Phillips Exeter Academy - Review #1

Phillips Exeter is distinct for its use of the Harkness Method and its unique athletic opportunities afforded by a robust alumni network and excellent teachers from various high-level academic positions within their fields. Harkness, a student-led seminar style of teaching, allows students to accelerate their development of critical thinking skills in all domains of study as it is applied in all course curricula. As a result of engaging in this method of learning for several years, I was able to foster my ability to partake in discourse about a variety of topics with a diverse group of peers after first analyzing and reflecting on compelling literature and/or problem sets.

I felt as though I was able to comprehensively develop my sense of self while attending Phillips Exeter. A good example of this is the sharing of my meditation, or personal essay, that I wrote in the fall of my senior year. Before attending Exeter, I had never seen myself as much of a writer or someone that would share my ideas in such an upfront with others. Throughout my time at Exeter, however, I found my voice in this area and ever since have been able to use writing as a form of personal expression and expansion.

I would have definitely been more open to new experiences if I had known a bit of what I know now when I first got to Exeter. I relied a bit heavily on what I was already used to and therefore limited my discovery initially with fears about how things might go. The environment at Exeter and schools like it are extremely welcoming and encouraging of exactly that type of thing, and this allows a student to learn about the world in a controlled but flexible way.

My favorite thing about Exeter was the grounds. A lesser-known but amazing aspect of the school is its five miles of woods that are used as part of environmental studies courses, clubs, athletics, and community-town leisure. This portion of the campus is full of various ecosystems and wildlife that enrich the experience tenfold. I particularly enjoyed walks through the woods with my teachers or close friends as a way to have authentic and uplifting conversations.

I very highly recommend getting to know one or two teachers on a close level. More often than not, a teacher/advisor will attempt to form this type of relationship in order to begin to build a student’s support network. While independence and autonomy are exceptionally empowering, asking for help is an essential skill that many forget to foster when in the face of other pursuits. The black coffee and chocolate croissant combination is also always a good option.

My favorite aspects of the academics at Phillips Exeter were how student-based they were. I felt as though my education was truly self-inspired with the backdrop of a plethora of resources and exceptional teaching, which therefore led me to pursue my interests with greater fervor and depth. I also felt entirely respected by my teachers and peers. Very rarely, if ever, did I experience a dynamic in which I felt I was given a lesser opportunity to share my opinion and defend it if I chose. Additionally, the added bonus of having classmates that were as passionate and dedicated to their own pursuits compelled me to respect their academic focuses and the information they garnered in their own learning processes.

The athletics department at Phillips Exeter is full of rich coaching experience, skill, and quality. I was able to develop my skills as an athlete and team-mate in a competitive league under the guide of strong and compassionate coaching, which helped my recruiting process immensely. Importantly, though the teams we competed against were and there was a strong sense of motivation towards improvement among the team itself, comraderie and community building were always at the forefront of each of the three teams I was on (field hockey, diving, and lacrosse), which seemed to be the case among the entire athletics community. Furtnermore, the sheer amount of resources allocated to the facilities and physical resources such as equipment and transportation allowed for an enriched and exciting experience throughout my time as an athlete.

I really appreciated the emphasis placed on aspects of the possible experience of a student at Exeter such that all students of all backgrounds were welcome. Art and music showcases for students and faculty, as well as outside visitors, provided many opportunities to enjoy world-class performances in a unique way. As a student in private music lessons for Ukulele and Trumpet, I was amazed at how experienced and active my instructors were, as well as with the heavy inclusion of music theory instruction that I had not encountered in other lessons of that type. I felt as though my instructors were extremely personable and easy to work with, as well as open to changes. The wealth of offerings allowed for flexibility according to preference for the student, which allowed one to cater their instruction to their personal interests and needs.

With the size and diversity of the student community at Exeter, there was a vast number of various student and community organizations ranging from environmental groups, student government, dramat (drama & theater), and ESSO clubs that were based in community outreach within the town of Exeter and the surrounding seacoast. There are also plenty of cultural clubs and affinity groups that, while undersupported at times, provide a basis for inclusion and acceptance among the school and town community.

The integrated model of dorms (i.e. mixed age group assignments) at Exeter created an excellent opportunity to develop leadership as well as learning skills that afforded a sense of humility and wisdom that helped me grow immensely as a person. Additionally, the dorm faculty at Exeter are top-notch in terms of concern and care for students such that the dorm can truly feel like a home away from home. With this, the faculty are also considerate of respecting the independence dorm living is intended to entail, and most often do not create a restrictive environment.

Exeter had two fantastic dining halls on two parts of the 3-part campus (athletics, south side (residential), and north side), one of which was open only on weekdays and weekend afternoons while the other was open throughout the week. On top of this, there were fifty minutes to an hour and twenty minutes allocated to lunch each day, which allowed for students to get to each meal with ease and engage with their peers in a comfortable setting and relaxed way. I also particularly enjoyed the ability to dine with teachers as this removed the veil of adult-child dynamics and instead allowed for students to connect with instructors on a more personal level as they would at a liberal arts college.

I really enjoyed the historical and slow, yet still well-kept and interesting town of Exeter which was full of local shops and historical sites. Everything was within a mile or so, including the train station, which made getting to Boston just as easy as getting to class on a snowy day. Given the distance between Boston and Exeter, however, there was still a slowness to the pace of life in the town that made traffic a negligible threat. I did often hear complaints from students about a lack of acceptance on the part of drivers at times, a problem which has continuously been attempted to be addressed by the school administration.

I really enjoyed how many people there were at Exeter, as well as how interesting each person was. I had classmates from around the world, though we were all able to build community throughout our time together at Exeter. Friendships were formed and therefore determined along with dorm affiliations, sports teams, and club participation, though the nature of classes and tradition at Exeter propelled many to get to know those outside of their immediate social circle, something I found unique to the environment at Exeter. Living in a dorm was one of the greatest avenues toward self-discovery and independence, particularly because of the ability to go through these processes alongside your closest friends and quasi-family members.