<p>Last year, I was just like you guys. I applied to Phillips Exeter, Phillips Andover, Deerfield, the St. Marks School of Texas, and the Greenhill School. In March, I got into Exeter and I'm currently attending there as a new sophomore.</p>
<p>Although this website seems helpful, most of it is just biased opinion from kids that go here or just mere speculation about the school itself, its traditions, and everyday life. Honestly, I regret using this website last year; I feel that most of the stuff on this topic board isn't true.</p>
<p>Don't let it destroy your life if you didn't get accepted to the school you wanted to go to; admissions has been harder than ever, and ultimately it can come down to chance. Your life was fine before, and it will continue to be that way, boarding school or not; its not that different from everyday school. Its a great experience, but not a necessary one; if you're apply to boarding schools for college, you are definitely making the wrong decision.</p>
<p>If you really want to know more about boarding schools, I'll check this website occasionally and you can post message me questions. Just don't listen to half of the BS on this website.</p>
<p>I meant BS as in bulls***
And no I plan on continuing at Exeter
I didn’t mean this in a negative way, its just that the stereotypes on this website really **** me off</p>
<p>The posts here are sometimes misleading, but the forum is very useful. I’ve made a lot of friends here. You know, it feels good if you see lots of people doing the same thing(applying to boarding schools).</p>
<p>I’m an alum and I’m not sure you’ve learned much in your time there. You’ve been there a less than one year. In your earlier posts (before you got into Exeter) you bragged about your scores, being well rounded, identified where you live (making it easy for people to figure out who you are) then whined about not getting into the only two other HADES schools you applied to - then reversed course to state Exeter was your top choice.</p>
<p>Here’s the deal if you don’t mind some advice. Some of the people posting are currently students at Exeter (or have been). Since no one school is perfect for everyone, it is helpful for there to be diversity of opinion so those who are trying to make a decision have a well-balanced view of the school.</p>
<p>Some hate it. Some love it. Some call it Azkaban, others think it’s heaven. And there are many opinions in between.</p>
<p>But calling those opinions BS says more about you than it says about the others.</p>
<p>Time to grow up, kiddo. You’ve got three more years and setting yourself as the “authority” on all things Exeter is a bit revealing. As is using the board to make contact while criticizing the format and the members.</p>
<p>to say that you’ve now grown up is to acknowledge your naivete. you’re only about 15 years old. you’re a long way from grown up - and your posts speak to that.</p>
<p>I think that everyone needs to be careful here. We have a student who is now disappointed in her/his prep school. Such a disappointment should raise concerns for many CC readers. S/he is not the first or the last to be crest-fallen about a BS, although I have to think that s/he is in a distinct minority. We should still listen to what s/he says. That said, s/he should be fairly exact in what s/he says. Broad statements about general feelings are not helpful. </p>
<p>I know that my son became disappointed with his old private day school and now absolutely loves his current BS. I know that his old private day school was not as bad as he sometimes allows and that his current BS is not as magnificent as he always professes (although his boarding school really seems to be mighty fine). Same here with vk77. PEA may not be heaven, but it is far from hell too. </p>
<p>We should listen to vk77. We could learn something from him/her. But, vk77, if you are going to share on CC your disappointment over PEA, please be specific. Help us understand the reasons for your discouragement. You might be able to help many understand some aspects of BS life that CC readers rarely see or want to hear. But please be fair and rational in explaining your points. If you don’t, you won’t be helpful and could be deemed harmful.</p>
<p>I remember how angry I was when people said “you’re not grown up yet” when I was 15. But now I must admit that they were right, even now I’m not done growing up yet. Many things I believed in back then now turn out to be wrong. </p>
<p>That’s why we need a forum to hear everyone’s opinion, at least to balance it out because everyone is biased in some way</p>
<ul>
<li>It’s funny how vk77 first tried to “help” applicants, and now we all agree vk77 is the one who needs help :)</li>
</ul>
<p>vk77 is expressing his opinions. We should agree to disagree, no need to get personal/bashing. If s/he is not thrilled with his/her BS experience, that’s OK. :)</p>
<p>Where are you guys reading that vk77 isn’t happy with school? It seems to me that the issue vk77 has is with bad information on this website, especially what is posted by applicants rather than those with a first hand knowledge of boarding schools.</p>
<p>The point is valid that there is plenty of misinformation here. On the other hand, one can glean great advice here as well, especially from current parents, students, and the occasional consultant or school faculty/administrator.</p>
<p>Did vk77 say he was not happy with his experience? That is not what I took from his postings. I think he makes a good point that applicants and parents should be aware that CC may not be the best source for what the actually boarding school experience is like. CC is, in my opinion, helpful for folks unfamiliar with the bs world in trying to navigate the application process. But it definitely appeals to an enthusiastic bunch. My d often says that folks on CC have a skewed view of boarding school (and she is loving her experience). She too is often as vague as vk77, but I think what she is referring to is this notion that bs is a Utopian community and all are happy. Boarding school is high school. A more intellectually challenging high school, but one that comes with a lot of the same personal and academic drama that you will find in any public high school in this country, plus its own unique challenges.</p>
<p>I agree with Toombs, lets not torch vk77. Thanks vk77 for coming on here and please share some of the specific misrepresentations that you see on cc, that will be helpful for all.</p>
<p>I didn’t read the post as being unhappy. I assumed the poster liked Exeter. But did feel it was valid to suggest that making a statement about the validity of the discussions - and a value judgment on the posters - while holding him or herself up as the sole expert deserved a bit of sarcasm.</p>
<p>VK77 - if you are having issues with the school, we’re all ears and open to hear them. If not, please allow that some students are and it’s good to have both perspectives since I fear some parents (or students) push for schools like Exeter simpliy because they are perceived to be “better” rather than looking at whether the school and the student are a good match.</p>
<p>No I love Exeter more than anything in the world, and I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I was trying to find out when Exeter started taking off the waitlist, for a friend, and this familiar website showed up, so I started browsing, and, no offense, some of the things said on this website aren’t actually true.
In my opinion, the Prep School Chances section should be completely get rid of.</p>
<p>The Chances thread is only giving false hope to kids and its being judged by kids that are applying themselves, and, no offense, have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. A lot of admissions is left to chance.</p>