PG at Exeter or NMH?

Would love any opinions and factors to consider when weighing a PG year at Exeter vs. NMH next year? My kiddo is very excited about both schools but feels like the intellectual challenge, Harkness experience and athletics will have more to offer at PEA. I’m wondering whether there are advantages or challenges to one school or the other for (1) getting up to speed as a PG and (2) preparing for college admissions in one environment vs. another. This kiddo is a big thinker who would likely eat up Harkness, a math and science lover – and one who has had ups and downs academically over the last few years - on the ‘get stuff done and handed in’ especially with stress of COVID and some life challenges. Hoping a PG year provides academic strengthening and maturity in organization and asking for help - as well as athletic development - all towards better chances of getting into to better colleges. Any opinions, advice or things to think about are MOST welcome!! TIA.

Athletically it depends on the sport.

Academically, if your son is wanting an intellectual challenge (with the stress that entails), it sounds like you already know Exeter is the right fit.

Which is his priority?

I am going to give different advice for a PG than I would for a 9th grader.

You are using this year as “college lite”, a way to be better prepared for college for a kid who has finished high school, and if I am reading this right, doesn’t have academic gaps but may need to develop some maturity as a student.
Imho, I think PEA is probably better for that transition. It is a bit more like college. It’s less nurturing, and it may feel more like moving on to your kid than NMH (a school I love, btw.)
It sounds like your kid is ready to embrace the rigor of PEA, and it’s strong enough in math and STEM that this will not be a repeat year.

I suspect both would be good places for classroom engagement. The only consideration you may want to factor in is schedule. NMH may be better for a kid with some organizational challenges.

But based purely on the information above, PEA.

Editted to add that if you are planning to pursue athletic recruitment (which you’ve presumably done to be at this point), the team, coach, opportunity to play, etc becomes a more significant element ro weigh.

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Kiddo definitely would lean in to the intellectual challenge of PEA - but may or may not translate to great grades. There have been ongoing challenges with getting things completed on time that have impacted grades and this year is to shore up academics as well as mature - my worry is there may be (1) more stress that could hurt vs. help on this front and (2) less supports??? (to help build good skills & habits) at PEA. And would there be value in great grades at NMH vs. okay grades at PEA on the path to college admissions? Of course, the hope/plans would be for great grades at PEA, lol.

Ugh, as the Mom of 2 adhd sons, what a kid with executive function issues needs is not more rigor but more structure, in order to learn the tools needed for independence. You haven’t given enough info as to why your son has difficulty in completing assignments-- could be adhd, could be somecother reason. Consider neuropsych testing if only to rule out adhd so you can focus on addressing the root cause of your son’s issue.

If your son’s sport is soccer, then NMH, by a mile.

You probably know this, but your kid will have very little in the way of an academic record from his PG year when he applies to college. It will matter that he can start strong. But this won’t make the last 4 years invisible.

I would focus more on what he’ll get out of the full year and be able to take with him to college than how it will change his college application outcomes. Guessing I am not telling you anything you don’t know but hoping this may help recenter your evaluation of options.

While I am not an advocate of kids at BS having private services (CC, etc – you’re paying a small fortune for this already!), it could be worthwhile exploring a “coach” for his executive functioning. This could help establish the framework/structure he needs to thrive. If you have a neuropsych evaluation, your practioner may have some recommendations. Definitely can be done virtually…

Or if the sport is basketball I think.

I believe NMH offers weekly one-one-one academic coaching for no additional fee.