grade hurt my chances of getting into prep schools this year?</p>