For current and past students: What was your least favorite class at Exeter and why?
@ImWaisian The food is very similar, but I’d pick Wetherell over Elm, if only for the ambiance 
@YoungThriver not a student, but believe me I have heard all about my kids least favorite classes over the years.
S1- Chinese. He got his first C of his life. He had a native English speaking teacher first term and did decent. Second term he got a teacher new to the school who was a native Chinese speaker. He ended up dropping Chinese and taking German lower year. A much easier language to learn.
D2- she did not like Harkness- so every class of her 2 years at PEA
S2- pretty much every humanities class and any class before 10am. He is a math and science kid and really struggled to participate in conversations around Shakespeare etc… as he really didn’t care about the material. He also has horrible insomnia- so struggled to drag himself into early classes.
D2- advanced physics. She briefly wanted to be a math major in college, so was recommended to take the higher level physics. Once she committed, she stayed in for the entire year- despite us encouraging her to move down. She worked her but off to do well. Mostly she didn’t like the feeling of barely keeping her head above water as she was used to excelling.
As usual what classes you will love and hate will be totally unique for each individual. Even the worst class experience taught our kids something about how to live their life. Work harder, ask for help, show up, do it anyway, you won’t always be the best etc…
Can anyone tell me about what it is like to study the Classics at Exeter?
Congratulations @CriminalMindsB on your acceptance! I would suggest you look at prior threads about what to bring to BS, as there have been plenty. There isn’t anything unique that you would need for PEA vs other BS that I can think of. If you have specific questions feel free to ask, as I have many years of experience with kids in dorms at PEA. Our youngest graduates in June and we have collectively moved into 14 dorm rooms at PEA with them over the last 10 years.
I’m an incoming prep (first year student) at Phillips Exeter academy. I’ve seen a thread about what to pack but I’ve seen that it’s a mom of boys asking and the answers didn’t seem to be completely relevant. As a girl, I was wondering if a current or past student or parent could tell me about what they pack as a boarding student?
Everything you want to know about what to bring to BS has been covered in excruciating detail here:
(Start around page 64 for comments in this century.)
Also note that less is more. Start with a few summer clothes as opening days and the first few weeks at NE boarding schools can be very hot/humid. Your parents can take home the summer clothes and bring up some fall/winter clothes at Parents Weekend, or ship as necessary. Also note that most of a NE school year is winter. 
Thanks for the response! I was wondering if Exeter sends you an email giving you the contact info of your roommate so you can figure out who is bringing what.
@CriminalMindsB yes they have traditionally sent out late summer dorm and roommate information. If I remember correctly it is in August. The most common items roommates coordinate on are rugs
& printers and that’s about it. Pea provides most everything else except personals items.
I don’t think we are allowed to bring irons to school. What do we do if we need to iron some clothes?
How exactly do you bring your stuff. Do you ship it before coming to school and then unpack the packages once you arrive on sep 4 or bring all the stuff with you?
@badminton4life there are a variety of ways, and most kids do a little bit of everything.
- Ship it directly to the school in August and they will hold it for you until you arrive.
- Bed bath and beyond allows in store pick up as do many others now- where you can order online and pick up at the store close to school.
- Get there a little early and shop near the school. This is best for basics- snacks, personal care items etc…
- Stuff 2 suitcases each as full as possible and for alSouthwesr airlines.
@vegas1 if u get there early are u allowed to set up ur dorm before school starts?
@vegas1 That’s very helpful.
@vegas1 what about the issue of unaccompanied minor while taking an airplane. I heard PEA provides the service, but should we also need to purchase the service from the airline? Thanks.
No. Only international students, varsity athletes and dorm proctors. We used to stay at a hotel nearby for a few days before drop off.
@rjh2677 Not sure about PEA providing that service. Unless it is part of financial aid, I have never heard of them offering help on this. They do have bus service to pick up at surrounding airports that many kids use. You might search the forums, as I know there is great information about unaccompanied minor policies here. There are some airlines that do not charge for this - Southwest might be one if I am rembeting correctly .
@vegas1 I do not know the PEA policy but will search the forums. Thanks for your feedback.
@vegas1 I am coming from Taiwan but a US citizen, does that count, and would I need to stay at a nearby hotel and setup my dorm a few days before school starts?
@badminton4life traditionally move in has been the following cadence:
Tuesday: Proctors, Varsity athletes, and internal students move in
Wednesday: all other new students move in
Thursday: returning students move in. Sports try outs occur
Friday: First day of classes
You can google past schedules as an example.
https://www.exeter.edu/sites/default/files/documents/18-19-Orientation-Reg-Schedule-2.pdf