What questions to ask at revisit days?

Prep School Admissions
1

So I’ll be going to my revisit days for Andover and Exeter in about a week–I’m still torn between the two: at this point I have no clue which one I’ll end up at–and I was wondering what some insightful, important questions to ask while there would be? Just in general about academics, culture, athletics, music, etc.

2

You’re going to get some outstanding replies that provide great guidance on specific questions to ask and aspects of these school you might consider to be your priorities. My reply will be a bit broader…at the end of the visit, ask yourself, “what did I notice?”

3

Talk to as many current students as you can. really listen to what they say or don’t say. It can be very telling. While there are similarities btw the two schools there are differences as well. See which one you can envision yourself at - which feels like home. It is too hard to pay attention to everything when you are touring/interviewing because you are busy trying to impress the schools. Enjoy revisit day. You are in, so relax now it’s their time to work to impress you. Congrats on two amazing options.

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4

Ask about what you care about or have concerns about.
The application process is over - now it’s the schools turn to impress/convince you!

5

We are between Lawrenceville and St. Paul’s. One day, we lean towards one, the next day, we lean towards the other. Honestly, this is harder than the application process.

6

Ask about school traditions, it can tell you a lot if they have fun traditions the students enjoy.

7

Ask what kind of kid they think is happiest at their school. Ask what was the thing they know now that they didn’t when they enrolled. You can ask what advice they’d have for a new student.

Be observant and listen carefully to what people say. And what they don’t.

And enjoy yourself. Ask yourself, would I be excited to be here?

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8

Ask this:

  1. Am I allowed to reach out to my child’s teacher or do I have to go through my kid’s academic advisor or dean?
  2. What does the official trasncript look like? Do you average grades over the year, or will college see every term? And if you do average, do you include the honors grade bump?
  3. If my child is in an honors class and they are taken out of that class, are they off the honors track in that subject for the rest of their time in HS?
  4. Do grades fall/freshman term determine the honors/non-honors path? Or do the kids get a chance to get used to school before the pressure starts?
  5. How many students take college classes while at your school?
  6. I realize you don’t have official AP classes, but how many AP tests do kids usually take (self study)?
  7. What is the phone policy? Do you have any restrictions on phone usage? Can the kids use any app?
  8. What is your policy on administering medicine? Can the kids keep it in their room or do they have to go to the nurse’s office to get it?
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