<p>Could we please not attack each other on these threads? It’s just anoying and pointless.
DAndrew: does it really matter to you what Invent posts?</p>
<p>^^good point! Enjoy the ride and embrace the ups and downs, everyone!</p>
<p>Buy Buy Bye.</p>
<p>How exactly are the academics hard? like, is there a lot of homework or is the pace really fast? or both?
And does it feel “fun” because of the freedom? or just the overall environment (I guess that includes no parents…)</p>
<p>The pace is quite fast. For example, in chemistry, we covered a topic in 20 minutes on the first day. I know public schools that are STILL working on the same topic. You need to be INDEPENDENT–ask for help when you need it. I went up to my chem teacher on my FIRST DAY when I was confused. You need to know yourself before you come here. </p>
<p>And last night was the first dance. So that was… interesting. Yeah, you have so much freedom here. You can just sit outside with a friend for hours, and it’s really up to you when you do homework. Some people here aren’t very nice, but everyone avoids them.</p>
<p>oh gosh…a dance? Do people actually dance at those? Or is it just groups of people hanging out? because my current middle school dances are really boring…</p>
<p>At Andover, there’s about one dance a week. Basically everyone dances. There’s a lot of typical teenage stuff that happens at dances. </p>
<p>ONE WARNING ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOL:
Word travels EXCEEDINGLY fast. I went to get a cup of water with a guy friend after the dance, and soon enough there were really… colorful rumors about what went down. BE CAREFUL.</p>
<p>I feel like i’m so late to replying to he op. I too am a student at PA and completley agree with the op. The teachers here are amazing and really trive to make you as great as you can be: not just academically but mentally too. They will ask about events and how your day was constantly. The academics are pretty tough, but manageable if you know when and how to do it. Dorm life is awesome ( common room parties, jam sessions, football, cluster munches, etc.), and is a great way to make friends! Oh and don’t worry caasat, i too had a rude awakening. I too didn’t get into 2 of the things i tried out for :(. On other hand, i’m one of the few juniors to be on a varsity sport! Andover is a great place if you can enjoy and appreciate what you have. Its not the perfect school, but it is pretty close to that!!</p>
<p>^ Aw, it’s great knowing I’m not the only one. PM me, we should hang out sometime!</p>
<p>My daughter just started Exeter as a new prep (9th) and although what we are hearing from her is probably filtered for parents, she says “I love it here.” The other students are smart, interesting, very friendly and “amazing”. The social and dorm life are “awesome.” It is so much fun, she admits to having difficulty balancing school and social life. This has never before been a concern! So far, her classes have had a fair amount of work, but nothing too challenging or stressful, and she has requested tranfer in at least one class to a more challenging level. The teachers are “fine”. Sports tryouts were a success. I guess this is the honeymoon period. She does complain about how cold the weather is.</p>
<p>Spoken as a NH native, this is not cold weather ;-)</p>
<p>A good percentage of Exeter kids (ok, mostly boys) wear shorts until the snow flies.</p>
<p>It’s really great to hear how people are finding their first weeks at boarding school.</p>
<p>It’s also incredibly refreshing to hear new students admit that there is, indeed, a transitional period that many find difficult. I remember my transition very well, and I think I may have been especially aware of it since I was part of a group of twenty new uppers in a grade that already numbered nearly 300. Even then, it felt to me as if I was having a harder time than many others.</p>
<p>If you feel that way too, take a step back, breath, and dismiss the thought. Everyone feels pressured upon arrival at boarding school. It doesn’t matter how much bravado your fellow new students put on or how much they may deny feeling anxious and initially uncomfortable in their new surroundings. In fact, in my experience it is often the most inwardly anxious and worried students who put on the most bravado. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or how close your home is to campus. Getting settled in to a completely different environment is rough on everyone.</p>
<p>What I’m trying to say is this: if you’re finding it hard, just stick with it, and put yourself out there in your classes, at lunch, and in your dorm. It’s easy to recover from a first week of missed social interactions, a month will be harder to recover from. Don’t wait to make friends, meet new people, and take intellectual risks. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Though it is definitely possible to make up for lost time, success with making friends and seeking out teachers now will pay noticeable dividends later. You might feel awkward, but so what? Everyone else does, too!</p>
<p>Earlier in the thread, someone posted that one of the most difficult things about boarding school is the realization that you won’t have your couch, your family, or your dog waiting for you at the end of a trying day. That post really resonated with me. There will definitely, absolutely, unavoidably be days during which you feel trapped and would prefer to retreat to the warmth of the family home. I don’t expect anyone will be able to soften that, but again, just know that this happens to everyone, and that you have lovely house counselors and friends who care about you with whom to talk and share your feelings.</p>
<p>Not to mention your parents! Don’t forget those guys. When I had mono for six months at Andover, and was only able to see my parents for two weeks during that period, I felt like my whole world was caving in, but having them on the end of the phone or on my computer screen for an iChat video call made things a lot easier for me. It’s miraculous how good a conversation with my mom and dad can make me feel.</p>
<p>Oh, the humanity! Enjoy your time at school, CCers. You’ve earned it, and I expect you to excel!</p>
<p>I’m starting to feel homesick. But my school is soo good, I can’t go home without it.</p>
<p>Invent, aren’t you at Deerfield? I’d love to hear more about what Deerfield is like, if you don’t mind.</p>
<p>There are certainly a lot more of you out there that haven’t chimed in yet . . . . we know you’re busy, but let us know that it’s been like these first couple of weeks at your new schools! The good, the bad, the expected, and the unexpected . . . what’s your experience?</p>
<p>Pittsburgher, markalex1, how are your first couple of weeks at Exeter? Haven’t heard from you guys in a while. So wondering…</p>
<p>I’m sure they’re all pretty busy. Still, now that I think about it, I have quite a lot of free time on some days.</p>
<p>Just something I wanted to say: Don’t let this talk about how “boarding school isn’t for everyone” scare you. It’s absolutely true, but don’t question your abilities because of it. I came here thinking that I would be really average. In some ways, I am. Here, College Chemistry (the course I’m taking) is relatively average. One of my close friends is in a math seminar about vector functions (the highest available math course), while another is in elementary geometry. Both are sophomores. Everyone’s different.</p>
<p>Additionally, it’s really important to try EVERYTHING. I recently quit dance, something that I have enjoyed for over ten years. It just didn’t suit me here–it was too competitive and I couldn’t find many friendly people doing it. I picked up something COMPLETELY foreign, and I actually think it’s the best decision I’ve made ever since coming here. </p>
<p>During the first week, my mom wanted me to drop down in French and Chemistry, because I’m in relatively high-level courses. All I could think of was, “I left my old school because I wanted a challenge. Now it’s time to actually live up to saying that.” </p>
<p>My advice is to know your limits, but don’t be afraid to take risks and push yourself. If you find that balance, so many opportunities will open for you.</p>
<p>Well guys, Choate has been absolutely great! Everyone here is super friendly, the rigorous academics… i love it! However, I still feel a big lack of students of color… Besides that i love it and i dont regret any decisions I made in the admission process. I get homesick from time to time but thats normal, isnt it?</p>
<p>If anyone has any questions for me, here’s my thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1218461-ask-exeter-prep.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1218461-ask-exeter-prep.html</a></p>
<p>Deerfield has such new, amazing squash courts they can host Olympics, not to mention the Olympic size indoor pool. Aw, every week a new Discovery! :)</p>