<p>I think the point people are trying to make here is that unless you take some extra math, you won’t be a candidate that a school like Exeter will take seriously. I’m not sure if that’s true or not–you might check the Exeter course catalog and see if their 11th grade math courses sound like what you’re taking. However, taking more math outside of class, through a program like CTY or in the summer, shows the kind of initiative that a school like Exeter or Andover likes to see. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth–my kid completed algebra 1 in 8th grade (the honors level course at the local public school) and was placed in the second lowest math class at Exeter. His SSAT scores were in the 700’s, which didn’t even place him in the 90th percentile for math.</p>
<p>@Classicalmama - what about Andover? I heard that they’re more geared towards humanities and Exeter is more math/science oriented. </p>
<p>What do you think of taking Alg. II Honors next year, pre-calc self study over the summer? </p>
<p>That probably wouldn’t make much sense if I’m applying for senior year…</p>
<p>Ok, how about Alg. II this year self study, pass the exam = pre-calc next year with calc self study as well, during that year? would that make up for it? ANYTHING? I’m freaking out!</p>
<p>@upennvetgirl727 that could work except your school wouldn’t necessarily know that you have taken self study over the summer. At least that’s how it works at my school. Like, we take our math placement tests at the end of the school year but before final exams to help determine what class we will be in in the next year, either low, middle, or honors. So if you did the self study over the summer you should notify your school and see if they can make an adjustment to you schedule and put you in AP cal instead of pre cal. i’m just a freshman though so don’t trust anything I say really, I’m quite new to this whole high school thing.</p>
<p>Okay, as a student at Exeter currently taking one of the highest level math courses offered here, let me say that people are making too big of a deal with the Algebra II in junior year thing. Not everyone at Exeter is a math genius.</p>
<p>chrome16 - Thank you!!! I just find what some of these people say hard to believe. So you don’t think they’ll mind too much if I take Alg. II honors next year? I mean that won’t DESTROY my chances, right? 
it’s always great to hear insight from an Extonian (or Exonian…whatever you guys are called haha I need to find out!) Thank you!!!</p>
<p>and btw, thanks exeterpraying for your tips :)</p>
<p>No problem (btw it’s Exonian, no ‘t’). By no means will taking Alg II Honors next year destroy your chances or even put a sizable dent in them. In my mind, you can split people at Exeter into two categories in terms of math skills: those who qualify for USAMO/USAJMO, and those who don’t. Being in the first category does make you a more attractive applicant. Being in the second category and taking Alg II junior year doesn’t give you worse chances than someone else in the second category who took Alg II freshman year.</p>
<p>So in short, don’t fret too much about the math curriculum. From what you’ve posted, it seems like you’ve already expended a great deal of effort trying to alter your course schedule. And while Exeter carries the image of being a math/science school, our English and history departments are easily two of the best around.</p>
<p>chrome - That is great to hear!!! Really took a weight off of my shoulders; knowing that my odds of getting in aren’t a slim as I thought (with the math and all.) Really means a lot that you commented! </p>
<p>And is it true, though, do they only accept VERY few seniors? Because I heard that the longer I wait the lower my chances. I just don’t think it would be right for me to apply without them seeing at least one A.P class and two years of an upward trend to show them that I am for real. Also, if I apply next year (to gain admissions for senior year), it will give me more time to show my passions through my extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Also, chrome, is it a BAD thing to repeat? I hear all of this talk about being a repeat freshman, soph, etc…</p>
<p>It is not a ‘bad’ thing to repeat. Some of my friends here are repeats and it doesn’t affect them or how other people view them at all. In other words, there is no stigma for repeating. Go with your gut: if you feel it’s best to wait a year and then apply as a repeat, then do so. It’s true that new seniors are relatively rare. We accepted 37 seniors/PGs (most PGs were recruited for a varsity sport, though one of my PG friends doesn’t play a sport) and 40 new uppers this year. You may also want to consider the pros and cons of two years at Exeter vs just one year. Again, in the end it’s up to you to decide what’s best. Good luck:)</p>
<p>Correction: I shouldn’t say we accepted 37 and 40, but that’s how many came here. (We could have accepted more)</p>
<p>-chrome- Yeah, I definitely think that I will apply for senior & PG year. Possibly as a repeat freshman? Because my freshman year wasn’t the greatest.</p>
<p>I should clarify: all PGs at Exeter enter from other schools, i.e. you can’t enter Exeter as a senior and then continue as a PG. If you want to spend two years here, you would have to repeat upper year.</p>
<p>By repeat freshman do you mean repeating at least two years? That’s rather abnormal; all the repeats I know are only down by one year. If you want my opinion, I’d say either apply as a new senior (again, very selective, and you only get to spend one year here) or as a repeat new upper (still selective, but not as much as applying to be a new senior, and this way you get to spend two years here).</p>
<p>I will definitely do the latter. Good tips, and I REALLY appreciate your answer </p>
<p>Turns out they won’t let me test out of pre-calc and delve right into AP Calc AB…sucks… but you know what? </p>
<p>I’m going to self-study two APs this year and get a great grade on the exam </p>
<p>What do you think of starting up on self-studying AP Calc AB now and taking the exam next year? maybe I could also start up on studying alg. ii for the SAT next year?</p>
<p>Again, no problem I think I would have chosen the latter as well. If you’re confident that you will score well on the exams, then go for it. If by “next year,” you mean May 2012, then it’s never too earlier to start studying. But if you mean you plan on taking the AP Calc exam in May 2013, then it’s way too early; I just finished calc two terms ago and I can barely remember some of the concepts. Math knowledge is hard to retain, so make sure you study regularly in the weeks (or months) before the exam. In the end, you know your schedule better than anyone. Aim high, but be reasonable and don’t overwork yourself.</p>
<p>:) Cool!
So if I apply as a new upper, I’ll still be applying next year?
And all in all, do you think I stand a fairly decent shot at Exeter/Andover? anything else you recommend to strengthen my app; something that will give me a really great chance of getting into Exeter?</p>
<p>What if I get accepted to Summer @ Brown and have that on my app? Will that possibly lock me in? :)</p>
<p>Well, again, it’s your choice whether to apply this year or next year. It sounded to me like you wanted to wait until next year so you’d be more ready. As for your resume, your grades were okay for freshman year, but the upward trend is good. Only thing about ECs is I can’t tell the depth of your involvement, i.e. any leadership positions in an EC besides Future Vets? You have a fine shot and should definitely apply, but nothing is guaranteed, so you shouldn’t get your hopes up too high. Nothing can really “lock you in” at this point. Applying to E/A from middle school is one thing, applying for one of those 40 spots as a new upper is something entirely different. Just do what you can and have a memorable interview. Good luck.</p>
<p>Btw, thank you chrome16 for giving me worthwhile advice. I sincerely appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>First of all, I would take out where it is that you live exactly. It’s ok if you put Florida, but we don’t need your town name. Since I already know where your from, I can tell you that FLVS (it’s free) is an amazing option if you want to take an online course. You would need your GCs permission, but you can take the course over the summer if you choose to apply next year. I don’t know how it works in you district, but in mine the math courses go:
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calc
Calc</p>
<p>If you are in Algebra 2 right now, it is very early to be thinking about the AP Calc exam for next year (2013). I can’t give you any first-hand experience, but I have heard that Pre-Calculus is an important class to take. I would wait and see how this year goes with Algebra 2 before you think about studying for AP Calculus by yourself. I’m still in geometry, so I don’t know how difficult it gets, so this is simply what I’ve heard.
You have great ECs, by the way, and I would think you have a fair chance. Remember that Exeter has a very competitive admit rate, so don’t get your hopes up.</p>
<p>@ptyalejandro: “I have algebra 2, which can only be taken if you score a 260 or higher on MAP testing, or by gaining a recommended,”</p>
<p>260? It that all you need? I’m in eighth grade and many of my korean friends have ~260. I have a 290 MAP test score. Does that mean I can take precal or something like that? Also, do boarding schools accept MAP scores for any value?</p>