New Crop of Students ‘Experience’ a Day on Exeter’s Campus
April 4, 2008
Admissions Director Michael Gary with two prospective students
The students accepted for 2008-09 are a crop of inquisitive, clever and hardworking youngsters from more than 22 countries and nearly all 50 states. As of March 10, the number of applicants is up by almost 400 compared to the same time last year, an increase of 16 percent. The number of prospective students has increased for three consecutive years. The latest applicants hail from places as varied as Brazil, southern California, Canada, Texas and Connecticut.
Of the 2,678 who have applied for admission, 18 percent have been accepted to become part of Exeter’s community. Families have until Thursday, April 10, to reserve a space in the class.
Financial aid offers are also on the upswing. The announcement last November that an Exeter education is free to families making $75,000 or less per year, followed several years of ever-increasing aid to applicants. This year, 54 percent of accepted students were offered aid. That’s up from 47 percent in 2007-08, and 41 percent in 2006-07. “We’re very proud of that,” says Admissions Director Michael Gary. “It is truly a blessing to be able to admit the kids we want regardless of their financial need.”
If they accept, members of this year’s class could include a debate team captain; a Massachusetts All-State football quarterback and regional basketball champion; an artist; a newspaper reporter from Florida who was awarded a patent for his “Adaptive Magnetic Levitation Apparatus and Method;” a cross country runner; a 
Treda Collier, associate director of admissions, with a
prospective student and admissions tour guide
clarinetist; an equestrian from New Hampshire who also races go-carts; a professional actor; and a premier level soccer player from Oregon who plays jazz piano, tap dances and studies two foreign languages.
This admitted class is comprised of 18 percent students of color, 13 percent day and legacy students, 51 percent boys and 49 percent girls.
Last week, accepted applicants and their families attended ‘Experience Exeter,’ a return visit program that offers them a day of attending classes, meeting with Principal Ty Tingley, tou
ring facilities, meeting faculty, students and staff, attending sports activities, and getting a feel of the Academy.
Michael, a prospective father from Dallas, Texas, whose son Max is interested in theatrical set design and construction, among other things, said he was quite taken with the school. “I’m also very impressed with the student-to-teacher and student-to-student interaction and how well Harkness activities are run.” Max’s mom, Courtney, said she was struck by the students. “They all appeared so wholesome and natural.”
Prospective father Robert from Brazil, said his daughter, Raquel, still has to decide where she will attend school, but it is going to be hard to turn down Exeter. “I am awed with the level of self-confidence of the students here. They have learned to express their opinion, and they’ve learned that their opinion matters. This is something that you need to witness first-hand. You can’t see this in a brochure.”
A mother and daughter exploring campus during
Experience Exeter
