I love giant isopods :))
Yeah, they’re adorable. 
@HappyCria and @ImWaisian there are more classes you will want to take at Exeter than classes you will be able to take. It’s not too early to start planning out your courses for the entire time you’re there - the requirements are at the start of the course catalogue. There aren’t many spots for electives, so to speak, especially if you’re planning on doing a semester- or year-long off campus program. One helpful hint: if there is a required class you know will be very hard for you, take it the fall of your prep year (if you’re coming in as a prep). The grades are not officially recorded on your transcript. This proved to be a godsend for my son and the computer science requirement.
@momof3nyc Would you be comfortable telling us what exactly was so hard about CS? I have also heard that religion is a tricky course so you should take it fall of prep. What do you think?
@momof3nyc That’s a very helpful tip.
@ImWaisian My son is much more of a humanities person than math/science. He took three years of CS in middle school and hated every minute of it. He said the work itself wasn’t impossibly challenging, but combatting his inherent disinterest in the subject was what made CS challenging. He says he liked the instructor, and felt the assignments were fair, but it just wasn’t his thing.
Conversely, he took a religion class in the winter and absolutely loved it. He’s said he wishes he could take as much history and religion as he has to take math and science. Religion classes tend to be very discussion and writing-centric courses. If you’re not comfortable with those skills, it may be challenging.
@momof3nyc would you recommend religion so you know what to do the second term or computer science and just get it over with? I am fairly competent with math and I had fun with python but I was just wondering if it would be better to get some experience with the religion discussions and writing assignments before they’re actually graded.
@ImWaisian I would definitely recommend taking the classes fall term that are most challenging for you. CS was given as an example of what one student chose after knowing what they would most benefit from. CS was a breeze for all of my kids and they definitely would not have chosen that class to take prep fall. Our kids are math, science kids, so they all took history or religion prep fall. Of course only 2 benefitted from the pass/ fail option, as it did not exist with our older 2.
I also can tell you that my many kids hold off on taking religion classes until later in their careeer at PEA because there are many classes that are not open to preps or lowers. My suggestion is go with the subject you will find more challenging, but choose a class you are most interested in. The point of a pass/fail term is not to game your gpa- but to have the opportunity to learn how to engage at the Harkness table.
Aside from the subjects, there’s also over a hundred ECs! I’m planning to make an Esperanto society - who’s in?
I’m personally most interested in MUN and Exeter’s debate team!
Those are definitely going to be fun! I heard the debate team used to be a secret society.
@HappyCria You might be interested in the linguistics club! (As a side note there are also I think 8 languages you can take!)
Ten including the classical languages - I’m going to have a really hard time choosing. Kinda off topic, but I’ve been shopping for flannels, since they are the most versatile collared object in the universe. Just think about it - one can wear it like a normal person, tie two into a kilt (for those who strive to be like the Red Bandits), make a hammock for a teddy bear, use them as a decorational tapestry, or even make a giant slingshot. Even more off topic, I’m dreading the upcoming dorm bathrooms. And even farther away from the topic - I supposedly have an unexpected history tournament this week, so all I can think about right now are the endeavours of Charles VII of France and the Rif War.
@HappyCria All I can think of are the EOC dates towering over little, helpless me ?
@HappyCria I highly recommend taking Russian. It’s a small group of kids that stay together over the 4 years as they only have one amazing teacher (Mama) Our daughter was lucky enough to spend time in St. Petersburg last summer and is actually going to be majoring in Russian in college as she fell in love with the language and culture.
@vegas1 That does sound fun, but I already speak Russian, so I won’t take it. @ImWaisian Stay strong, may the mass times acceleration be with you!
I’ll put a plug in for Japanese - like Russian, there’s only one teacher, and she’s lovely and kind, and the students stay together all 4 years. There’s a senior fall option to study abroad in Tokyo, too.
You might want to hold off on buying too many clothes ahead of time - wait to see what works for you, what you really need, and remember that you will likely keep growing! The one item I’m glad we purchased ahead of time was a really good winter coat, as it was on spring clearance at REI.
@HappyCria , my DC has taken to wearing quite a bit of plaid and flannel. DC will most likely be taking Latin, and perhaps Greek.
@MariFeigh My kiddo is crazy about the classical languages. I guess they’ll get to know each other in class. Well, assuming Exeter remains her top choice after Friday’s revisit!
I just got the German placement test - stuff is finally happening!