Phillips Exeter Academy review by Yale University student.
Phillips Exeter Academy is famous for its Harkness method of teaching. The Harkness method emphasizes student participation, the professor functions as a very smart member of the discussion. The best teachers can subtly guide conversation in a productive direction without being overbearing. Exeter does not really teach you alot of information, instead it teaches you something much more valuable: how to think and learn. Facts will soon be forgetten but he ability to engage others in discussion and teach yourself is something much more valuable. The school is especially strong in math and science although I most enjoyed our English department. However many of the veteran teachers are retiring and being replaced by subpar youngsters. Only time will tell if they can live up to their predecessors. I go to Yale and can honestly say that Exeter is much more difficult. I have handed in the same paper at both institutions and gotten lower grades on them at Exeter than at Yale. In addition, classes go from 8 am until 6 pm. The average student probably needs to do at least two hours of solid work per night, this number can vary depending on intelligence and goals.For example, if you're not very gifted and want to go to an ivy league school, you probably need to work at least 6 hours or so a night. In addition, there will be times with a lot of tests and papers, I distinctly remember doing work for stretches of at least 11 hours straight with no meals no breaks during junior year. Basically going to Exeter is something that nobody enjoys until after. It's like the military, you're proud you went once you're out but during school, life can feel like hell. The student body is very competitive. I was seen as a student undeserving of getting into Yale and the jealousy was very apparent in many of my peers.
Exeter has a very good college counseling department. Obviously a school like Exeter is concerned.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Phillips Exeter Academy as experienced by former pupil and Yale University 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...
Getting into Exeter is a lot like applying to college. A lot of people have.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Phillips Exeter Academy by former pupil and Yale University 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...
Life at Exeter was pretty horrible. we're given the responsibilities and workload of college students with none of the freedom. the only reason I can work so hard in college is that I know once i'm done I can go have fun. At exeter, once you're done with everything, you get to sleep. You never get enough sleep and I found myself constantly tired. The kids are from all backgrounds, ethnic and socioeconomic although the poorer students are always from the United States and the international students are always the progeny of rich diplomats/doctors/businessmen. Kids don't have much school spirit. I really.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Phillips Exeter Academy as experienced by former pupil and Yale University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review