Phillips Exeter Academy - Review #15

While Exeter is not the only boarding school to embrace the socratic method, the use of the Harkness table in every classroom and the level of dialogue it requires is a hallmark of an Exeter education. At the Harkness table, I learned how to articulate my thoughts and back them up with evidence as well as listen to others and engage in thoughtful discussions. We may have only been teenagers, but we were expected to think critically and learn from each other. The communication skills I developed at Exeter continue to have a powerful positive impact on my career and my life.

During my Exeter experience, I became much more confident in myself and my abilities. I found an outlet for my passion for learning and gained the communication skills necessary to make learning a big part of my career. I credit Exeter with a large portion of the person I am today, particularly my strong moral compass and focus on Non Sibi (not for myself - the school motto), as well as my leadership and business skills.

Make the most of a boarding school experience by taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible. You don't need to have your life figured out by graduation - you will continue to grow and develop through college or whatever you choose to do after high school.

Exeter's commitment to creating an community with a focus of a love on learning, and the communication and leadership lessons I learned from many Harkness tables.

The Phillips Exeter library is an architectural masterpiece and is my favorite place on campus.

Many of the classes I took at Exeter had a profound impact on my worldview and my life, and were often more impactful than my college classes. The small class sizes and Harkness method encourage thorough preparation and active participation. The significant focus on theory and critical thinking helped me become a better decision maker. The teachers were well-versed in their field and very accessible. The diversity of classes is incredible, particularly at a high school. The workload is very intense and the environment can at times feel competitive as many students apply to similar colleges. Yet I also learned how to manage a workload and stress, which made my transition to college much easier.

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in sports at Exeter. The facilities are terrific and the school spirit is strong. Practices and games fit well into the schedule, though academics still took precedence. Note that the sports attendance culture is not quite as strong, except for the big Exeter/Andover weekend.

I was not active in this programming, though I enjoyed watching my friends in musicals. Exeter recently finished construction on a lovely new theater and dance building.

So many clubs, perhaps as many as were available in college. Supportive of new clubs and accessible funding. Developed leadership experience with a few of the clubs.

I enjoyed the small size of the dorms and the accessibility of the faculty who lived in the dorms. The rooms were furnished and clean. Dorm bonding was encouraged and I have fun memories of dorm trips to nearby cities and to the movies. Some of my strongest friendships are still with my dorm-mates.

Two dining halls made it convenient to visit and rarely long lines. The food is good with plenty of options and inclusion of dietary needs. Snacks are available in between meal hours. The soft serve ice cream machine is a lot of fun.

Small, New England town. Very walk-able - we would often walk to the ice cream shop or coffee shops for a break from campus. Not a ton to do nearby so transportation is often needed for activities like clothing shopping or the movies.

Like most high schools, friend groups are often around particular interests or similarities like sports teams or academic interests. I found it easy to be a part of many friend groups and enjoyed meeting people from a wide variety of backgrounds.