Phillips Exeter Academy - Review #3

The Harkness table is used in all classrooms, facilitating discussion and exploration of subjects that allow students to take the reins on their own education. With classes averaging 12 students or fewer, every student is allowed the opportunity to speak up and contribute their unique perspective.

I thought I was rather unremarkable while at Exeter. I was surrounded by truly some of the brightest minds in the world. But Exeter taught me how to fail, how to do so gracefully, and how to learn from failure. I learned to take risks and to speak up- I really found my voice at the Harkness table. I learned that I would rather be the dumbest person in the room so long as I am able to learn from everyone around me, and the confidence I have as a working professional today certainly stems from all the lessons and experience I had in and out of the classroom at Exeter.

I would have not tried to take all the hardest classes available to preps. I also wish I had known how to ask for help without feeling ashamed.

The friendships I made and the teachers I was fortunate to learn from made Exeter an unforgettable experience. There were many sleepless nights and many failing grades and many mental breakdowns, and the pressure is a lot for any teenager to handle, but learning how to handle the pressure and the struggles in life set me up so well that nothing has ever felt as challenging since.

Exeter bars at the dining hall; chocolate croissants warmed up at Grill; and the top floor of the library when it's unlocked.

The course book guide was as long if not longer than my course options in college. The education available at Exeter is so vast and so well-rounded. I took everything from printmaking to astronomy to early Asian history; the majority of your graduation requirements are able to be completed through electives within that subject.The environment itself was, at the time, not the healthiest. Cut throat competition amongst peers, and an unusual competitive approach to laziness ("I only studied for 2 hours for that test and still got a B!!" "oh I didn't get the chance to study because I was up all night writing a paper but I got A")

In your first two years there is mandatory participation in athletics of some sort, be it a team or a club sport, each term. In your last two years you are able to select one term each year to "opt out" of sports. The quality of the facilities is impressive, and they've made a substantial investment in updating some older facilities in recent years.

From theatre to dance to musical ensembles, there is something for everyone who wants to explore the arts.

If you can think it, it either does or can exist at Exeter. With over 100 clubs to choose from, you're likely to find something in which to involve yourself that ignites passion. And if not, the process to start a club is fairly simple.

I was a day student, though I enjoyed being able to stay over in friends dorm rooms with relative ease on weekends and if there was a predicted snow storm (since at the time, snow days were unheard of at Exeter).

With two dining halls, salad bars and pasta bars as a daily staple, and a wide range of food in the mainline served with various ethnic origins, the food at Exeter is truly excellent. I haven't eaten so well since I left....

Exeter is a cute, historic New England town, and the downtown strip with shops and restaurants is a short walk from campus. The cycling team would also do sunrise bike rides to the beach which is about 8 miles away from campus.

With classes from 8am-6pm, and free time scheduled in the middle of the day, and activities going on every night until check-in, there was always someone somewhere to hang out with. From throwing frisbees in the quad, to eating endless chocolate croissants in Grill, I have so many fond memories of the little moments with friends and classmates.