Thanks @booksandfries for the information. It was extremely helpful.
I totally hope you go!!! @TexasGold
Has anyone been to Exeter revisit days yet and can tell us about what the girls were wearing? I’m visiting on friday and wanted to know ahead of time. Thanks!
@midtowngirl we will be there Friday too! Honestly just look neat. At Andover we saw everything from leggings to dresses. Most just had on jeans and a sweater. Follow the dress code and be comfortable. Check the weather and make sure you have appropriate shoes. I had to wear my Wellies yesterday for a revist and I am so glad I did!
hi! i’m new on this site!! i was just wondering if anyone has gone on a hotchkiss revisit? and if you have, what was it like?
@momof3swimmers thanks! I think it will be rainy on friday, so I will dress according to that. hope you and your dc have a good revisit!
@midtowngirl for revisit day at Exeter, wear what you feel confident in. Kids dress in every imaginable style. Jeans, boots and a sweater are always appropriate at Exeter. You will see this combination represented in many different styles. West coast casual (Brandy Melville) to preppy (vineyard vines) interpretations.
@momof3swimmers I will be a parent volunteer at lunch on Friday, it is a great opportunity to speak to current parents.
We were also at the MX revisit yesterday. I’m a vegetarian, here’s what they had - Tortellini Salad, Caesar Salad, Mozzarella & Tomato Salad, Cheese & Tomato Sandwich. No pizza for the adults. My son had the pizza (also vegetarian) and he said it was fine. He has spent time at Hotchkiss and felt the food was pretty much the same.
Other observations from my son - the dorm was great. He went to two classes and then his host had two frees so they spent a lot of time at the student center playing pool. He felt really comfortable with his hosts and the other kids he met. The classes were not particularly challenging - he went to Bio and Beginning Spanish. In Bio they did a computer simulation that my son did in Bio last year and my son is in his 3rd year of Spanish - so that really isn’t surprising.
My son said he was surprised that the kids seemed like regular kids and that he felt that he would really excel at MX.
My observations - the dorm was great. It was set up - 4th floor 9th graders, 2nd & 3rd floor mixed 10-12th graders, and 1st floor 11th & 12th. Nice common area with a big tv and couches. Fridge, freezer, washer dryer in the basement. Nicely lit, wide hallways with wood trim. Very clean.
In terms of workload, the AO (who was also dorm fac in the dorm we saw) said that they try not to give homework that was more than the number of class hours for that week. In other words, if you have an hour class M,W, F, you might get about 3 hours of homework for that week. If you found that the homework was taking significantly longer, that would indicate that possibly you were in the wrong level of class and they would try to either bring you up to speed (via tutoring, teacher assistance, etc.) or find a better class match. He also said that all-nighters were very uncommon.
Everyone has 7:30-9:30 study hours in the dorm, although as you gain more privileges, you can sign out and go elsewhere (to study or not).
As a parent, I felt that MX was really trying to provide a balanced experience for the kids. Everyone learns Mindfulness and its a regular part of the school week. Everyone takes at least 4 semesters or art - Studio, Theater, Music and Art History. They have a really great writing program that they kids take in 10th grade. If a kid isn’t able to pass, it continues into 11th grade, as necessary. They support kids that want to get ahead over the summer and will accept online class grades or give the student the textbook and an outline so that they can self study and then take the final over the summer.
My biggest concern was the number of required pre-reqs and required classes as it seems like it would limit choices at some point. For example, I know several students at other schools that took AP Physics, AP Computer Science or AP Bio without previously taking a CS. Physics or Bio class. This would not be possible at MX unless you self studied the prereq class.
My son is bright but not particularly driven. He easily gets A’s in his current school and is happy as long as his grade doesn’t fall under a 90. He gets more stressed about his amount of sleep than his schoolwork. From what I’ve heard, he would not be happy at a place like Exeter. MX, on the other hand, seemed like a place where he could be comfortable and do well. We are still deciding but I wouldn’t be surprised if he chooses MX.
@HMom16 it is so nice to hear parents’ perspectives on Revisit! Your son sounds like mine–sleep is of utmost importance, doesn’t stress over schoolwork. I think he even asked if it would be ok to go to bed an hour before study hours were over and get up and make up the study hour in the morning. Anyway, some of your concerns sound similar to mine. If you’d like to PM, I’d be happy to share…thanks for giving us your account of the experience!
Has anyone been to a Stevenson revisit (CA)?
For AP Bio and AP Physics C at least, schools not requiring an intro class is the exception, not the rule.
@skieurope - Interesting - the public schools in our area all offer AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics without an intro class. AP Physics C requires Calc prior to or simultaneous with the class. All AP classes at these schools require substantial work in the summer prior to the class. Perhaps that is when the kids get the intro info.
The public high school that I go to has prerequisites for most of the STEM AP classes… The surrounding districts as well (southern CA)…
We have lived in two different states. One state’s public schools had no prereqs for those AP’s and was simply the highest track at the HS. Kids started AP courses freshman year and the top students tallied 10-16 AP courses (not including Honors) by graduation. In this state, AP are weighted 5.0 and Honors 4.5.
In the other state’s public school(s), Honors courses must be taken before AP. In that state, the Honors and AP are more rigorous. In this state, both AP and Honors courses are worth 5.0. This state is known for having some of the best schools in the US, however, top students only tally about 5-7 AP before graduation (not including Honors).
Yes, this includes AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics 1/2 (or A and B). AP Physics C isn’t offered but can take on virtual school concurrent to AP Calc. This also includes various AP History classes (US, World, Human Geography, Gov, etc)
So there are definitely differences between schools and I think regional factors in how AP program is implemented.
I’m glad I sent my kids to a high school without AP classes. All this sounds so exhausting! 
It’s often called the “Race to Nowhere” (google the documentary by Vicki Abeles)
@doschicos
At my LPS there are no prerequisites for APs or IBs, at least for freshman and sophomore years. I had to enroll there before M10 because I didn’t know if I would get in anywhere, and course request forms were due a little bit before M10. I was signed up for nearly all Pre-IB and Honors. Although you guys may be talking about Junior and Senior year when students can take actual AP and IB classes at my school. Maybe those pre-Ib and honors classes are the prerequisites :-?
@Nico.campbell Yes they are if students are taking those classes before AP. IB has Pre-IB.
If freshmen and soph are eligible for AP, then likely there are no prereqs. For instance, at some HS the 4yr history sequence is:
AP Human Geog => AP World History => AP US History => AP Govt and/or AP Econ
Science was:
Honors Bio (or AP if special request) => AP Chem => AP Physics A/B => AP Bio and/or Physics C
(sequence can vary after year 1)
Who’s going to more Deerfield and Groton revisits? I’d love to talk about it. I’m going this upcoming Thursday!!
@booksandfries looking forward to hearing about your Groton Revisit!