<p>I am sorry, I did not mean recognition here, I meant recognition outside of HS, any kind of little “+”,…and there is none. Maybe nobody knows about it outside of HS system? I am happy if it makes parents/kids happy though. Just do not put too much weight on it…</p>
<p>Since the kids don’t know for sure if they are cum laude or not until graduation (unless they are early cum laude, which is a whole other story), I don’t think anyone has ever seen it as mattering outside the school itself. I could see that it might be more of a token honor at many other schools. I know it sounds strange that top 20 percent would be a big deal in high school, or college even, but, well, at Exeter it is.</p>
<p>Well. top 2% will make a big diff.
Top 20% of course will also, but at the different level</p>
<p>It does not sound as though you are at all familiar with Exeter.</p>
<p>It was a personal goal for DS and I am very happy to celebrate the accomplishment of that goal with him! Also, it gave us something to do to entertain the out of town relatives on the day before graduation! There was a lovely ceremony with an interesting speaker. The Exeter parents I encountered during that ceremony and the graduation ceremony were so gracious and friendly that we had a very nice time. I am likely to volunteer in the future for parent events because the people were so down to earth and wonderful.</p>
<p>He will also put it on his resume when he applies for internships. I think achieving cum laude at Exeter shows tenacity, which some employers may value! ;)</p>
<p>Exeter graduates frequently list their cum laude or early cum laude status on their resumes, because it does mean a lot to those familiar with Exeter (as does the Classics Diploma designation and many of the awards). The only other place I have seen cum laude/magna/sum designation given such attention is with Harvard graduates. </p>
<p>Perspectives matter, and after spending 4 years studying among some of the arguably “best and brightest” to begin with, to achieve such recognition is sweet. These are mostly kids who would have been valedictorians at their old schools, and have given up chances for lots of recognition in order to attend Exeter.</p>
<p>At PA it’s also a big deal. There are two groups, early and middle (of the last year). There is no final distinction made.</p>
<p>And it is something which goes on CVs later, as many in academia and some in industry do know what it means.</p>
<p>At PA, on a grading scale of 0 - 6, it’s generally a 5.5 in the last year prior to the award. The award is given (I believe) early in the fourth year and then again towards the middle of the third trimester of the fourth year.</p>
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