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Episcopal Academy

School rating 4 / 5 by

1785 Bishop White Drive Newtown Square PA 19073 United States
Day
PK to 12th
Gender
Coed

Academic

Episcopal Academy review by .

Although an effort has been made to address some of Episocpal Academy's shortcomings and move it into a modernized, globalized era, the school's strengths are still strongly in traditional academic disciplines. Its classics program is top notch, as is the emphasis on speech and rhetoric, languages, and history. Basically, anything that would prepare you to a citizen, statesman, captain of industry or socialite 100 years ago is still where the school outperforms many others today. There is a strong emphasis placed on citizenship and character which pervades the school in everything from tri-weekly Chapel services to its mandatory sports requirements. Class size generally ranges from 14-18. The school particularly excels in A.P. preparation in English (Languages and Literature), History (World, American & European), Classics, and Spanish and French. The teachers care about their students and create a warm family environment. The workload, however, is substantial. Students are taught more than mere memorization- they obliged to think critically (and above all ethically) about all of their subject material.

College Counseling

We first began discussing college guidance our freshman year. The college guidance office is....

Sample insights on college counseling

  • They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
  • For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...

Admissions - Getting Accepted

The best way to get into Episcopal is to enroll at a young age (preferably....

Sample insights on admissions

  • For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
  • Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...

School Life

The bottom line: Episcopal's Academics, Athletics, and emphasis on 'Spiritual' (more ethical than religious) instruction are top notch. However, despite the plethora of resources, may in the student body choose not to take advantage of them. The socio-economic background of the Episcopal student is relatively homogeneous. White, Upper-Class (usually with Professionally educated parents), Main Line, and Christian (Most Likely Protestant), to go with the school's religious leanings. Many of the students stand out on the athletic field more so than they do in the academic arena. Teachers are very diverse in their life experiences, but all are....

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