<p>Re the art courses, you must study at least two different areas. You can’t fulfill the requirement by taking private music lessons for 3 years (1/3 credit per term) because they want you to take both music and something else. You don’t have to take music. That’s just an example. You can take 2 credits of studio art like ceramics and one of theatre. Basically, they want to make sure that you actually create in 2 of your arts courses and not just study theory or art history.</p>
<p>As for history, take what interests you. The courses available to preps is limited to the 100 level courses, but they are very interesting and challenging. The only requirement for the 3 non-US courses is that one be nonWestern history and the courses that are so considered are marked in the catalog. The history courses will require a lot of reading and writing (as pretty much all classes at Exeter do!). I imagine that there are some preps who don’t even take history. You have a number of requirements for that elective spot. Some preps might take Computer Science, a religion course, and an art course and not take any history until later. I don’t think it really matters when you fulfill those requirements. Last year, they assigned a temporary advisor for new students to help them with registration.</p>
<p>If your adviser suggests physics, I’d go with that—partly because the advisers give good advice and partly because it sets you up to take a higher level biology your second year, if you want–one that will prepare you for the biology SAT2 exam (or the AP?–can’t remember which). The prereq. for physics is just a solid grasp of Algebra 1. </p>
<p>Students who take Biology first can still take the SAT2 exam–there are other, more compressed classes that prepare them for it as uppers/seniors–so those who don’t want to take physics first shouldn’t feel they have to to make the most of their time at Exeter. Most kids take bio. More mathematically inclined kids tend to take physics. </p>
<p>To echo what Neato said about the arts: lots of kids will complete their arts elective by taking lessons or joining a musical ensemble (3 terms in a row of one or the other equals one arts credit) and then one art class. My kid this year took lessons, joined an ensembe, and is now taking an art class that is making him want to take even more art classes down the road.</p>
<p>My son got lots of good advice about classes from current students at the school through pm’s on Facebook.</p>
<p>Exeter holds to course prerequisites pretty tightly, at least for the sciences. If you want to take AP Bio eventually (Bio 410/420/430), you need intro bio and chemistry first. Doesn’t matter what bio you’ve had in prior schools, they require the intro bio course at Exeter. Same for Chemistry. If you’ve had prior chemistry, better chance you’ll get into AP Chem if you get good grades in intro bio or physics, however, they won’t wave the Exeter Chem requirement for AP Bio. Difficult to pursue both AP Bio and AP Physics. AP Physics requires intro physics plus part of the calc math sequence (420 or 430). One possible heavily science weighted course load would be intro Bio 110/120/130 in Junior year, Chemistry 210/220/230 and Intro Physics 210/220/230 Lower year, AP Bio (410/420/430) in Upper year, and AP Physics Senior year (410/420/430). With the US History in Upper year, you really wouldn’t want to double up on science courses. Definitely wouldn’t want to double up on two AP science courses the same year (advisor probably wouldn’t let you). If you start with Intro Physics, really pushes your time frame for advanced Bio out to senior year, and makes it near impossible to also fit in AP Physics. Hope this helps a bit.</p>