Peddie School review by Grinnell College student.
Peddie's academics are first of all, highly intensive. They focus hardcore on every element of the academic offerings--our sciences are fantastic, with professors who are highly ranked and degreed in their fields. The sciences have incredible facilities as well, from huge labs to 3d printers. But we are well-rounded in our successful classes--even our arts and humanities are brilliant. Our English faculty are great at providing critiques to their students, whether on a paper, and analysis, or on creative writing. They also give fascinating suggestions for application of creative writing materials outside of the classrooms (cool internships, good places to publish stories, workshops and writing conference ideas). And our theatre department--one of my favourite departments from my time on campus--was amazing, with a great faculty base, and a wide slew of course offerings, from intro theatre to honors theatre, from debate and speech classes to a declamation contest, to musicals and shakespeare. Peddie prepared me for the university environment by providing an atmosphere where it is safe to ask questions, and even more, it is encouraged. I learned how to speak concisely and well, not to be shy in class. I learned, through Peddie's class environments (which revolved heavily around participation and discussion, not lecture style courses--similar to a seminar style college course) how to have a conversation in a classroom, and not feel pressured or nervous about a wrong answer. Peddie showed me, through the engaging class environments and the encouraging and welcoming teachers and peers, how to be proud of my ideas. This environment is very beneficial to adapting to the college atmosphere. College, especially at my small liberal arts school, revolves around conversation and working together within the classroom.
Our College Counseling office has three full time officers, and they all are highly trained.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Peddie School as experienced by former pupil and Grinnell College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
I had to take the SSATs for acceptance to the Peddie School. I don't remember.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Peddie School by former pupil and Grinnell College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
The housing at the Peddie School is pretty well-equipped, and they currently are replacing the oldest set of dorms on campus, which are the Freshman boys dormitories (Kerr North and South). All the dorms are pretty decently sized, have showers and lounges, laundry facilities, and facilities management cleans the bathrooms during the school day, as well as the hallways. The dorms also have great community--you often will meet with the prefects and the faculty members that head their dorm for parties, barbeques, and dorm bonding. Your freshman year you will have to live in Masters as a girl or Kerr.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Peddie School as experienced by former pupil and Grinnell College student — Login or Sign Up to access full review