<p>Hello there everybody! I've recently submitted my AIF to Exeter and I think I may want to change the grade I am applying to. I am applying for the 11th grade, however I think my chances of gaining acceptance are low, seeing as I have not cured cancer or excelled at some sport. I am extremely passionate about physics and it is my life, specifically astrophysics, but what does that count for anyways in the process? </p>
<p>Anyways, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Exeter. I think it is the perfect school for me, then again I could be wrong. I've done my research and I love other boarding schools as well, however my chances are low for acceptance as an upper. Do you think I should go ahead and repeat sophomore year? When I had asked my mum if I could, she sounded as if she was going to cry. My younger brother was held back in middle school and she thinks repeating a grade is horrible. I have tried to convince her and my father that I want to go to Exeter regardless, for they can provide me with the best secondary school education in the United States of America and perhaps one of the best in the world. If anyone has repeated any grade at Exeter, can you please tell me about your experience and how it is to repeat a grade? I was born in 1997, and it may be weird to be a 19 year old senior and not to graduate with my class. However, I think this may be a good idea. Repeating a grade may improve my chances for acceptance and I feel that I must do this, it is a great opportunity. Attending Exeter would be an absolute honor and an amazing experience. I feel as if I could thrive there, but I need to get there first.</p>
<p>Well thank you for taking the time to tolerate my annoying self. Good luck my fellow applicants and parents of applicants!!</p>
<p>thats so funny! I sent my AIF form in tonight too! I am a reapplicant and I am applying for Exeter and Andover for 10th grade. Truthfully I have been leaning a lot to Exeter and have been considering repeating 9th grade so i can increase my chances. At the end i decided to apply for 10th, because I asked myself if I would feel happy and comfortable repeating a grade, but I wanted to graduate with my regular class and kids my age and knew I would have regretted repeating if I got in. So imagine this, you are accepted as a repeat 10th grader. Thats excellent! will you have been regretting it wanting to graduate with your regular class? would you be asking yourself if you could have gotten in applying for 11th grade? If the answer is yes to any of these, stick applying for 11th. The last thing you want is any regrets. But then again, when I visited these schools last year repeating is completely normal and is second nature. Only you know what is best but I know what it feels like to be unsure, but i knew that I am that type of person who wouldn’t be comfortable with it.</p>
<p>I am also applying to Exeter as a repeat 9th grader. In the beginning me and my parents also had our doubts as to whether is it was best to apply to 10th grade or 9th. My sister asked one of her friends who used to go to Exeter, and she said there were a lot of people who did the same thing.
Yep, one of the things that held me back too was the idea of being a 19 year old senior on the wrong class. But hey, what does it matter?It’s no big deal really. It is the same as going to school when you are 7 years old not 6…
First of all, there is more chance for you to get acceptance as a 10th grader, just as it is (well, I hope) easier for me as a 9th grader.
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Exeter, just like you do, and to be honest the idea of spending more time, or somehow, having a more complete Exeter education was appealing. In short you have more time and space to really taste the PEA experience…
But of course, a repeat year has its downsides too.
I mean, it is one more year of tuition to be paid…
And lastly, for your parents… try to tell them that it will be easier for you to catch up if you go as a 10th grader, that you will have more opportunities and bla bla bla…</p>
<p>PS: I also love Physics …like… LOVE LOVE physics!! And I want to be an astrophysicist too when I grow up.
btw how is it going with the applications? </p>
<p>Repeating a year is VERY common in BS. People do it to have an extra year at BS, to increase their chances of getting in, to gain a year of maturity, or to gain a year of growth (for sports). Percentages can be 10- 20% of a class (for freshmen and sophomores). No one at the schools “looks down” on those kids (or is very aware of who they are), and colleges like it (it shows you set a goal for yourself, we’re committed to your education). The schools put you in appropriately challenging classes, whatever grade you’re in. The downside? That extra year of tuition. That’s why you’ll see a lot of faculty kids repeat–get that extra year without that hefty bill. Many kids graduate at 19-occasionally even 20. I would call or email the AO and tell them you’re considering the idea-- see if they think it’s a good idea for you. Sometimes they recommend it on their own for particular kids-- but they’ll certainly at least tell you about the experience of repeats at their school and talk about whether it would be good in your case. (Of course, I would phrase it in terms of the extra year of experience, rather than because you think it would be easier to get in). Use the search function on this board to look for other people discussing a repeat year.</p>
<p>I agree with the two posters above, they gave great explanations on the pros of repeating, but then again you can only know what suits you. Is repeating really for you like it is RockComet</p>
<p>Ahh!!! Yay that is amazing, a fellow physics lover who is specifically interested in astrophysics!! :))))) Amazing!! I am happy that you have decided what you would like to do and that the process is going pretty well for you! Thank you for posting. Your post has given me further insight. If we both get in, I look forward to discussing astrophysics with you.</p>
<p>I know right! :PP
I love physics very much and I am very happy to see that we share the same passion about science(ASTROPHYSICS ).
You know, Exeter has the Grainger Observatory thingy, and an astronomy club and all those fascinating cool stuff for… well… people like us (awesome ones :P) and of course, if we get in (PLEASE GOD PLEASE) it will be “da best”. </p>
<p>anyways I’m glad i helped even a tiny bit with your question:P
btw, have you written your essays yet? :S</p>
<p>Oh, yes, I am praying and keeping my fingers crossed for our admission!!! Yes, I have already written my essays, but I am in that period where I am starting to hate everything I wrote and I am attempting to edit them. How is everything coming along for you?</p>
<p>Same here. Yup, that editing process is very depressing XD
It is getting really stressful as the closing date approaches. I have to write 2 more essays for some of the other schools I am applying to, and edit the others.
Recs not yet submitted (lazy teachers >__<) and the SSAT just 4 days later :S .
Other than that, just fine :)))</p>
<p>Exeter seems great for the sciences. I read that the observatory has 3 observatories and a bunch of other instruments that are used in three astronomy courses! I’m trying to make my essays focused on astronomy/astrophysics to show how much I’m into that stuff. Is that a good idea? I’m in the editing phase, but i guess I’ve still got time to rewrite</p>
<p>yep. That’s an awesome idea.
I mean, the essay wants you to talk about something you are really passionate about, it could be anything. And it is a chance for you to show your great passion about science.
Actually, I have kind of done that same thing in my essays.
Since it is something you really really love, then go for it. Show them what you got :P</p>
<p>AHH!!! The more the merrier! MORE ASTROPHYSICS LOVERS!!! This is just amazing because nobody at my school understands how amazing and beautiful physics is! AH!! I hope we all get in. Btw sincostan, that is a wonderful idea for your essay, mine is focused on my love for astrophysics as well and I am also in the editing phase which is a very tedious process because at one moment what you write sounds brilliant and then at the next moment you are asking yourself why you phrased something one way and if an idea is redundant. Ugh, just ugh. Anyways, I wish you luck with editing and hopefully we all find out that we are fellow Exonians.</p>
<p>Well I don’t think I should think much of it but it came with a letter thanking me for applying, a book about Exeter with these cute little cut out cards talking about the courses, and a DVD with an excellent short film about the school. This is just like a striptease. Oh Lord help me!</p>
<p>Yeah, 11th. When I attempted to have a serious talk with my parents about applying as a repeat 10th grade, my dad straight up laughed in my face and went back to watching the news. Guess that is a no.</p>
…like… LOVE LOVE physics!! And I want to be an astrophysicist too when I grow up.