<p>Most likely everyone is having anxiety attacks and random moments of doubt that are followed by bursts of excitement in relation to going off to boarding school. I'm registered as a prep for next year's Exeter class, so I'm wondering what anyone else has peculiar questions about their upcoming year (whether they need to buy a new wardrobe, if they let you have plants in the dormitories, or if you picked the best classes for your upcoming year) to know if I'm not the only crazy kid who has 'outside the norm' questions.</p>
<p>not exactly peculiar but i was wondering if students bring their laptops around to their classes of just leave them in their dorms</p>
<p>don'tknow about exeter, but commonly at most prep schools kids bring them to class to take notes, etc.</p>
<p>When we asked IT what were the most popular sizes of computers for portability, they said that most kids left their laptops in their rooms.</p>
<p>I bring my laptop everywhere to use free wireless between classes, etc., but I don't take notes in class. Harkness makes that impossible - it would be rude</p>
<p>@ Exeter...most people don't bring their laptops out in class. I agree with ajadedidealist: in such small classes it would seem inappropriate, plus notetaking usually is not very intensive as there are few-to-no lecture type classes.</p>
<p>Some people carry theirs around and take them out in hotspots, etc. but definitely not the majority. There are so many computers around campus that are fast and easily accessible, they are more convenient than carrying one around and booting up and down constantly.</p>
<p>on the laptop topic...do any of you know when we receive information on procuring laptops if it is part of the financial aid you were given?</p>
<p>Yeah, I was wondering about the laptop information in regards to the financial aid as well. As for the other things being mentioned, I know it is final week right now, does anyone wish they had taken notes?</p>
<p>You can redeem the financial aid whenever. I bought my macbook two months into school (i did not have a computer for 2 months - very unwise of me!) and then contacted the financial aid people. My father sent them a record that I had bought the computer and they reimbursed us with whatever amount they had designated. </p>
<p>Don't worry about it, just get a laptop/desktop BEFORE you get to school.</p>
<p>Oh, and about notes.</p>
<p>It would really be helpful if class discussions were documented but it doesn't happen. There are no tests for English or History, usually essays and so you won't need class notes at all to write a normal essay.</p>
<p>For Science, many people take notes in science, it is an "exception" to the "no notes thing".</p>
<p>Math also, take notes if you want to. Math and science aren't so much discussion orientated, so it is fine to take notes.</p>
<p>In your foreign language course it depends on the teacher. Generally, you can take notes if you want to in earlier levels (introductory and intermediate level courses), because the classes are not discussion based (no teacher will require you to have a discussion in Japanese after learning the language for only one month! Just an example but it holds true for most foreign languages).</p>
<p>Again, don't worry about it. If you like to take notes now, you will take notes when you can at Exeter. If you don't take notes now, you might choose to continue not taking notes or you might convert.</p>
<p>People generally don't use laptops to take notes, although laptops can be helpful for group projects (especially with science lab reports).</p>