Exeter Summer FAQs

We invite you to explore some of the commonly asked questions below for more details about Exeter Summer.

The Exeter Summer dates are Saturday, July 6 through Thursday, August 8, 2024.

Yes, you are required to attend the full five-week session. Students who leave before the official end of Exeter Summer will not receive grades and teachers’ comments or any form of refund.

No, Exeter Summer does not grant credit or issue a certificate of completion to students who complete the program. Those seeking credit should make prior arrangements with their schools. Students who complete the full program will receive grades and teachers’ comments.

The Exeter Summer faculty are a mix of both current Phillips Exeter Academy teachers and coaches as well as teachers and coaches from other secondary institutions and Universities. A majority of our summer faculty return to teach with us each session.

Harkness is a radically different approach to learning. Typically twelve students and one teacher sit around an oval table and consider the subject they prepared beforehand. Respect for every voice and collaborative problem-solving helps students take charge of their learning. Read more about Harkness.

You can expect an average of one hour of homework per class each night.

No, students who live close to Exeter can enroll as a day student. Day students must provide their own transportation to and from campus.

Some dorms are large brick buildings accommodating 30 to 60 students each, and others are smaller wood-framed houses for 10 to 20 students each. Depending on the size, each dorm has 1 to 5 resident faculty members and 2 to 5 affiliate dorm faculty members. Note: Dorms do not have air conditioning and students cannot bring air conditioners.

Students are required to bring a Chromebook or equivalent laptop device to Exeter Summer. Some courses require specific technology; review course requirements in the Access Exeter Course Catalog or Upper School Course Catalog.

Students are required to bring a cell phone that can receive calls and texts with a U.S. based number.

Consistent with recommendations by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), we continue to strongly encourage and recommend updated COVID vaccines for students and adults at Phillips Exeter Academy. We continue to monitor and be guided by most reliable public health information sources including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Exeter Summer application becomes available in early December for next summer. See How to Apply to Exeter Summer for more information.

Tuition information and a detailed list of optional courses and additional expenses can be found at Exeter Summer Tuition and Fees.

Qualified applicants are accepted on a rolling admissions basis until our program is full. The application closes on May 1. See to How to Apply to Exeter Summer for more information.

To attend Exeter Summer, students need to be between the ages of 13 and 18 years old by September 1.

Those applying for financial aid should indicate so on the Exeter Summer application prior to submission. The deadline for submitting a financial aid application is March 1. See Exeter Summer Financial Aid for more detailed information.

I am applying to Phillips Exeter Academy’s fall term. Do I still have to complete the Exeter Summer application?

You still need to complete the Exeter Summer application, submit a personal essay, and pay the application fee. If you have already submitted your application for the fall term, we can obtain copies of your recommendations and transcripts from the Admissions office.

On the Exeter Summer application, select “Yes” to the following:

· you are also applying for the academic year,

· we can acquire information from the fall admissions application,

If you are applying for financial aid to Exeter Summer, you will also need to complete a separate financial aid application. See Exeter Summer Financial Aid for detailed information.

No, home-schooled students complete the same application with a few differences in the information provided. When providing current school information, home-schooled students should select 'Home School' from the dropdown list on the Academic Information page of the application.

Home-schooled students are required to submit three (3) recommendations (English, Math or Science, and School Official) based upon the following requirements:

• If you have one teacher teaching all subjects (i.e. parent or instructor), they may complete all three recommendation forms.
• Students who use tutors for English, Math or Science should have that tutor complete the appropriate recommendation.
• For students who are currently enrolled in an English, Math or Science class with instruction by a teacher or third party (online or in-person), have the instructor for that subject complete the appropriate recommendation.
• You must provide a grade report/transcript from the previous school year in addition to the most recent grade report/transcript.

You can review all the application requirements at How to Apply to Exeter Summer.