Unusual Situation?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>As some of you may know, my school is based entirely on credit accumulation, and one can amass those credits at their own pace (say, for instance, an amazing freshman enters and completes all 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade classes required, along with extras, he can graduate before he would enter his 15th/"sophomore" year). Besides a few electives (easy and fun), I am almost complete with my requirements. By the end of April, I expect to only have a few classes left (semester length), most of them being easy electives, and the others being 2 12th grade requirements (and possibly, if I'm slow or decide to take some time off, a 12th grade English course, with English being my favorite subject). Thus, I could graduate in June (or before)! Thing is.. I was accepted to Exeter, and will likely attend this coming September. I was accepted as an 11th grader. In my school district, I will officially be a post-grad (but it's not like I could attend school here afterwards..I think that's illegal, because I would suck up resources that a freshman could use or whatever), with a diploma in hand. Therefore, I would be repeating 2 years of high school. I am content with this; I feel Exeter will further prepare me for college, and I will be able to pursue my academic and extracurricular passions (namely, philosophy, English, French, visual arts, activism and community service, cross country, and possibly crew) and enjoy the invaluable opportunities and general experience of an Exeter education.</p>

<p>But, I was wondering.. because I will be an 11th grader, and not a PG, is this.. okay? Does it break any rule? Can a graduate attend another high school, not as a PG? If not, I will do all classes but not obtain my degree (I think you have to sign a paper or something, and I just won't ask for it, or just come up one class short), but I would still really like to have my diploma in hand at age 16.. I think that would be a nice little accomplishment I can look back on while I'm slaving my way away and feeling entirely inferior at Exeter! Also.. is there any way I would receive college course credit (not all courses will have a corresponding AP/SAT II/CLEP test) if I were taking a college-level course at Exeter (400 is AP level I believe, and 500 is basically a real, semi-advanced college course)? Or a PG certificate or something so that my total of 6 years of high school (2 of which studying mostly advanced topics) isn't.. unnoted, I suppose? It's just that, instead of going to Exeter, I could go to college and obtain half of a bachelor's degree in that time (or more, even..). Of course, I'm 16, and I don't feel that's the appropriate route right now (although I could attend my local college as a day student or attend a program like United World Colleges or Bard instead, which serve 11th and 12th graders in a college setting, with college credit). But again, Exeter offers so much more, and I would probably hate myself in the future for giving that opportunity up. Yes, I definitely would!</p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience somewhat close to this?</p>

<p>Do you have any clue how this would appear to colleges (graduating at 16 and then taking 2 more years at a rigorous prep when I could be bumming it on a double gap year or something)?</p>

<p>Does it break any law or regulation or rule?</p>

<p>Any extra advice, notes, tips, etc.?</p>

2

<p>No laws will be broken that I can think of...on the face of things as you presented them.</p>

<p>But as far as how it will impact you...</p>

<p>...you first need to talk to Exeter about what their expectations are. You may, for some reason, outfox yourself and preclude yourself from being allowed to matriculate. Or you may only be allowed to attend for a single year as a PG. You cannot possibly know the answer to this without talking to someone at PEA.</p>

<p>You may also want to contact a college admissions office -- or maybe get hooked up with the PEA college counseling office, perhaps during a revisit. You're right that you'll want to know what colleges think of this situation. Once you have a degree, do you have to move on according to a certain pre-ordained path or will they accommodate you. I'd contact someone at one or two of the schools that you think you're likely to apply to and get a feel for what they'd want to see in terms of transcripts and whether you'll be at a disadvantage in some way because your Exeter years will follow your high school graduation.</p>

<p>I cannot stress enough how little I actually know in terms of an answer. I am only suggesting avenues (perhaps obvious ones) that you should travel down in order to obtain the answers you seek from truly authoritative sources.</p>

<p>A visit to the college forums here with these questions may also prove fruitful.</p>

3

<p>you can do it..my friend is in the same situation ... He got into Dartmouth early decision. It doesnt matter.</p>

4

<p>Why ask your peers or your peers' parents on a chatboard? Pick up the phone and call the Academic Dean at Exeter!</p>

5

<p>I'm not surprised that that would be the case, bearcats, but she needs to base her course of conduct on authoritative answers, not an anecdotal experience that you relate to us about a Hotchkiss student.</p>

<p>And I think I can speak for everyone here in saying that the day that blairt applies to Dartmouth, ED perhaps, seeking comprehensive FA, will be the day they start charging admission on CC even just to lurk. They'll even have a name for it. "Run for Cover in Hanover" or "Round 2: The Big Green Vented Spleen" Not quite "Thrilla in Manila," but I think you can see that a more clever fight promoter than myself will turn a buck or two on that showdown....</p>

6

<p>I'm mostly with D'yer on this one.</p>

<p>If I understand you correctly, Exeter may not understand how close you are to fufulling your graduation requirements. </p>

<p>If you do approach Exeter with this one, you might want to phrase it as, "if I give up some of the things I want to take and only take core classes, I could meet the minimum requirements for graduation at my current school, but not enough for the college placement I desire". Otherwise like D'yer said you could out fox yourself and end up a PG or even worse without a slot.</p>

<p>Myself, I would intentionally NOT fufill the graduation requirements at my current school, so there is no possibility of things getting fouled up and not even mention it to Exeter. </p>

<p>Yes, it is nice to say "I got my diploma at 16", but in the bigger scheme of things colleges etc. won't really care how fast you got your diploma, but what you achieved in HS.</p>

<p>I was very unhappy with my high school at the end of my sophomore year in HS in California. It was a gang-infested place where I didn't feel safe. I took the state equivalency test late in the spring after I turned 16 and was contemplating moving on using the community college route. In the end though, I stuck it out (although I spent more time at the CC as a senior than at HS), and I ended up matriculating to a great college. </p>

<p>I understand your desire to get that early diploma. Life is not a race to see who can get there first, but a tour where you try to fit in everything that you can.</p>

<p>You have a great opportunity ahead of you at Exeter. Take in as much as you can.</p>

7

<p>Exeter accepted you as two year student, according to what you wrote. Correct? Check your Courses of Instruction catalog that came with the acceptance packet. On page 3 you will see specifically laid-out "diploma requirements for two-year students." If you understand what is there, and still have questions, contact the school. Just my opinion.</p>

8

<p>think about this, there are plenty of PGs each year who fulfill the senior requirement and get the diploma instead of the certification of attendance, wouldnt they be graduating twice? You are simply repeating (technically), which is common in BS</p>

9

<p>...like the fact that she wasn't offered admission as a PG.</p>

<p>Or the fact that she hopes to attend PEA for two years.</p>

<p>This matter is really too serious for our opinions. </p>

<p>blairt needs to get authoritative answers -- or, as goaliedad suggests, make the issue moot altogether. Brighty points out that there are actually rules and guidelines that PEA (and other schools) establish for their students. She's not going to get far with the PEA Dean of Students on the strength of the reasoning of a CC message board participant from Hotchkiss if she happens to run afoul of PEA's rules: no matter how unreasonable or illogical they are. (I think we can all agree that these handbooks can have more than their fair share of seemingly unreasonable and illogical rules.)</p>

<p>I would only add that, in addition to what PEA says is acceptable, blairt needs to explore the other layer to this (which she raised): college admissions. Again, the answers -- even the opinions -- she needs should be from college counselors or college admission people.</p>

<p>Beyond that there's really little for people on this message board to say that will be reliable enough to be worth more than a moment's consideration on her part.</p>

10

<p>Well, I feel sort of intrusive asking someone at PEA for an opinion on my college placement before I even arrive/enroll.. like I'm using PEA to go to college! (I'm not.. if I stayed here, I would be valedictorian, would get enough college credits to skip 2 years at a 4 year college, would be on a college sports team, etc.. internship w/ the navy and w/ a professional artist.. lots of extra time as well! .. which i could use to extablish one of the orginizations i have in mind. i could really, really be in great standing for a great college.. but that's not the only thing i want..i want a great education w/ great faculty and amazing peers.)</p>

<p>It's not about rushing myselfthrough these courses.. I really do not rush. I should rush more actually.. Even though I'm way ahead, on a weekly schedule, I'm actually behind right now because I've been more into my EC's and independent academics. If I continue this pace, I will be ready before the graduation date.. otherwise I will purposely slow down.. not progressive! Plus, I think this is great prep for Exeter itself. It's intense. It requires MORE time management than PEA because I'm balancing 3 school schedules (high school, college, indepenent study 4 AP subjects + French II and Calc AB) and independent EC's (dont' have the luxury of someone teaching me). I will have done 4 years of college prep English this year by the time I graduate (if I continue this schedule), plus AP English Language independent study and prep. Prep schools place a lot of emphasis on writing and English. I'm not saying I will be ahead (I doubt it, given the differences in education quality), but I will be more prepared than if i had not done twice as much writing and literature analysis. I want to be prepared for PEA so that I can be prepared for a good college (or, more prepared than I need to be..makes things easier), and so I can take full advantage of everything PEA has to offer (the strict "no more than 5 courses" rule will already hurt me, I feel)</p>

<p>I understand the 2 year requirements. I will fulfill them. I know that I won't get credit for what I have done here, even in my GPA.</p>

<p>I was deemed smart and capable of great success at Exeter by being admitted, but I would like to make sure that I am prepared for the intense, advanced workload.</p>

<p>I guess I'll just call.. I still feel intrusive! I want them to enjoy their vacation!</p>

11

<p>Do you want to go to college next year or do you want to go to Exeter? Personally, I think you're path is all set.</p>

12

<p>I want to go to Exeter for 2 years and then college afterwards, but I'm curious if this will hinder me in any way. Or, possibly, if it will be some sort of advantage.</p>

13

<p>Exeter has wonderful deans. There is a dean of academic studies that you could contact and he will be able to answer your questions. His name is Dean Brochu.</p>

14

<p>Thank you. By "wonderful", do you mean somewhat flexible and helpful?</p>

15

<p>I mean smart and kind. If you call the admissions office and ask them which Dean to call they will help you. From what you are describing I think you want the Dean of academic studies which is Dean Denis Brochu.</p>

16

<p>I agree with what drnancie and D'yerMaker have said, you really need to talk to the people at Exeter. Remember that they have seen and heard all sorts of situations, they have people coming to them from all around the world with different types of academic backgrounds, that is what they do best. I am certain that they would in NO way look at your questions as "intrusive". As for my own personal opinion, I think you would gain a lot from two years at Exeter, and that you would be much better prepared, not only academically, but emotionally and socially for college. Good luck!!</p>

17

<p>blairt - our son did a PG year and in the middle of it he said he wished he had had the opportunity to do two years at bs instead of one. We have experience from both ends (I entered college at 16 and he entered at 19.) I would say that had I been offered the opportunity to go to a school like Exeter for 2 years before college, I would have chosen that over rushing into college (even though it was my first choice--a top university.) Please feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.</p>