Hello! I may be applying for PEA as an incoming 11th grader (Upper, correct?) I know, it’s stupid to apply to one school, and one of the most exclusive but it is not because I am being cocky. It’s just that I don’t see the point in going to boarding school if not for Exeter. Otherwise, I think it’s just worth staying home because the only place I could see myself truly thriving is at PEA. Only other school I might apply to is Choate Rosemary, but yeah. Anyways,
-15 years old
-would need 100% financial aid
-play lacrosse
-my schedule this year:
Integrated Math 3+ aka Honors IM 3 (a combination of Pre Calculus and IM 3, a junior level math course) (would advance to AP Calc Ab next year)
AP Biology
Honors World History (no AP equivalent but I am taking the AP exam anyways)
Honors Speech right now, Honors International Relations next semester
Spanish 3 (no honors equivalent)
Honors English 2
-my schedule last year (freshman) was
PE
Integrated Math 2+ aka Honors IM 2
Geography/Health (1 sem each)
Honors English 1
Spanish 2
Honors Political Science/Honors State and Local Studies (1 sem each)
Biology
Plus, Chemistry over the summer.
I have over 50 hours of community service accumulated since freshman year. (I technically have A LOT more but it seems kinda pretentious to brag about something I did in elementary and middle school, if I am wrong and should list those achievements please let me know!)
-GPA: unweighted: 3.57
weighted: 4.0 (due to all the honor classes I took)
My grades first semester freshman year are kind of iffy. In my defense, I put in so much hard work but I had a prejudiced teacher who I just did not share fundamental education ideals with. I realize it sounds like I am bitter about the grade I received but I don’t think I am anymore. I learned a valuable lesson about the effectiveness of American Education system lol.
I don’t know, other (perhaps?) useless information about me.
-born in Italy, parents are from Africa. Moved to the States when I was 5. So i don’t know, I guess I’m African? African-American? African-Italian? Whatever.
-was born with a cleft lip and palate, leading to speech issues that have precluded me from joining organizations like Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, and others that I would love to do but oh well.
-I never had too many opportunities to do organized sports due to cost and also my mom has always been very busy, so I was unable to fully commit to anything up until middle school when I was finally able to start playing sports. (Also was very behind everyone with years of experience LOL)
-ECs I’m doing this year:
Red Cross Club
Key Club (a club for community service)
~maybe~ Moot Court
If you’re going to do the work to apply to one school, it’s not much more work to apply to multiple schools. Exeter is a great school - it’s where my kid is - but he could have been just as happy and just as challenged in at least 3-4 other schools we looked at. I would strongly encourage you to reconsider applying to only one school.
Agree. If you have a great LPS or other local option, take a swing for the fence approach. But if your going to the effort, don’t just take one pitch. My son took the same approach and it worked out great for him. Good luck!
PEA is not the be all end all of prep schools. There are many positives and a great many negatives/considerations as well. Have you taken the SSAT. That score will validate your grades to some degree and give you a better idea of your chances. Why would you think you are competitive at one of the prep schools that is the high school equivalent of an Ivy League School? Why only that one? Many would argue Andover is better–St Pauls, Choate, Groton, Milton, Hotchkiss etc send roughly equivalent numbers of students to top colleges. It is really irresponsible to call your teacher prejudiced by the way and mock the american education system. If you dont get the grades you feel you deserve at Exeter-will you call the teachers prejudiced? Many students at Exeter came in with top grades and then drop precipitously.
I didn’t say nor imply that I am competitive. By the way, the American Education system is flawed. I am not going to apologize for pointing out and I don’t see why it is an issue to do so. I am privileged enough to go to a pretty great public school considering the state of most in this country. Yes, I agree, there are many great schools out there. I don’t necessarily think Exeter is number one. I am just most attracted to that school and it is the one I focused on when convincing my parents to apply. By the way, I don’t really care about grades, to be honest. I love school and learning and if I am learning I am happy with my grades. I was just frustrated with this particular class because I learned nothing at the end of the semester when I had put so much effort into useless busywork and it was frustrating. In addition, this particular teacher played favorites. He is entitled to that for all I care, but considering 40% of the class was participation points-based and he only called on his favorites, I would say yes he was prejudiced. I don’t see how that is irresponsible but I respect your opinion.
“I was just frustrated with this particular class because I learned nothing at the end of the semester when I had put so much effort into useless busywork and it was frustrating. In addition, this particular teacher played favorites. He is entitled to that for all I care, but considering 40% of the class was participation points-based and he only called on his favorites, I would say yes he was prejudiced. I don’t see how that is irresponsible but I respect your opinion.” Well then enjoy this repeat experience if and when you attend Exeter. Welcome to life 101. I think you would be a very poor fit for the school just based on your comments.