How to Apply - Phillips Exeter Academy

We’re thrilled you’re interested in Exeter.

To request information and to apply for admission in the 2025-2026 school year, please see the important deadlines and follow the steps outlined below.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the Admissions Office. We will be with you every step as you explore Phillips Exeter Academy and apply to join our community.

If you are applying as a day student, a home-schooled student or a one-year senior or postgradute, please click here for specific information.

Applying to Exeter: Important Deadlines

July-September

We highly encourage families to schedule a tour and interview.
Begin the application process and submit your Part I: Candidate Profile on the Gateway to Prep Schools portal.
Log into your Exeter Applicant Portal.

September

Start the essays and parent statement in Part II: Essays on the Exeter Applicant Portal.
Start the financial aid forms on the Clarity platform.
Standardize testing should be scheduled.
If you haven’t scheduled your interview and tour, don’t wait.

October-December

Now is the time to finish up Part III of the Gateway to Prep Schools application, including recommendations from a current principal or guidance counselor; your current English and math teacher; and a character and community impact statement from an adult.
Request a current and previous year transcript be sent directly from your school.

January

January 15: All applications materials are due.
January 31: All financial aid materials must be submitted.

Step 1: Request Information

The first step is to complete the online inquiry form, and we’ll send you a viewbook: a close-up on campus life and learning with answers to commonly asked questions.

Step 2: Begin Your Application

Our online application is provided by Gateway to Prep Schools and can be found online at gatewaytoprepschools.com.

Gateway, Part 1: Candidate Profile

Go to gatewaytoprepschools.com. Begin by filling out Candidate Profile. This profile contains your basic personal information and is shared with Exeter and other schools using Gateway. It should be submitted well in advance of the January 15 application deadline with the appropriate application fee:

For students living in the United States or Canada, the fee is $50.
For students living outside the United States, the fee is $100.

Once you have submitted your Application Part I: Candidate Profile through Gateway to Prep Schools, you will receive a link within approximately 24 hours via email providing you with access to the Exeter Applicant Portal.

In your Exeter Portal, you can track your application status, complete the required pieces of your application (see below), and view your decision on March 10.

Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid

Exeter’s admissions process is need-blind. Each year, we allocate as much as $25 million in need-based financial aid. Tuition-free attendance is available for accepted students whose families have incomes below $125,000, provided the family does not have significant assets relative to their income.

If you are interested in applying for financial aid, click the “yes to financial aid” box on the Candidate Profile on the Gateway to Prep Schools application. Exeter will follow up with you about the financial aid process.

To learn more about financial aid, click here.

Students who are applying for financial aid are not in a more competitive situation for admission. A family's financial circumstances has no bearing on our admissions decisions.
Dean of Enrollment John Hutchins

Step 4: Schedule an Interview

We want to get to know you: what you’re passionate about, your favorite activity, the last book you read, anything that helps us understand what you love to do. That’s why we require an interview for all applicants. It’s a two-way conversation, so bring your own questions. We want you to get to know us, too.

Each applicant is eligible for one interview appointment — in person or virtually — which must be completed by January 31. To schedule your interview for the 2025-2026 incoming year, click here.

The interview is such a great way for us to get to know you. We're excited to spend some time with you to hear about your passions, your strengths and things that you want to share.
Director of Admissions Matti Donkor

Step 5: Take the Standardized Test

Standardized testing is required for all applicants. If the cost of the test causes a financial hardship for your family, call our office and we will be happy to assist.

School Codes: ISEE 300185; SSAT 5764; TOEFL 8128; ACT 8174

For applicants to grades 9 and 10, the Upper Level of the SSAT or ISEE results must be from tests taken no earlier than two years prior to the application deadline of January 15. Results must be sent directly to Exeter from the testing company.

For applicants to grades 11, we will accept any of the tests in the table below.

For applicants to grade 12 and postgraduates, we will accept your most recent test results for the ACT, PreACT, PSAT or SAT. Results can be sent as part of the official school transcript or a copy of the score report can be emailed to admit@exeter.edu or uploaded to the Exeter Applicant Portal.

We strongly recommend the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test for students who do not speak English as a primary language and haven’t been in an English-speaking school for the last two years. These can be emailed to admit@exeter.edu or uploaded to the Exeter Applicant Portal.

Students should refer to the testing description below:

	Standardized Testing (submit ONE)
Applying to Grade	SSAT	ISEE	PSAT	SAT	PreACT	ACT
9 or 10	X	X
11	X	X	X	X	X	X
12 or PG			X	X	X	X

The [tests] have writing samples as part of the test. Admissions readers look at that writing sample very closely, considering it to be the most accurate assessment of a student's writing ability.
Dean of Enrollment John Hutchins

Step 6: Complete Your Application

Our online application is provided by Gateway to Prep Schools and can be found at gatewaytoprepschools.com. All application materials should be submitted directly through the Gateway site by January 15.

Gateway, Part 2: Essays and Parent Statement

Essay Questions: Once you have submitted Part 1 of the Gateway application, you can access the Exeter Applicant Portal to submit your essay. We require two 200-500 word essays with topic prompts provided within the portal.

Parent Statement: Available in the Exeter Applicant Portal.

Gateway, Part 3: Recommendations and Transcripts

For recommendations, you simply enter the email address of the recommender. Gateway follows up directly by sending an email with a link to the appropriate recommendation form.

Principal/Counselor Recommendation: Ask for a recommendation from your current principal or guidance counselor and enter a contact email into Gateway.
English and Math Recommendations: Ask for a recommendation from your current English and Math teacher and enter their contact email into Gateway.
Personal Recommendation: Ask an adult (for example, an employer, a church minister or a family friend) to write on behalf of your character and community impact.
Special Interest Recommendation (optional): Ask an adult (for example, a teacher, mentor or coach) to write about particular interests or abilities which demonstrate your passion and commitment.
Transcripts: Current and previous year transcripts (grade reports) must be sent directly from your school(s), in English. Please request transcripts from your school through Gateway. For additional information on transcripts and special situations, see the notes on the Gateway application page.

Character Skills Assessment (optional)

Exeter will accept SSATB’s Character Skills Assessment (CSA). The CSA can help our admissions team understand the unique values that students will contribute to the Exeter community. Learn more about the CSA. This assessment can be uploaded through your Exeter Applicant Portal.