Mercersburg Academy review by Trinity College student.
Academics at Mercersburg Academy seem to be hit or miss. There are the few teachers who are extremely interested in the well-being of the students, but many seem to be teaching just at Mercersburg just because their children automatically get a free education at an 'elite' boarding school. It is safe to say that the sciences are not Mercersburg's strong point. The very best teachers are reserved for the AP-Level classes, and most of the normal level science teachers leave their students unenthusiastic about the subject. English and history are another subject all together. Both departments are filled with enthusiastic teachers who enjoy working with students. The same can be said for the arts department... Of course the arts department could have just been happy to get the new arts center. Honestly, the academic opportunities at Mercersburg are what each student makes of them. Should the student work hard all four years, they'll do well. On the opposite end of the spectrum, its relatively easy to coast through four years of Mercersburg with minimal effort.
I first met with the college counseling staff my sophomore year at Mercersburg, but it.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Mercersburg Academy as experienced by former pupil and Trinity College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
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...
I am unsure of what score range Mercersburg students currently stand in, but when I.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Mercersburg Academy by former pupil and Trinity College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
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...
During my four years at Mercersburg, I can say that the town has grown. What were corn fields and cow pastures my freshman year are now covered in subdivisions. Of course, these were the days before 4 dollar gas. Days when the one and a half hour commute to DC seemed feasible. I'm not really sure how the town is coping now. Also, when I was attending, there was a program called the Lenfest Scholarship Program which would grant disadvantaged scholars from central Pennsylvania the opportunity to study at 1 of 4 boarding schools all expenses paid. This program has since.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Mercersburg Academy as experienced by former pupil and Trinity College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review