<p>Yes, they post grades publicly and whip all the students who don't have all A's :) Seriously, I don't know who you've been talking to! Grades are confidential and are never discussed publicly. Your grades are only shared with you, your parents at the end of the term, and your adviser. That's it. Also, while admission may be competitive, once you're in, you'll find that the school strongly promotes collaborative rather than competitive behavior. Discussion-style classes only work when people collaborate.</p>
<p>PEA Teacher,</p>
<p>If you go by the posts on CC, the general consensus seems to be that Exeter is a math and science oriented school. The people we've met at Exeter also say that it is excellent for the Humanities. I'm sure that Exeter is very strong academically in all the disciplines but wonder why it is thought of more as a Math or Science school. Would it be a good fit for a very artistic or creative person?</p>
<p>Thanks for asking this question, chaidrinker. Personally, I don't think it makes any sense to think of Exeter as a "Math/Science school." I think Exeter is known for that simply because over the years we've happened to have faculty in these disciplines that gained national attention (e.g., Dick Brown with his math textbooks; now Zuming Feng with his coaching of the U.S. Math Olympic Team). A small number of visible faculty can attract students who are "into" Math & Science, and before you know it the school has developed a reputation for it.</p>
<p>The reality, however, is that this is not college or graduate school. All high schools exist to teach basic, fundamental skills, not to prepare specialists. I'm quite sure that all faculty and administrators at Exeter believe that students need to be well rounded. Unlike in universities where national visibility in one field can drive grants, money, resources, etc., the focus at Exeter is on delivering an excellent, broadly based education. Nobody has any interest in "marketing" the school as a "math/science school" the way that some colleges choose to capitalize on their strength in specific disciplines to market themselves. Similarly, the Math Department at Exeter doesn't get more support or more resources than other departments just because Exeter students have done well in Math competitions.</p>
<p>In short, it is my view that "reputations" for specific disciplines have little meaning at a high school; such reputations are a poor criterion to choose one school over another. Better criteria are objective features and priorities of the school as they relate to the specific needs and goals of the student. E.g., Exeter objectively emphasizes discussion-based learning; this makes it a good fit for students who learn best in a discussion-oriented environment; Exeter has a large and diverse student body; this makes it a good fit for students who prefer the richness of this kind of student body to the more intimate feeling of smaller schools; and so on.</p>
<p>To answer your question more directly, can Exeter be a good fit for a "very artistic and creative person"? Yes, if that person likes Harkness and everything else. And, conversely, Exeter is a bad fit for a kid who loves Math and Science but wants chapel in the morning and sit-down dinners with faculty every evening.</p>
<p>PEA Teacher,</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply and clarifying that the focus is on a well rounded education with emphasis on discussion based learning.</p>
<p>I agree with everything PEATeacher said, but I guess I want to add that, in my opinion, it is hard to commit to the arts at Exeter. In my experience, I've found that the academic rigor and extracurricular ambitions - as much as I love/hate them - overshadowed my passion for the arts. It's something I regret a little, because it is hard to learn new techniques as you get older. Previous to coming to Exeter, I practiced my instrument 2-3 hours a day. This is very hard to do at Exeter (not impossible though) because the school does not put as much emphasis on the arts as it does on sports. So I think that is something an artist or a musician should think about; do you want time every day dedicated to your art or music? Again, I'm not saying it's impossible... just very hard.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the lack of time to practice did force me to progress as a musician in different ways, and Exeter has better resources and opportunities than most schools, even in the arts (Example: the concert series every Tuesday evening). The music department is always working on the school putting more emphasis on the arts.</p>
<p>And if you are not too serious about the arts, Exeter is a great place to try out different things.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>What kind of credit does Anthropology count for? </p>
<p>Thank you for doing this, it's great to have a reliable resource on the forum.</p>
<p>A very general questions- if a child has significant food allergies- Can the dorm food prepared for the individual instead of for the entire group? (Believe me, no one wants her food limitations!)</p>
<p>Second question. Are children with asthma admitted to the school?</p>
<p>Third question, unrelated to health, do you feel that Exeter students are socially able to mix with others of less academic ability in the adult world? If your brilliant but without social skills, you may not advance as far as someone less intelligent but with better social skills. My question is not phrased well, however I am concerned with intense emphasis on academics above all other life skills.</p>
<p>if i do end up going to exeter, i'll be going in as a junior...
i'm not very athletic, so i probably won't end up on a jv team at all leaving me w/ p.e.
does that mean i can't take a club sport at all during my junior year?
also, i do want to run on the treadmill at the gym and whatnot, will i find time in my day to do so?</p>
<p>how is the arts program at exeter?
what would you think is it's strongest point in the fine arts department?
i didn't apply for exeter this year, but i'm thinking about it for next year</p>
<p>Wow, so many questions! Another one: How are student dorms divided? Like, a grade in each dorm, or each building floor, or are all grades mixed up all over the dorm?</p>
<p>[falling behind again...]</p>
<p>
[quote]
What kind of credit does Anthropology count for?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't believe it satisfies any requirements. It just gives you credit, as an elective. You may want to double-check with Mr. Foster, who teaches it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A very general questions- if a child has significant food allergies- Can the dorm food prepared for the individual instead of for the entire group? (Believe me, no one wants her food limitations!)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I really don't know. The dining hall staff is truly exceptional, and I'm sure that the question has come up before. Best to ask the Deans.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Second question. Are children with asthma admitted to the school?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't see why not. A lot of students have health issues. As long as these issues can be managed at school with the help of Exeter health staff, that's typically not a problem, but, again, discuss the details with the Deans. One of the Deans specializes in health issues and can address most effectively concerns in this area.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Third question, unrelated to health, do you feel that Exeter students are socially able to mix with others of less academic ability in the adult world? If your brilliant but without social skills, you may not advance as far as someone less intelligent but with better social skills. My question is not phrased well, however I am concerned with intense emphasis on academics above all other life skills.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you're asking whether Exeter students are all awkward nerds who can't have a conversation with a regular human being, that's definitely not the case. If anything, Exeter students get a lot of opportunities for interaction and public speaking through the Harkness method, so they tend to be quite confident in social situations. By the time they enter the college, they tend to get across as more mature and socially able than your average college freshman. This isn't to say that there aren't kids with poor social or interpersonal skills; but all good schools tend to attract kids who are more often seen in the library than at parties and dances. By and large, Exeter (and boarding school in general) helps such kids hone their social skills.</p>
<p>
[quote]
if i do end up going to exeter, i'll be going in as a junior...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I assume you mean "junior" as in 11th-grader (at Exeter, junior = 9th grader)</p>
<p>
[quote]
i'm not very athletic, so i probably won't end up on a jv team at all leaving me w/ p.e. does that mean i can't take a club sport at all during my junior year?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, it's actually the other way around. If you don't try out for a varsity/jv team, then you must do a club sport. There's no such thing as "plain" p.e. after the 9th grade. You just pick a club sport from the catalog and you sign up for that, and that's your "p.e." Uppers and Seniors can also choose to opt out of p.e. for one of the three terms.</p>
<p>
[quote]
also, i do want to run on the treadmill at the gym and whatnot, will i find time in my day to do so?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, if you really want to do that on top of your regular sport, I'm sure you'll be able to do it; just keep in mind that your schedule will be very busy, so you'll have to make some hard decisions on what you can fit in and what you can't. Also, you can choose "fitness" as your club sport, and that's basically doing aerobic workouts.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how is the arts program at exeter?
what would you think is it's strongest point in the fine arts department?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There are excellent teachers and great classes across the Arts. I'm reluctant to point to any one "strong point." Students may be better able to share their experiences.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How are student dorms divided? Like, a grade in each dorm, or each building floor, or are all grades mixed up all over the dorm?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In all the larger brick dorms, all grades are mixed. There is no such thing as "lower" or "upper" dorms. Roommates are typically in the same grade, but, otherwise, every floor of every dorm will have some kids from each grade. I really like this approach. Especially when you come in as a 9th grader, most of the people in your classes will also be 9th graders and all the people in the standard P.E. program will be 9th graders, so the dorm is a good place to give you a chance to get to know well older students.</p>
<p>The exception to the mixing rule is that houses (i.e., smaller dorms with about 10-15 students) tend to have only 11th and 12th graders; occasionally they have 10th graders, but they never have 9th graders.</p>
<p>I've enjoyed answering questions in this thread. As Spring Break is coming to an end, my time to get on this board and write answers will shrink significantly. Please DO keep the questions coming, but also keep in mind that it may take me a few days to answer them, so please be patient. I will get to them eventually :)</p>
<p>Well I hope your spring break was fun, and enjoy this last Saturday! </p>
<p>Question... Is there a cafe type place (like Starbucks, except maybe more cozy, or merged with a bookstore) that I can go and get my hw done over the weekends. When I have a lot of studying over weekends I usually go to the cafe around 10 get a large coffee shake and study. </p>
<p>Of course that would be immaterial in my choice, just wondering. Also, for the "classical diploma" I would need to complete both Greek and Latin, correct? If I chose to go to PEA this would be something that I would like to accomplish, but I am currently taking French2 and I do not know if dropping that completely is a good idea. I originally wanted to take Latin/Fr but Greek is too cool.</p>
<p>Question2: What happens to students who are truly struggling in a class. Not because a lack of effort, just a genuine struggle. Does the advisor work w/ the teacher? And how many students would you say balance the highest mark (11?) in each class, yet manage to due many other things.</p>
<p>Could I take two languages like Spanish and Chinese?</p>
<p>There is an independently owned bookstore in town and two good cafes. One is the Bakers Peel and the other is Me & Ollies. Townies (some with small, loud children and giant strollers :) ) and PEA students alike flock to these places on the weekend. There are couches and tables in Me & Ollies.
In my son's classes the 'average' grades amongst peers seem to be in the B- to B+ range. That did not really answer your question regarding how the 11's are balanced - I think 11's are not that easy to get. Seems like most kids I know (through my son) get maybe one A, an A-, and a good mix in the B range. This puts you in at least honors and will get you high honors if you get a 9 average (B+).</p>
<p>I've been wondering about kids leaving campus. I looked thru the e-book and it talked about kids taking their bikes off campus ect. What type of permission is needed for this? Who keeps track of where they're going? - Thanks</p>
<p>If you look in the ebook there is a map of the radius of permitted areas where the students can go without specific permissions. Once you get your deposit submitted, there is a sheaf of papers you must fill out deciding where and with whom your student may go. For example, we have a list of 3 friends or relatives that he may ride in a car with. There is a blanket permission for him to go on school sponsored transportation. He may not ride in a car with a day student, or anyone under 18 or 21. He may not take the Downeaster to Boston. You get the idea. As he ages, we will see how our permissions evolve. Generally, anytime there is a day student/boarder car situation - check first and get permission. We always check in (a quick email) with Mr. Morrissey when a new situation crops up and there aren't explicit instructions in the ebook. Overnights always need OOT permissions (even at your house), and they must be turned in by Friday at 1pm. Students must check in IN PERSON by 6 on Sunday night at Smith Hall. Many kids have bikes on campus (register them online with campus security) and do ride them off campus (within the radius) - mostly to Staples, Walgreens, or the grocery store as they are a bit of a walk.</p>
<p>Thanks! that was very helpful.</p>
<p>I recently was accepted as a sophmore to Exeter, and I'm not repeating.</p>
<p>How hard is it to adjust to the workload as well as the environment?</p>
<p>I come from a public school in OK btw.</p>