<p>So I am trying to figure out if DS will be named as part of the cum laude society. It isn't announced until about 2 days before graduation for his school. </p>
<p>Does anyone know what the cut off is GPA wise? Is it 10.0/11?</p>
<p>Doesn’t every school have its own policy? At DS’ s school the top quintile are honors, while top decile is high honors.</p>
<p>This might be out of date, and I can’t speak to the accuracy, but maybe it will help you in some way…</p>
<p>[Phillips</a> Exeter Doesn?t Report Rank? 95% of the time « the Sam Jackson College Experience](<a href=“http://www.samjackson.org/college/2006/10/15/phillips-exeter-doesnt-report-rank-95-of-the-time/]Phillips”>http://www.samjackson.org/college/2006/10/15/phillips-exeter-doesnt-report-rank-95-of-the-time/)</p>
<p>At Exeter, it’s top 5 percent (for early cum)/top I’m not sure–10? 20?(for cum)–so GPA can vary from year to year.</p>
<p>[Phillips</a> Exeter Academy | Academic Clubs](<a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/student_life/7944_8220.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.exeter.edu/student_life/7944_8220.aspx)</p>
<p>Be advised that not all schools select solely on the basis of grades.</p>
<p>Browsing Exonian, prior cut-offs for early cum laude (top 5%, about 15 seniors) has been about 10.3-10.4. Regular cum laude is top 10% of class, about 25-30 seniors, which I would think is pretty close GPA wise since the grade distribution it clustered between 8 and 9. Not sure when it is announced (could not find in Exonian), but they are invited to a ceremony.</p>
<p>It seems like regular cum laude isn’t announced until the day before the ceremony, 2 days before graduation. That’s why I’m trying to figure out if DS will make it- so we can plan travel for relatives to attend the ceremony- which occurs 1 day before the graduation. He will break 10.0 cum this semester as he is 9.98 now and has been getting 10.6 this year (now that he is in advanced science/math/comp sci/robotics courses that he loves and less humanites). School has not responded to my two inquiries about this! :(</p>
<p>2prepmom: That’s interesting because all other info I found said regular cum laude at Exeter is the top 1/5 th of the class…20% not 10%.</p>
<p>So purely out of curiosity, why does cum laude, in and of itself, make graduation relative worthy? </p>
<p>Have you studied those percentile rankings they post at the front of the grades section of the parent portal? From those, I’d deduce that your son is on the cusp. I’m guessing the school won’t know for sure who’s in the top 20 percent until final grades come in. If he had a 10.2 or above it would be a surer bet.</p>
<p>PA-C, you are correct, regular cum laude is top 20% of class (about 60). Thanks for letting me know I goofed up a little there citing 10% :)</p>
<p>classicalmama: It doesn’t make it worthy or unworthy. It makes a difference in which day they arrive since cum laude cermoney is Sat and Graduation is Sun.</p>
<p>2prepMom: no worries and thanks for your help</p>
<p>Ah, I see. I didn’t realize there was a separate ceremony, but just checked the graduation schedule, and there it is! </p>
<p>I also checked the winter term grade distribution, which was readjusted two weeks ago. It’s hard to generalize from just one term, but I’d bet that kids will need more than a 10.0 to make cum laude. Still, there’s the President’s Reception that afternoon–perhaps you could just invite the relatives for that and the let the cum laude ceremony, should it happen, be a nice surprise?</p>
<p>Have to say too, that I enjoyed your description of why your son’s grades are going up because my kid is the exact opposite. He is SO excited to be able to take a fat load of humanities classes!</p>
<p>PA-C
From letter to graduating seniors (exeter parent website) regarding graduation weekend:</p>
<p>Special Events: The Cum Laude Society will host a ceremony for senior members and their families on Saturday, June 8. New members will receive invitations on Friday evening, June 7.</p>
<p>Thanks, I’ve decided that if he makes 10.0 cum GPA- I am going to celebrate whether it’s cum laude this year or not! I think 10/11 is an amazing accomplishment! :)</p>
<p>Son did make cum laude! So happy for him! :)</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>Awesome! Thanks for updating us. :)</p>
<p>Congratulations! I heard graduation was beautiful this year, very nice weather.</p>
<p>…does not make any diff. D. made it way back…I am not sure that she ever mentioned it anywhere…She was not at BS though, she was just at the regular private day HS. She practically did not pay any attention to the fact and they did not have any special event for it.
But if anybody feels happy with it, congrats to you + kid if the kid got it!!</p>
<p>Miami: I don’t think the OP was seeking any kind of external award or recognition here–just a parent wanting to see a child’s hard work recognized. Cum laude is a significant achievement at Exeter.</p>