lovelife123

I am applying to exeter.

I have always wanted to (my dad went) and I decided a few years ago that i would definitely apply. Now, everyone I am talking to who is applying/has applied to prep schools applied to at least 3 or 4, some even 9 or 10! So now I am thinking that it is fairly uncommon for someone to apply to just one prep school. Am I correct in thinking this?

And, furthermore, will this have a negative or positive effect on my application? I was thinking that maybe exeter might see this as a good thing, because it appears that I think that their school is the best one out there (which I do!)
But part of me also wonders, do they think I am limiting myself, or I am too lazy to apply to other schools?

Please give your opinions! Many thanks!

Obviously

As far as I've seen, it is fairly uncommon to apply to just one BS. If anything, it might increase your chances at Exeter a bit so they can protect their yield (if any.) You're a legacy, so that increases your chances. In my opinion, you should probably apply to one or two more schools, and have them be safeties. In the chance that Exeter doesn't accept you, you'll always have them to go to.
Good luck!

BrooklynGuy

It is not common to apply to only one school. You need to consider how you will feel if you don't get into Exeter. Will you be happy going to your local school or current option? If your personal ranking is:

1. Exeter
2. Current local school
3. Other boarding schools

then applying only to Exeter might make sense. But, if your personal ranking is:

1. Exeter
2. A different boarding school
3. Current local school

then you should consider applying to more than just Exeter.

neatoburrito

What BrooklynGuy said.

lovelife123

thanks for your responses! because applying to other boarding schools only occurred to me recently, when i spoke with my parents about it, they didn't want me to get in over my head, plus my dad said he wouldnt feel comfortable if i went across the country to a school i had never considered before. so basically i don't have the option of applying to other boarding schools, but i do like the local school i go to now, so whatever ends up happening should be ok.

paleozoic

I think you may not have thought through why you want to go to Exeter in the first place. The reason should not be because your dad went there but because Exeter (or St. Paul's or Hotchkiss etc ) offer a type of education that is fundamentally different in kind from your local school. There is no local school that I am aware of that can come close to offering the sort of education you would get at Exeter or its peer schools and if your Dad figures you are mature enough to thrive in a very competitive place like exeter, you might ask yourself whether exeter is your spot. In your Dad's situation, we encouraged our daughter to apply to St. Paul's and two peer schools--Exeter and Groton. Each is equally excellent but Exeter is twice as big as St. Pauls and three times as big as Groton. Also the "feel" and nature of each school is very different.( St. Pauls to my mind is the most beautiful and most nurturing--more Oxford than Harvard if you will--but your dad might think the same about Exeter).

What I am really saying is that if for whatever reason you have decided that prep school is for you, you owe it to yourself to explore two or three "peer" schools for fit. I think you are wise not to play the silly game of 'reach, match and safety" but with respect I would suggest talk to yuur Dad to let you explore some Exeter peer schools for fit. Also, even if you are a legacy, there is never a guarantee that you will get in at any particular school. They have their own arcane way of making admission decisions--primarily they have to build and balance a class according to their priorities -- so again, no matter how academically excellent you think you may be, it would be in your enlightened self interest if you want the best education that is available in the world today (and I genuinely believe exeter and its peer schools provide that) to apply in two or three places. Good luck. By the way, for us St. Paul'swas 3000 miles away and our daughter was a very young 14 year old when she went.