Is Philips Exeter Academy Hard to Do Well in?

Is Philips Exeter Academy Hard to Do Well in? photo 0 Private or public

Exeter is a unique school, more akin to Harvard than any other. By the time an Exonian is done with four years of schooling, he has already reached the top of a select group. Although this does not mean he is superior to his peers, it does make it easier to avoid being pushed down to the bottom of the pile.

Exonians

If you’re wondering whether Philips Exeter Academy is hard to do well in, consider the following: It’s not a hard school to get into. However, Exeter students are notoriously arrogant. You can tell when you enter the freshman dorm; an Exonian is better than their peers.

Exeter has an academic atmosphere and is known for fostering a love of learning. Students are required to write essays and submit test scores. They also must provide a recommendation from their middle school principal. Exeter is also a member of the School Year Abroad program, which allows students to study abroad. It has inspired several fiction and plays, many of which feature the school or its students. The novelist John Knowles, for example, hid his name in A Separate Peace to make it appear less like an academy.

Another essential factor to consider is the teaching style. Exeter teaches using the “Harkness Method,” which relies on a student-centered approach. Students discuss books in English, historical events in History, and new concepts in Science. In math classes, students present homework problems on whiteboards and discuss them as a class. At the same time, students are encouraged to share their ideas, ask questions, and admit that there is always someone who knows better.

Applicants studying at Exeter are encouraged to take the SSATB Character Skills Assessment, which helps the admissions team understand what students value. The assessment can be uploaded through the Exeter Applicant Portal.

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The Harkness Method

The Harkness method is a teaching style that emphasizes respect for the student and the teacher. It is an approach that encourages interaction and collaboration while maintaining a rigorous pace for course progress. The method has been adapted to a wide variety of disciplines. Here are some examples of how it is used in classrooms.

During a Harkness class, students must ask questions and provide their opinions. It reduces students’ tendency to regurgitate information, encouraging them to participate and think for themselves. It also encourages students to engage in group discussion and develop the courage to speak, listen, empathize, and understand.

Using the Harkness method in classrooms helps students learn more effectively. Teachers can use Harkness discussion tables to encourage discussion and collaboration. A Harkness table seats 12 students and one teacher, but you can purchase more extended tables if you need more space. The concept of the Harkness method is similar to the Harkness Table philosophy, except that instead of lectures, students learn to ask and answer questions and engage in discussion.

Exeter Academy has a strong track record in implementing the Harkness teaching method. Founded in 1930, Exeter Academy is the only private high school to utilize the Harkness method in all courses. The Harkness method is named after Edward S. Harkness, who donated $129 million to the school before his death. The money he contributed to the school helped it to implement the Harkness method.

Diversity and inclusion

The Diversity and Equity Team (DEI) at Philips Exeter Academy focuses on increasing understanding, creating change, and cultivating community. The DEI Task Force also works with the community and the school’s academic and administrative offices to help ensure the school is a welcoming and inclusive place for all.

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Phillips Exeter Academy is an elite school with a long history of educating generations of the political, social, and economic elite. The school is currently experimenting with ways to diversify its student body. Nearly 20 percent of its student body is Black or Latinx, and other types of diversity are growing on campus. As a result, discussions about diversity are held inside and outside the classroom.

Inclusion at Philips Exeter Academy is a vital priority of the school’s leadership. As an inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion, Stephanie Bramlett works with all constituencies at the school. She also leads the summer Exeter Diversity Institute. In addition to her role as Director of Equity and Inclusion at PEA, Stephanie is an active member of the New England People of Color in Independent Schools Council. In addition, she has led teams of trustees and staff in the NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and SLS 2017 Vision for Inclusive Excellence. She founded the Fairchester Hiring Alliance for Faculty of Color in Independent Schools.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion collaborates with the Dean of Faculty to ensure a diverse pool of candidates for teaching positions. To support this, the office has developed programs such as the John and Elizabeth Phillips Fellowship and the Dissertation Year Fellowship. Additionally, it has established partnerships with graduate institutions and search firms that specialize in supporting teachers of color.

Opportunities for creative expression

The Phillips Exeter Academy offers a unique environment where students can explore creativity. Students can participate in exceptional art programs at the school, which features specialized classrooms for different styles of art and a large gallery. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Exeter Academy’s Beading Interest Group.

The school offers a Washington Intern Program and a Foreign Studies Program. Undergraduate students can participate in internships in their congressional representatives’ offices or senators’ offices. Exeter students can also participate in a program sponsored by the Milton Academy Mountain School, which allows students to study in a remote Vermont mountain community. The Academy also supports school-year abroad programs in Viterbo and Beijing, and students can participate in summer language programs in France and Japan.

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Exeter graduates have made a diverse range of contributions to society. Some have found jobs in public service and the arts. Former students have included authors and Olympians. Dan Brown and Peter Benchley have both served as faculty at Exeter. In addition, US President Ulysses S. Grant was a fellow of the school. Exeter also offers substantial financial aid, including free tuition for qualified families. The school awards $22 million to students each year.

The school is committed to the teaching of the arts, and a renowned faculty makes opportunities for creative expression possible. The school uses a unique method of instruction called the Harkness method, which involves a teacher and a small group of students. This method is similar to the Socratic method. Each class is small, with 12 to 13 students.

The Phillips Exeter Academy also offers an internship program that brings in recent college graduates. This internship program gives talented young people a taste of working in a secondary school setting and helps prepare them for future careers. To participate in this program, a student must have completed a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Exonians’ precarious hold on the superiority

As an Exonian, you may be aware of Exeter students’ arrogance. An Exonian will ooze sophistication from his freshman dorm and quickly deny any hint of inferiority. Exeter is more like Harvard than any other school. As such, it is easier for him to maintain his position than to resign himself to being at the bottom of the class.

More than a third of Exeter seniors get into their first choice colleges. This pattern is significant today because college admission is becoming more competitive. That means colleges can demand more academic preparation from their first-year students. For example, if Harvard requires more preparation, Exeter will no doubt have to adjust to compete. This, in turn, will force other schools to emphasize academic achievement.

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While the second world war raged, Exeter continued to teach school. The boys were kept at the school until they were 18 years old, and an extra session was held during the summer months to finish their requirements and be ready for college when they returned. Despite the difficulties, Exeter was a solid rock in the world of war.

The school is not known for being exclusive; one-fourth of the students attend on scholarship funds. In addition, a new procedure is being developed to identify promising boys who can further the Exeter experience. A renowned professor and former student, Mr. Jencks, graduated from Exeter in 1954 and served as the president of the school newspaper.

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