PEA Accepts 15 Percent of Applicants
Prospective Exonians across the globe opened their inboxes on March 9 to a video of smiling Exonians welcoming them to the Exeter community. To some, this was a morning of celebration; for others, however, their waitlists and rejections left them considering alternative choices.
The Admissions Department reviewed the applications of nearly 2,700 applicants, and 15 percentt of those applicants were accepted—two percent down from last year’s. “This year’s applicants were remarkably talented in so many different ways,” Dean of Enrollment and External Relations William Leahy said. “Part of the reason for such a decrease is due to the fact that our yield of admitted students has been consistently increasing.”
The newly admitted students represent a diverse array of geographical backgrounds, coming from 42 states, 20 countries and 317 different schools. Two-hundred-thirteen of accepted students applied for financial aid.
To some, the letter of acceptance came as a welcome surprise. Incoming prep Kodi Lopez of Los Angeles, California felt that her admission was a long shot. “When I woke up to that email, it didn’t process in my mind until later. I had just been accepted to my dream school,” he said. “I called my mom, and she started crying on the spot. I felt as if everything came together at last, all my hard work … The packet came later, and with that, I started jumping off the walls with joy.” Lopez has accepted his place at the Academy.
As the acceptance rate attests, the Academy is an appealing place to many budding scholars. Incoming lower Anya Tang of Granger, Indiana, was drawn by the intellectual challenges Exeter provides. “[I] realized that my public school wasn’t the best place for me to grow, especially with regard to my passions and interests,” she said. “After hearing my interviewer describe the Harkness method, I realized that my education could be so much more than just working towards a diploma.”
Applicants who had experienced Exeter Summer were further compelled to give the regular session a try. Incoming lower Max Triff of Durham, New Hampshire, was a two-year Summer Exonian before his acceptance. “I fell in love with everything about [Exeter Summer],” he said. “The Harkness table, the campus, the people and the opportunities that it gave guided me to apply to the Academy.”
Current Exonians whose siblings were accepted voiced their delight. “My brother, Andrew, is currently an eighth grader at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham, New Hampshire,” upper Emma Cerrato said. “He has already decided to commit. I was away when Andrew received his acceptance letter and video, but my mom told me he was thrilled by the response.”
The acceptances came after much hard work during the application process, including standardized testing, admissions essays and much anxiety. Incoming upper Adriana Tzintzun of Asheboro, North Carolina, found it to be grueling. “I was nervous because I wanted to make sure that Exeter would see me in a good way,” she recalled. “It was hard to showcase myself in a way that would make me stand out.”
This process did not end happily for all. Lower Ariel* was disappointed by the fact that her brother was rejected. “To be honest, I was kind of expecting it, because my brother isn’t too great academically. However, he was pretty upset about it. The person that was most upset, though, was our mom,” she said. “My parents have donated a lot of money to the Academy, and, for the past year, my mom worked hard to get to know the teachers and staff and give them a good impression.” The Academy’s decision has resulted in tension in the family, and Ariel does not expect her parents to donate again.
Similarly, upper Jemma* hoped to have her brother around for senior year. “He really wanted to be with me, and he really wanted to get into Exeter. He’s bummed. He really liked it when he visited, but he got into [other schools],” she said.
Applicants who have long vied for a spot were particularly disappointed. Max, of Long Island, New York, dreamed of attending the Academy as a repeat lower. “All my life, I’ve woken up each day with the goal of doing one thing better. I’m always trying to improve and better the world around me. Exeter seemed like the next natural step,” he said. Max described his rejection as a numbing experience.
For accepted students, however, the Academy is ready to extend open arms. “The majority of our admitted students will be taking part in our Experience Exeter programs,” Leahy said. “They are eager to see Exeter firsthand and we are so grateful to all community members who will help welcome these newest Exonians to campus.”
For some, Experience Exeter will be a time to form more definitive opinions on the Academy. “I’ve heard way too many things about Exeter from way too many people, so I think I’m going to reserve my judgement for when I actually ‘Experience Exeter!’” Tang said. In time, she hopes to call herself an Exonian.
*Asterisks denote name change to preserve anonymity