More About Exeter

I am going to continue my previous post about Exeter, because there is so much to talk about! This is probably the first time all year that I've had a clear subject to blog about. There is so much to share about Exeter. It's going to be an amazing experience. I've had it bundled up inside me since September and now I can finally talk about it openly!

I'm started my Exeter discussion on the topic of classes and teaching methods. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Exeter is their method of teaching called “The Harkness Method”. At Exeter, students don't sit in rows of desks while the teacher lectures them, they sit around an oval table. Every single classroom, for all subjects, has a Harkness Table. The table seats one teacher and twelve students. The belief behind the Harkness Table is that if you can explain and discuss a subject than you understand it. This is going to be a major change coming from a public school where there are 30 kids in a class. At Exeter I will have the opportunity to be the driver of my education.

Another amazing aspect of Phillips Exeter is their courses. I recently received the Courses of Instruction packet. It's 70 pages long! The classes they offer are unreal. Next year I am planning on taking classes like Human Physiology, Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Genetics, Modern India, Pre-Colonial Africa, and Anthropology, just to name a few. Kennedy doesn't offer courses even close to Exeter's range. At Exeter you don't take AP classes either. They not believe in teaching to a standardized test. They tell their students that if you want to take the AP test on this subject you have to study and prepare on your own.

At Exeter I will also have the chance to play hockey for my school. Right now I play in St. Louis but at Exeter I can have both school and hockey in the same place. I have never, ever had this before. I will practice six days a week and play two games a week. We play other prep schools in the area. The competition will still be high and I can't wait to wear the big red letters E-X-E-T-E-R across the front of my jersey.

This is the end of my rant about prep school. I am both excited and nervous, mostly excited though! GO BIG RED!!!! EXETER LIONS WOHOOO!!  (407)