Hi all,
I recently received a call from Mercersburg and they informed me that I had been taken off the waitlist for co 25. I was wondering if any current students or recent alumni could supply me with some info before I make a final decision? From what I’ve seen, the only “issue” for me is that it’s rather isolated and they’ve removed AP classes from the curriculum.
There are several pretty in depth, recent mercersburg threads with comments from current parents. Have you tried searching, sorry I don’t know how to link threads?
Congrats! When I first read “taken off the waitlist” I thought that you had somehow been removed from consideration. Which I suppose in a way you have 
Personally I wouldn’t care at all about the AP classes. Many top BS do not offer them at all, or only have a few. Which is not to say that kids don’t study as needed and take the APs anyway. But IMO if you want to go to MB, go.
Also paging @Calliemomofgirls who will definitely tell you to go
Great school, it really depends on what your other option would be. Most big city highly ranked private schools, boarding and day, have gotten away from AP exam-based classes. Many kids still go ahead and take AP exams anyhow for their own reasons but the AP doesn’t dominate the curriculum any more.
College admissions know who’s gone AP-free and it’s not affecting admissions at all, from what I can see. A name brand school like Mercersburg will not have any issues with AP-free at a top 100 college.
Mercersburg still offers courses that are taught at the AP level, but they are called Advanced Studies. Same rigor, but with more flexibility on content and not just teaching to the AP test. Students are welcome to take AP tests in any subject. As mentioned by other posters, many boarding schools have moved away from traditional APs.
I am happy to answer any questions you have about Mercersburg. There are several recent threads about the school where many of us answered questions. If you do a search you should find those threads. You are also welcome to PM me if you like. My son is a 4 year senior and I think I’m still in denial that it’s coming to an end. He’s had a great experience and I have no doubts that it was the right choice, and that he is well prepared for college.
Ditto! Have had kids there since 2014! Also have a current senior and am a huge booster for the school.
Was working the revisit day today. Please let us know how we can help you.
RE: location… it is a rural location, but the upside is that makes for a VERY intentional campus. Full slate of “goings-on” on the weekends, faculty who are there intentionally, a community that is FULLY IN despite the cornfields. We like to say “we’re in the middle of everywhere”!
Congrats to you, and best of luck in making a decision.
My daughter accepted her spot for Mburg’24 yesterday - thanks to all the parents on here who posted their experiences and to @Calliemomofgirls who gave a lot of insights and connected her daughter to mine to have more teen focused conversations about Mburg
congratulations on getting accepted! I will be enrolling this fall co 2025 as well.
oh my gosh really?? we should totally get connected
@Calliemomofgirls is it possible for you to connect me to your daughter as well? thanks so much!
my other option would be to stay at my current school (public ib school 9-12) and the program is pretty well known around my area, which is why I’m hesitant to enroll at mburg
It sounds like you have a great option locally. You could always go to Mercersburg for a year and then go back if it doesn’t work for you. Applying again as a sophomore will be much harder.
I have a very bright older kid who could have done fine at BS but is not wanting that experience. My daughter has been campaigning for the past year to go. Both ways work!
im actually already a freshman, so i got accepted for next year as a sophomore. sorry if that was unclear!
i currently go to a magnet school that doesn’t allow students to join in the middle or rejoin, so I’m afraid the only option will be to go to my LPS if Mercersburg doesn’t work out.
as of right now im leaning towards mburg, but things could change
of course! I researched and got help from all of the people here at cc, and I can firmly say Mercersburg is gna be the right fit for me. Hopefully it is for you aswell! Whats funny is that I also went to an ib school for middle school haha
I know a family that sent a child to Mercersburg. @neatoburrito are you around?
They had a good experience.
I wouldn’t see eliminating APs as a negative. Most of the top schools eliminated them a decade ago. In fact, when a school still has them they (unfairly?) drop a notch in my book for sticking with them.
Good luck with your decision!
Yes! Sorry I was on an epic college tour with my senior trying to make her final choice!!! Let’s DM!
Woohoooo! Welcome to mercersburg!!! I’m finishing up college tour with my oldest daughter (senior) and am headed to MB tomorrow in fact.
thank your daughter for all her time in answering all J’s questions etc! Hope to meet you in person at MB at some point
hi all,
so a few days after i got the call from mburg i also got one from lville. my family and i discussed it and we’ve decided to go with lville. thanks to all for the info, i truly appreciate it!