My son is an elite swimmer. If he goes to exeter his swimming WILL drop off. They are not remotely at the same level. This will decrease his college chances and make the high school experience not as fun. You can’t deny the exter reputation of course. Is the reputation thhhhhhaaaaaatttt important when applying to college? He could get in early to a college as a swimming recruit. Hmmmmmmmm. Lisa
It sounds like you have answered your own question. If the only reason to go to Exeter is for its reputation, then the answer is easy.
Funny because people I know say exeter 100% bc you can’t pass up the academics. I think Peddie is on par, just the students are not as stellar academically
… or you look at a school with a club team that he could train with also. Loomis is very proud of the fact that they have a club team that trains at the Loomis pool and serious swimmers can train year-round, on campus, with the club team.
Yes but then you are torn between two worlds and he wants to be all in at his school. Also his current club team is a rival of that club team and he would not feel comfortable training with them
Is he a “normal” teenager or a quirky, intellectual type? Swimming or academics? If former, Peddie. If latter, Exeter. He’ll have a great education regardless of where he goes.
Normal kid. Awesome ssat scores and grades. He’s academic but doesn’t try too hard like I suspect he will have to at exeter to compete.
Peddie has routinely sent elite-level swimmers who were "normal kids w/ awesome ssat [read SAT] scores and grades to Harvard and other super-selective schools. Because, as you are undoubtedly aware, swimming is to Peddie as wrestling is to Blair, as, perhaps, lacrosse is to Deerfield, etc. Just saying, when swimming is a bona fide hook coming out of Peddie, those kids with the other credentials to boot do extremely well with college admissions. I’m pretty sure that situation would be competitive with, if not better, than good Exeter grades but a more average swimming resume. Finally, your meeting with the coaches involved (certainly at Peddie, if not Exeter as well) should be helpful in determining relative fit.
I think that Peddie would be the obvious choice in this situation, no?
Do what you think is best for you son. Let him decide on where he wants to go.
Have D that went to Peddie, and offer another perspective. I can’t compare it to Exeter, but can speak re Peddie academics. The top 1/3 of the class is amazingly talented academically by any standard (even other top BSs) and there is plenty of challenge for those best of students. The second 1/3 is also quite strong, perhaps just not willing to kill themselves with academic stress, but very very capable. The bottom 1/3 may be less impressive by Top 10 BS standards but most would be stars at public hs and there are very few slackers (a few athletes and development cases, but I am sure that’s true at Exeter too). Don’t be thrown by the SSAT average–for example, her class had more than 10 (out of 150) with perfect SSATs and there are rock stars (Math Olypiads, Siemens, etc) in each class. If you have an academic, normal kid, who wants to juggle academics and athletics competitively, and perhaps is not interested in developing a crazy neurotic tick in the process, Peddie is a good option. If you are only looking at this from college admissions, consider your S may NOT end up to be top of class at Exeter b/c it’s just super hard to do.
I know nothing about swimming, but I gather that it is very important at Mercersburg as well; you might want to check it out. My own “normal kid” with outstanding scores and grades is very happy there and not having any trouble balancing schoolwork and sports. There is plenty of academic challenge, but it is part of the school philosophy to allow for a balanced life (classes start fairly late in the morning, homework is not excessive, etc.).
Thank you all so much for your answers! Just to be clear someone above asked if my child was “normal”. Mercersburg is great but I have family in nj and I live out of state. I am not only looking at this from a college acceptance standpoint but I was asking the college question here. I already know that Peddie is a better fit but thought that if Exeter was the end all be all (like my friends proclaim it to be), I should consider it more. Ultimately it in my son’s choice, not mine. I just wanted to steer him in one direction.
Even if it were, that should not be what drives the boarding school selection process.
why are you only considering 2 schools? Couldn’t you find a school with a great swim team? Why not Phillips Andover, 2014 New England Champs. But I agree that you answered your own question. Let him follow his passion, but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t open doors. You shouldn’t go to an elite boarding school for the name expecting to get in anywhere with a name. Similarly you shouldn’t pursue a sport just to get a scholarship/recruited…but I do believe if you follow your bliss, you’ll succeed. Good luck!
It isn’t even a close choice. Develop his passion! It’ll be his ticket into college.
@bsalum andover only swims seasonally as do all of the New England prep school which makes it less competitive against the year round teams like Peddie. The only reason I asked the question is because many of my friends say “go for the education” not the swimming and go to Exeter. I felt like the education at Peddie can be just as challenging, have the sports and be a better fit. I wanted to check that out here. Thanks so much for the responses!
@2schoolsonly - Peddie has great academic program, I do not think you or your son would be disappointed at all. Your friends are probably just caught up in the Exeter name. My wife and brother in law both swam at Peddie in the '80s and loved it. I still get a kick out of hearing some of their Peddie swimming stories.
Peddie swimming in the 80s was incredible. A dynasty.
Doesn’t Peddie have a 3 sport requirement for all students? If so why wouldn’t his swimming ability decline during the off-season while he is on another sport?