Thinking about Boarding School

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>I'm a current High School Freshman at an Independent Day School where I live, and VERY recently, I've been considering applying to Prep School, namly Exeter, as the Harkness Table seems to be a good fit for me as a learner. I have one teacher at my school now who seems to embrace a teaching style simular to Harkness (though he does not call it that) and his is the only class in which I feel that I'm really being pushed academically. I like to think and be intelectially stimulated, and I want to be pushed academically. My Grades aren't all A+s, but I currently don't have anything less than an A-. </p>

<p>While my biggest reason for wanting to attend Exeter is for the Academics, I'm also looking for an enviornment to gain more independence, which I believe I can achieve.</p>

<p>I do have some worries however:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I'm not sure if I'm really serious about this or if it is a phase. It was just really a whimsical thought, that I sort of voiced, and now everything's going so fast. Putting it into words, Exeter seems like it would be a good fit for me. But what I'm worried about is my seriousness on the topic.</p></li>
<li><p>Socially- It took me a while to finally become settled into a group of friends, and I've worked hard to do so. See, I'm a bit shy. The prospect of completlty starting over socially is one that scares me just a little.</p></li>
<li><p>Starting as a sophomore. Are there a lot of people who come in as new students after Freshman year? </p></li>
<li><p>I would have to apply for as a Late Applicant this year. I didn't even begin to consider the idea of applying until after the normal application deadline this year, and there's no gurentee that I'd even be considered for addmission. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>What does anyone think? Do you think Exeter would be a good fit for me? Are there any Exonians out there who would like to comment and tell me how they like the school? Do any Prep Schools seem like a good fit for me? Thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>I don’t know if prep schools would be a good fit for you. Remember that the student bodies at boarding schools, especially the top ones are extremely diverse that you don’t have to be a certain type of students to fit in, though I do think that there is a certain dominant personality in each boarding school.</p>

<p>There are a good number of people who come in as new students after Freshman year. Starting as a sophomore is going to be a real adjustment, but people at bs’s are usually very welcoming toward new students, so don’t worry :D.</p>

<p>Admission to Exeter is harshly competitive. It’s more so if you’re applying as a sophomore. It’s extremelyyyyyyy more competitive if you’re doing late applications. Statistically speaking, you most likely won’t be accepted unless you have a unique hook. I think it’d be wiser to wait and apply next year. Don’t waste the money (application fee, SSAT test fee etc.) when you’d have better chance applying regular admission.</p>