Application Information - Phillips Exeter Academy

Additional Application Information

Please see the following information if you are applying as a day student, a home-schooled student or as a postgraduate.

Day Students

Day students join in all campus activities and often eat three meals a day in our dining halls. They can spend weekends in the dorm, or host boarding friends at home for a weekend or a vacation break.

If you live in one of these nearby towns, you’re just a short drive away from Exeter and are required to apply as a day student.

Massachusetts: Amesbury, Salisbury

New Hampshire: Brentwood, Durham, E. Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Rye, Seabrook, South Hampton, Stratham.

Choice Towns

If you live in one of these towns, you can choose to apply as a boarding student or day student. You make a one-time decision when you apply.

Massachusetts: Beverly, Beverly Farms, Boxford, Byfield, Danvers, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Merrimac, Merrimacport, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, South Hamilton, Topsfield, Wenham, West Newbury

New Hampshire: Atkinson, Auburn, Barrington, Bedford, Bow, Candia, Chester, Danville, Deerfield, Derry, Dover, Fremont, East Barrington, Hampstead, Hooksett, Lee, Madbury, Manchester, New Castle, Northwood, Nottingham, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Raymond, Salem, Sandown, Somersworth, South Hooksett

Maine: Berwick, Cape Neddick, Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, York, York Harbor

One-year seniors and postgraduates

Each year we admit into the senior class students who have completed 11th grade in another school and postgraduates who have already earned a high school diploma. Approximately 15 percent of the senior class is new to Exeter each fall, and the majority of our one-year seniors are postgraduates.

One-year seniors take five courses in each of the three terms and engage fully in the life of the school. They work closely with Exeter’s college counselors as they make college decisions. In June, they receive an Exeter diploma.

Postgraduates typically seek to strengthen their academic career with an additional year of solid academic success before attending college. We generally expect applications from students who are achieving A and B grades in a strong academic program during their later years of high school.

Our postgraduate program is also appropriate for students graduating from high school at a young age who do not wish to enter college directly. We look for students who have achieved considerable success in extracurricular activities. We believe these experiences help postgraduates make a quick transition into our community and contribute effectively to it.

Home-schooled Students

Parents may complete the recommendation form if they are the teacher. Please submit additional letters of recommendation from adults who have knowledge of the applicant’s academic ability. Submit the following instead of school reports:

Statement of Philosophy: What philosophy and/or state law guides your approach to home schooling? How long has the applicant been homeschooled? Are there other students involved?
Curriculum: What texts and resources have been used in the last two years? Please provide a syllabus, if available.

Transcripts for home-schooled students should include grades for the last year of academic work plus current grades to date. Grades may be in alphabetic, numeric or narrative form. Include grades for any classes being taken at other academic institutions. Please submit official documentation relating to online courses.