Exeter Admission Decision Process

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>It seems PEA is everyone's favorite, so I wanted to share this</a> article that delineated its admission decision process.</p>

<p>One of the most interesting paragraphs was:</p>

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[quote]
Applicants are given scores one through five, with one meaning most desirable, and five as least desirable. Each folder is read three times. In the first round, students with total scores of three or four are most likely to be admitted, no matter his or her financial or racial background. Around 75 prep applicants each year receive a perfect score of all ones. “For the second tier of candidates, money may be an issue....

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<p>I don't like the visual of sorting candidates on an Excel spreadsheet but it seems a necessary evil, since it would be impractical to evaluate 2,604 applicants (= # of completed applications for 2012-13) in about a month without relying on some sort of numerical sorting process. What validated my suspicion was that, in a typical year, the top-tier candidates are admitted on a need-blind, race-blind basis. (The article did indicate that, in some exceptional years, even top candidates would not be guaranteed for admission if FA is needed.)</p>

<p>The second- and lower-tier candidates appear to be increasingly affected by various factors including FA status, race/diversity policy, hooks (EC, music, sports), etc. The bottom-tier, admitted candidates were a product of crapshoot process, to quote the last paragraph:</p>

<p>
[quote]
“To some degree, it’s just luck, it depends on who reads the folder. But there’s always a dividing line, those cases that go right on the border and could go either way, there could be 100 or 200,” Wolfson said. “To some degree, I hope you realize, it’s a crapshoot.”

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2

<p>I suspect Mr. Wolfson is suggesting that it is a “crap shoot” for any applicant. Exeter applicants tend to self-select Exeter (it does not use the common application systems), submit laborious hand-written essays, and hope they have a chance. </p>

<p>Focus your application on how you are different, stand out, will contribute something unique to the community. Oboe players from Montana, here is your moment!</p>

3

<p>This is why I suggest to students shooting for these most selective schools to examine themselves and their candidacy for these most selective schools. When you’re applying to these sorts of schools, you have to ask yourself if you are in the top 75 8th graders in the country. If you are not (and sometimes even if you are!) you have to bring something else to the party to have a chance to even get into the “second tier”.</p>

<p>FWIW, PEA is not everyone’s favorite. We crossed it off the list before we drove off campus.</p>

4

<p>Also,</p>

<p>Having just had this discussion while on campus, I find it maddening that people tend to take a snippet of information from an article and assume it means a specific thing. In this case, I fear that applicants who read this will assume “top tier” means grades and test scores. Not necessarily. </p>

<p>Just as it doesn’t mean that “second tier” are “hooked” kids.</p>

<p>Believe it or not - Exeter has become so competitive, just about everyone coming in is “top tier” in some way or another. </p>

<p>So - it is what it is, and regardless of a student’s status (3,000 applicants for only a few hundred spots) - a lot of top tier students with high rankings get turned down because there just isn’t enough space.</p>

<p>The advice remains that we’ve pushed for years on CC - apply to a range of schools, don’t put all your hopes in one basket, and don’t assume that lower than desired scores will keep you out, and don’t assume that perfect stats will get you in. Schools are choosing a class, not robotic stats.</p>

5

<p>@2prepmom What he said was, "To some degree,…, it’s a crapshoot." (Emphasis is mine.) Taking it within the context of what he said in entirety, I interpreted it was a crapshoot for some, but not for everyone.</p>

<p>@sevendad I think Exeter is a great school, one of the best B.S. in the country, but I don’t agree that “the top 75 8th graders in the country” are the same ones in Exeter’s top 75 admitted applicants. For whatever reasons, I believe a lot of kids simply choose not to apply to Exeter, or for that matter to any B.S.</p>

<p>@exie I’m not sure if the majority of readers will find that “top tier” applicants were determined by grades and test scores alone. Perhaps you’re worrying too much… According to its Director of Admissions, they consider such qualities as “demonstrated academic ability, a love for learning, good character and extracurricular talent in candidates.” However fuzzy their criteria might be, good character and EC talent would not be obvious in grades and test scores. Furthermore, if top tier were to be determined by grades and test scores, I don’t think it’s necessary that each application file is read by three different people; it would only take one person to sort and rank GPA and SSAT scores for thousands of candidates in less than one day. It’s not even necessary to bother to open application folders and read essays.</p>

6

<p>@sharinggift: I agree with you that Exeter is a great school. But it’s not for everyone, even those who may be admissable.</p>

<p>My point in using that 75 number was only to demonstrate (using Exeter’s own figures) just how competitive the application pool is at the most selective/most popular schools. Even if we multiply that number and say “the top 225” kids…how many applicants fit that description (based on any measure you choose)? Very few, relatively speaking. Which is why I find it amazing that so many kids limit their scope to these most selective schools.</p>

7

<p>@sevendad As is well known in psychology, we are not well equipped to judge ourselves, but often quite a good judge of others. Jesus scolded us for that two millenniums ago (Matthew 7:3) but it’s still work in progress. :slight_smile: And I guess that’s one of the reasons why we need one another.</p>

8

<p>SharingGifts - I know the Director, do local interviews for them and my information is a bit more informed than the stats published for general consumption. I think its fine to post an article - and even form an opinion from it. But reading generic information posted for a specific marketing purposes doesn’t trump first-hand knowledge. Sorry. :frowning: Getting into Exeter is anything but a crapshoot and it’s not fair posting as “the gospel” information you interpret from outside the system. Too many kids get their hearts broken following incorrect advice.</p>

<p>SevenDad is wise - kids should look broadly or risk being left with no options come March.</p>

9

<p>@ExieMITAlum No need to say sorry… cause I’m not convinced by your arguments. You’re practically accusing these folks at Exeter of being dishonest in public. I believe they have more integrity than suggested by your innuendo. Furthermore, the nature of the matter in discussion do not provide any incentives for them to make such conflicting statements between public and private. </p>

<p>Perhaps it’s a crapshoot for the 99.99% or whatever percentage of us, but why is it hard to believe that there are 0.01% or 75 8th graders whose credentials are so outstanding that three independent judges can unanimously agree to give the highest score? For them, it’s not crapshoot. Just because you don’t see them around doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. </p>

<p>I believe one’s perspective is influenced by his/her past experience. I respect that you often share your perspective with the rest of us. I do not appreciate that you force it upon us. It’s not like universal truths. I believe that we make this forum richer and more interesting when we share our experience without proselytizing.</p>

10

<p>I agree with Exie and Seven. Not sure why Sharing is struggling with the finer differences between public website marketing and first hand knowledge of Exeter’s admission’s process.</p>

11

<p>Oops. Yet another case of “regulars” trying to squelch a newer member’s views. SharingGift, I appreciate your posts on this thread. To me, your view is the more nuanced, here. Thanks for the article.</p>

12

<p>i agree with exie but not seven</p>