<p>So I happened to pass by this forum and all these fond memories of posting and reading and waiting just rushed back at me. And I bet there are a lot of you out there who are applying to Exeter this year, heck I think I may have seen some of you touring, so I just wanted to tell you what it's like here, right now.</p>
<p>I'm a prep, specifically a repeat prep (repeat freshman). I am also a reapplier. I was waitlisted the first year I applied, got in the second.</p>
<p>First, let me tell you, you will get sick of school. Very quickly. It's almost winter break, and the general consensus is that people can't wait to go home. The work really does take a toll on you, and the mountains of snow doesn't help.</p>
<p>People: A variety. Not everyone is nice, but hey, it's probably like that where you are now. There's the infamous "prep posse", recruited athletes/PGs, the "theater kids", and so on. BUT you will make friends from so many different groups. How? through dorms, clubs, and classes. </p>
<p>Dorms: Most people love their dorms. There's a good support network in place. There are sometimes problems with seniors and the mixed grades, but that seems to be more in the boys' dorms. And if you are a prep, you probably have a roommate (not always). Some dorms have stricter faculty who actually enforce lights out.</p>
<p>Classes/teachers: This is truly the best part of Exeter. And it makes sense, that's why you come here. Granted, there are teachers people don't like, classes where nothing happens because your classmates fool around (this is really only applicable for preps), but for the most part, you learn, you debate, you laugh. Honestly, I either love or like all my teachers.</p>
<p>Grades/homework: There's lots of homework. You will get used to it. You learn to use the small pockets of free time throughout the day. OK here's the important part. Grades.</p>
<p>You won't get a perfect 11.0 GPA every time (that's all A's). But then again, you might (Actually, for fall term, that's what I got). But it's fine. You think everyone in your grade is going to be a genius, but that's not true. 2-3 are considered geniuses (genii?), 10-15 very very smart. And even those geniuses don't get 11.0s. In fact, I don't think anyone has maintained a perfect 11.0 throughout their whole Exeter experience.</p>
<p>Yes, so there it is. It's important to realize that Exeter is just a school, a very good school, a just a school nonetheless. You WILL hate it at somepoint (probably Upper year, during the 333), but still I wouldn't give it up for anything. </p>
<p>BTW, I didn't get into Andover. I really really really wanted Andover for family reasons. So when my Exeter acceptance came I cried, and they weren't tears of joy. Can you believe it? I was so stupid. But all's well that ends well.</p>
<p>So good luck. Fingers crossed M10.</p>