Phillips Exeter Academy - Experiences & Questions

intrinsically
Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:18:02 +0000

Hi,

Congrats to all newly accepted students of the Class of '16! I thought I’d write this thread to clear up some misconceptions about Exeter that were floating around CC when I was here last year and share my own experiences thus far. This is only my experience, and they definitely differ from person to person.

So first, the part that’s most often discussed-- the academics.

Coming into Exeter this year as a relatively quiet student, I was both unsure and excited about the Harkness method, particularly in math class. However, although it’s not an easy process, I feel that it is possible for anyone to find their voice around the Harkness table. Yes, Harkness math with the 8-10 word problem set a day is hard for many students to adjust to, but for me personally after doing so (as a student who didn’t particularly care much for math before Exeter) it has made it much more vivid and interesting. Same goes for history-- the classes really brought it beyond the textbook and the facts for me. Overall I would encourage more introverted or shyer students to not persuade themselves into thinking that the Harkness method is not for them, because although adjusting may not be easy, you will get it over time with the help of your peers and teachers, and you will wonder why you worried in the first place.

Something I was told a lot when I was applying that initially kept me from learning more about the school was the idea that Exeter is a ‘math and science’ school. As a student with interests primarily in the arts & humanities (though I do like math and science) , I haven’t felt such an emphasis. Exeter is well known for its math and science curriculum, From my experiences, the courses are very strong and rigorous (the English department has especially high standards for writing, grade-wise) across all fields, with many opportunities for extracurricular activities in liberal arts outside of the classroom.

Okay, now for the more exciting part.

Exeter’s been absolutely amazing–yes, there is a lot of stress and students are frequently busy, but it’s been a fulfilling experience every single day, through academics, clubs, and athletics but also through much more. For example, one activity that has really helped me to grow (and is indescribable but amazing) is Indaba, which is basically a weekly Friday night session in the candle-lit church where students share whatever is on their minds, play music, etc. It’s incredibly moving to hear about the multitude of experiences many of my peers and to just reflect–it’s really opened my eyes and allowed me to think about my own dreams and hopes in a way that’s so much deeper than I could have before coming here. There are a lot of really interesting/thought-provoking assembly speakers (even though I’ll admit some people do use that format to sleep hahaha)–for example in the beginning of the year there was a humanist professor who came and generated a lot of controversy. There have also been forums on topics like LGBT issues, the white experience, etc.

Basically–like at many boarding schools-- thought-provoking ideas surround you everywhere. Before coming here, I was afraid that that Exeter would be have an extremely really serious, no-nonsense atmosphere, but this is definitely not the case. There’s so much energy that stems from so many people with various personalities and backgrounds all interacting, and there’s definitely a lot of enthusiasm. Sometimes it’s almost too exciting, to the point where you need to really get rid of distractions and focus. Another thing that’s necessary for success here is to learn not to compare yourself too much to others in the community and just focus on your own goals–part of being an Exonian is never being quite as good of a student or person as you would like to be, after being exposed to all the possibilities, but I’ve learned to be okay with that.

So, if anyone has any personal experiences/stories about Exeter or boarding school in general, feel free to post/comment here. And ask questions! About academics, social life, clubs, stuff that you might be worried about that may not be as positive or easy to talk about like what i’ve said so far, sports, dorm life, changes this year, publications like The Exonian, simple things like food… the experience really is too complex to describe at times, but I’ll answer honestly. I know I was dying of curiosity before I came here :)