<p>Hey!</p>
<p>I'm with a few friends looking to answer any and as many questions you might have about Exeter, boarding/prep school life, and admissions, so ask away!</p>
<p>MODERATOR'S NOTE: Anyone is free to ask or answer questions in this thread.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn</p>
<p>How competitive is it to get in for 10th grade?</p>
<p>Omg yay! I’ll be attending in the fall, so this will be very helpful.
Anyway I want to know just random things, like how much homework do you get (in hours) and how hard is it to get done, how hard are your courses in general, how fun it is, and how fun would you say it is being there (in comparison to living at home).
Now these are pretty generic questions, though I’m looking for the brutal truth, since this will be my life in a few short months. I heard from many other kids at other schools that all Exeter kids do is complain about their stress levels, or do homework (I just say they aren’t cut out for it 
). But really I’m curious to know what the transition was for you guys going in, and how big the learning curve was.
Thanks! 
P.S. Your answers can be pretty open ended, as my questions were all over the place haha. </p>
<p>@wcao9311, our class is roughly 250 students, 50 new students who arrived as tenth graders. It is substantially more competitive to enter, but the selection relies on the same application sifting that happens for ninth grade, and narrows based on less available spots. Don’t be put off by numbers though, if you’re interested don’t hesitate to apply! </p>
<p>@boardingjunkie Congrats and welcome! There isn’t really a set base for homework, but there is a 50 minute limit per subject of homework each night. You’ll generally have 6-8 math problems, about half an hour of English/History reading, roughly the same amount for science readings (more if you have a lab or an upcoming test), language homework depends on the language (the classical languages generally take longer). If you don’t understand something in a particular night’s homework there are always faculty and other students around to help. I have two math teachers and a chemistry teacher in the dorm who will often get visits from students in other dorms for homework help. As far as course difficulty goes you have the option to go through with “easier” courses, as well as the choice to take very intensive higher level courses, but you generally end up being in all the right classes!</p>
<p>Homework isn’t the most fun thing to do, but classes are great. Everyone’s got a passion for learning, and when it’s brought to a Harkness table you can feel the energy. It’s a lot of fun to be there, with things like going to Stillwell’s (the local icecream shop) with friends, relaxing in grill after a day of classes, and the lively conversations in the dining halls. We’re well connected to the town so you’re always open to roam there, and on Saturday’s a mall bus can take students to the mall in the town over.</p>
<p>Some kids do complain a lot, but you find those everywhere. Procrastination is the enemy, and I’ve found myself trying to finish an English essay, a physics lab, and a history project on the night before. You do get free blocks during the day, so if you manage your time well things won’t be all that stressful. In a way I also answered the question about Exeter kids always doing homework, but truthfully some people are mainly homework driven, and that works for them, but I find there’s a lot more to Exeter than just the homework.</p>
<p>The tranisition is entirely how you make it to be. It might be a bit difficult at first - homesickness affects everyone for the first few months, but once you immerse yourself in everything the school has to offer the “newness” fades away and you’ll find that you fit in well.There isn’t that much of a learning curve, as the admissions committee does a good job of selecting the right students for the school. You’re going to have a great time!</p>
<p>I’m also going to be a new Lower along with @boardingjunkie. I have a few questions too. Do you get to take any electives Upper year, even though you are required to take US History? Also, what fun events are there during the school year?</p>
<p>Thanks! Very good info indeed!</p>
<p>Thank you for this useful thread! One question: How is Exeter’s music/dance program?</p>
<p>@needtoboard I’m certain you could speak to the scheduler about fitting another elective in by dropping something else, but history already counts as the elective and really there isn’t that much time to do another elective, since upper year is so busy! </p>
<p>We have a lot of dances, shows, ice-cream parties, barbecues, dorm/grade organized laser tag, bowling (nearby), etc. The school gives us a lot of freedom in what to do through Student Council, as grade reps can organize events for their class and the Council can organize school-wide events. </p>
<p>@awsmyyy Exeter has a fantastic music and dance program, I’ll link a couple of the course pages: <a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/documents/COI/COIfinal2014-15.pdf#page=63”>http://www.exeter.edu/documents/COI/COIfinal2014-15.pdf#page=63</a> <a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/documents/COI/COIfinal2014-15.pdf#page=85”>http://www.exeter.edu/documents/COI/COIfinal2014-15.pdf#page=85</a></p>
<p>In addition, we’re getting renovations done to the music building, which currently has several large rooms for the music groups as well as ~50 private music rooms. The renovations will expand the music center and the theater/dance building. Lessons are offered for pretty much any instrument by professional musicians. We also put on a mainstage performance every term, with auditions at the beginning of every term. Hope this helped a bit!</p>
<p>Wow, that’s great! Thanks, this helps a lot! </p>
<p>Re electives - the curriculum is very flexible since only 2years of science and history are required for graduation, and speakers of a language other than English can use that to fulfill the language requirement. Most students try to take 4 years of math, science, language, English and social studies, but with classes limited to 5 a term and requirements for art, and a term of computer science, that is hard to do.</p>
<p>Hey how flexible is the school with schedule changes in the beginning of the year? Especially with things like music ensembles and placement in language/math?</p>
<p>Hey Leo,</p>
<p>I’m currently a private school student as well, and I’m often amazed at how Exeter maintains its exceptional performance in the mathematics and sciences.</p>
<p>I often participate in competitive math contests, and I’ve seen your school’s math team (PEARL) at this year’s HMMT and ARML competitions. At ARML especially, all of the PEARL team members were in the top rankings in the results (I sat next to a few of them lol).
My question is how do you guys train to be so good in your math/science clubs? I know Zuming Feng is a great math teacher, as he personally taught the IMO team for U.S.A. in recent years, but surely there must be some great resources that you guys use. Is it because of selective recruitment intentionally for strong math/science kids, or are there cases in which students develop that sheer talent from their years at Exeter and did not show any superior ability prior in those disciplines when being recruited?</p>
<p>If you guys have any idea on how Exeter trains for stuff like AMC/AIME/USAMO and the the other science olympiads (USNCO, USAPhO, USABO), or if you could ask from the kids on the actual teams, it would be awesome if you could let me know!</p>
<p>Thanks!
-BB</p>
<p>During the first few days after arrival at school, is there a bus (or something) to Walmart so that students can get supplies and such before actual classes start? Also, what is the first day like? Is it different for new lowers?</p>
<p>Please note that people who go to Exeter typically are already really good. Alot of kids have already made AIME in middle school, and quite a few have made jmo and amo.</p>
<p>OP, come back! ;)</p>
<p>@boardingjunkie Before the beginning of every term there is an add/drop period for courses, and the scheduler should be able to make the changes in time (sports are a big part of the schedule switches). For music ensembles you can go to the music center and audition for a certain group. Math and language placements are similar to music, as you can speak with your teachers at the start of the term for a placement test to move up a level (in your first year they place you in an appropriate transitional course based on previous grades/a test over the summer, and if you feel you aren’t in the right place, you can test out). Generally they put you where you should be in terms of courses, but the scheduling is usually very flexible if you’d like to change things!</p>
<p>Is it unhealthy for children to go away to school that early and then go away to college right after? What does that do to families?</p>
<p>@BipolarBuddhist Similarly to what @wcao9311 said, the kids who are involved in the math competitions have a history in that stuff. Mr. Feng is certainly a big part of their success at Exeter, he’s pretty strict about work and meets with the Math Club frequently. Some of them have sheer talent, but all of them practice like its another subject of homework. I will ask them about the resources and PM you with more details.</p>
<p>In regards to USABO, I was on the team, and I can just say we practiced all the time. Lots of dinner meetings and library study sessions, using several AP bio textbooks and the suggested materials from the organization.</p>