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S E I Z E T H E TA N G I B L E

Mercersburg difference.

• You really can define yourself here.

That’s exactly what our students say they can do here: so many avenues for scholastic and personal achievement.

• Our intimate classes encourage superior learning.

A class usually numbers only 12, and we prefer big Harkness tables over rows of desks so everyone is front and center.

• Our students are comfortable in their own skins.

They are happy and down-to-earth. And once you’re here, you’re family—for life!

• Our grads praise our emphasis on self-discipline.

Once in college, our alums say they work harder and are smarter than their peers, thanks to the self-discipline and study skills they acquired at Mercersburg.

• Our location is boarding-school perfect.

We are completely away from big-city distractions, but easily accessible by car, plane, or train.

DEFINING QUICK FACTS Founded 1893, co-educational, independent, private, fully accredited.

Grades 9–12 and postgraduate, 430 students, 85 percent boarding, 15 percent day.

$4.9 million in student financial aid available annually.

70 percent of faculty hold advanced degrees.

Financially strong: $182 million endowment thanks to generous alumni, parents, and friends.

AboUT mErCErSbUrG Our graduates are truly Olympian: 54 Olympians (12 gold medalists)

11 Fulbright scholars

7 Rhodes scholars

3 Medal of Honor recipients

2 Academy Award winners

1 Nobel laureate

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define yourself ON A GORGEOUS CAMPUS. It just keeps getting better … and with space galore.

Our students will tell you that once you stand in the Quad and do a 360-degree turn, you will never think about enrolling at another school—300 acres of pristine Pennsylvania countryside and stunning campus architecture, where the athletic fields stretch right up to the farms and mountains.

Should a college preparatory school be anything else?

Come and visit. Seeing is believing.

define yourself W H E R E S O L I D VA L U E S I N F U S E ALL YOU DO. An ethical compass—Mercersburg-style— that lasts a lifetime.

We teach our students to think for themselves, to approach life thoughtfully and creatively, to thrive physically, to act morally, to value the spiritual dimension of human existence, and to serve others.

In addition, every student must sign a community pledge and live up to our honor code.

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real students, real stories

DAN KWAK Northbrook, Illinois ACTIVITIES: Octet • Jazz Band • Soccer (Varsity) • Golf (Varsity) • Library Proctor • Spanish Club (Treasurer) • Chapel Usher

“I came to Mercersburg in the 10th grade, and it has given me a new view on everything. I’m stretched in a lot of directions, and that’s a really good thing. I knew that math was my favorite subject, so I took calculus and then statistics. But thanks to the faculty at Mercersburg, I discovered that there were other things like history and politics. I studied world and U.S. history here, and I liked it a lot. It wasn’t just memorizing dates; the faculty really gave me a newfound insight into human development on the planet. I’m currently taking a government course, and this past summer I interned for a political campaign in Illinois. The college counseling office advised me to broaden my views and look for things that would really help me develop—not just for college, but for me—things that I would have fun doing for the rest of my life. It turns out I have interests in all sorts of places, not just math and science.”

W H AT I T ’ S L I K E T O B E

Dan “My favorite place on campus is the Burgin Center. I come in here every day for at least an hour. I play the clarinet, and I also sing in the men’s a cappella group, The Octet.

Music has taught me a lot of things, like the value of discipline and practice.”

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real students, real stories

NIKKI WOLNY Atascadero, California, via Saudi Arabia ACTIVITIES: Tennis (Varsity/Letter) • Basketball (Junior Varsity) • African-American Student Union (Secretary)

“Tennis is a game that’s just as mental as it is physical. When I’m playing I have to be calm, so I can think and motivate myself throughout each match. Being on the court definitely helps me academically. With tennis, if I’m not hitting a stroke right, I hit another 1,000 balls per week, and I work on my problem. It’s the same with my academics; when I don’t understand something in class, I see my teachers for help. Just as each coach has a different way of approaching the game of tennis, the teachers at Mercersburg each give me different ways to improve in the classroom. It’s my dream to play tennis in college, but my real goal is to major in biology or pre-med. I chose to attend Mercersburg because it was the best fit for me. I grew up in an international community and Mercersburg has over 30 nations represented in the student body: it feels like my second home.”

W H AT I T ’ S L I K E T O B E

Nikki “Outside of tennis, I’m in the AASU (African-American Student Union) and I really enjoy it. It’s just a lot of fun; I get to hang out with people I might not otherwise get to spend a lot of time with.”

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define yourself A C A D E M I C A L LY W I T H A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM. Our challenging courses and expert faculty will equip you for college … and beyond.

With help from your faculty adviser and department chairs, you’ll tailor your academic life to your interests, choosing from more than 150 courses, including over 40 AP and Honors-level courses. You can even design your own independent study courses or team up with a teacher for a directed study course.

Although 70 percent of our faculty hold advanced degrees, they will be more than just your teachers.

They’ll coach your teams, share your table in the dining hall, and live with their families—and you—in the residence halls. Because of this, they’ll know your hopes and dreams, your strengths and weaknesses, and how to motivate you to do your best.

No one is required to take an Advanced Placement or Honors course, though most of our students do. But if AP courses are your preference, we have all that you will need: 86 percent of our students scored 3 or higher on AP exams; 63 percent scored 4 or 5.

See mercersburg.edu/academics for the full curriculum or ask us for our separate brochure on academics.

Our curriculum includes more than 150 courses, including over 40 AP and Honors-level courses AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Honors Pre-Calculus AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP Physics C: Mechanics Honors Chemistry Honors Physics AP Chinese Language/Culture AP French Language AP German Language AP Latin: Vergil AP Spanish Language AP Spanish Literature Honors Second-Year French Honors Third-Year French Honors Fourth-Year German Honors Second-Year Latin Honors Third-Year Latin Honors Second-Year Spanish Honors Third-Year Spanish AP American Literature AP British and World Literature Honors World Literature Honors English: Power and Justice AP Art History AP Economics (Micro/Macro) AP European History AP Comparative Government and Politics AP United States History AP World History Post-AP Multivariable Calculus/ Intro Linear Algebra Post-AP Linear Algebra with Applications Post-AP The French-Speaking World Post AP French Literature Post-AP Latin Literature 5

define yourself W I T H T O TA L C O L L E G E C O U N S E L I N G .

Highly personalized, by the best in the business.

Brief Sample of College Matriculations for Graduating Classes 2007–2010 (in alphabetical order)

Bates College (5) Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University (6) Colby College (2) Columbia University (3) Cornell University (3) Duke University (4) Georgetown University (4) Harvard University Haverford College Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College (3) Lehigh University (7) McGill University (5) Mount Holyoke College (3) New York University (12) Oberlin College Smith College (3) Stanford University (2) Swarthmore College (4) University of Chicago (2) University of Pennsylvania (6) University of Richmond (9) University of Southern California (3) Vanderbilt University (3) Wake Forest University (5) Yale University (3)

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This is what you pay for and this is what you get: a department of experts who are dedicated 24/7 to exploring alternatives, helping you narrow the field, target your course selections and applications, then finally working with you to maximize your options.

College counseling starts in the ninth grade and remains focused on one thing only: the fit. We make sure that you, your goals, and your colleges of choice are totally in sync. At Mercersburg, you will never walk the college selection and application processes alone. Our ultra knowledgeable counselors will be with you all the way.

Bill McClintick, our director of college counseling, was the 2008–09 president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

define yourself I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY — W I T H O U T L E AV I N G Y O U R D O R M .

You won’t find a more diverse student body anywhere.

With students from 34 nations and 30 American states, we don’t just mimic the world, we ARE the world. Your roommate may be from Korea. Your new best friend might hail from Germany. And your “go-to guy” for help with French could just as easily be from Paris or Peoria, Palm Beach or Paraguay. How cool is that! We are happy to report that Mercersburg passed the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools’ “Accreditation for Growth” process, which requires that we emphasize our students’ development as global citizens, environmental stewards, leaders, and critical thinkers.

define yourself AT H L E T I C A L LY. If you love sports, our options are vast.

At Mercersburg, athletics are academics—as much for excelling and growing as they are learning and bonding.

We have 26 varsity sports teams, a new synthetic-turf field, a well-equipped fitness center, modern squash and tennis centers, a competition-size pool (with a new aquatic center coming), newly remodeled locker and dressing facilities, and so much more. Yes, our heritage includes 54 Olympians, but whether you’re a born athlete or a beginner, there’s a place for you in athletics at Mercersburg. Just show up ready to play.

Boys’ Teams (in alphabetical order)

Baseball Basketball Cross Country Diving Football Golf Lacrosse

Skiing Soccer Squash Swimming Tennis Track & Field Wrestling

Girls’ Teams (in alphabetical order)

Basketball Cross Country Diving Field Hockey Golf Lacrosse Skiing

Soccer Softball Squash Swimming Tennis Track & Field Volleyball

Outdoor Education (co-ed)

Backpacking Ice Climbing Mountain Biking Mountaineering Expeditions Rock Climbing White Water Kayaking Wilderness Leadership Training & First-Responder Certification Winter Camping 8

real students, real stories

COLLIN GREENE Suwanee, Georgia ACTIVITIES: Swimming (Varsity) • Head Blue Key

“I’ve been a swimmer since I was eight, and it’s probably one of the primary reasons I chose Mercersburg. My dad was a swimmer at Mercersburg, and he went on to be an All-American. I’ve always had dreams of swimming Division I, and I’m definitely going to get there. The Mercersburg swimming program under Coach Pete Williams has definitely led me closer to that goal.

Coming to Mercersburg was the best decision of my life. This school has changed me as a person and helped me academically, athletically, and socially.

Swimming here has taught me to be committed and disciplined in academics. I’ve been able to push myself academically because of all the opportunities here. When I wanted to try the arts, I could choose between speech class or computer art or drawing. Next year, I want to take some more history classes, and there I have options also: I can choose from three different types of American history courses. My hope is to attend the U.S. Naval Academy after I graduate from Mercersburg.”

W H AT I T ’ S L I K E T O B E

Collin “Winning Easterns was a major highlight of my swimming career; it’s basically the Super Bowl of swimming for prep schools. It was one of the best moments I’ve ever had with a group of people; when we actually won, we just jumped in the pool and went crazy.”

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real students, real stories

KAYLEIGH KISER Branson, Missouri ACTIVITIES: Dance • Track (Varsity) • Men’s Varsity Lacrosse (Manager) • Mercersburg News staff (photographer) • Class Council

“I never wanted to go to boarding school, but Mercersburg surprised me completely. I thought it would be a place where you just do homework and you have no free time. But within two or three weeks here, I felt like I was at home. I loved Mercersburg so much that I never wanted to go home my ninthgrade year. I’m excited about being a peer group leader, as my peer group was the most helpful thing to me as a new student at a new school. It helped me settle in and open up. The academics at Mercersburg definitely challenge you.

My first year was not easy, and in my 10th-grade year, the workload increased noticeably. I had to buckle down and decide when I could watch TV and hang out with my friends. I’ve really learned about time management at Mercersburg. Schoolwork is a top priority, but there’s always something fun to do here, and that’s what makes it so great. At Mercersburg, I have proven that I can dance, and I’ve learned that I’m a funny person and how to stand up for myself and speak for what I believe.”

W H AT I T ’ S L I K E T O B E

Kayleigh “Dance is such a big deal for me. It probably takes up about 75 percent of my free time at Mercersburg. I’m always in the dance studio with Ms. Dalton creating and thinking of new material.”

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define yourself A R T I S T I C A L LY. Open the door to your creativity.

You probably won’t arrive at Mercersburg an Oscar winner, but you might just graduate with the confidence to become one.

Two of our alumni are Oscar winners: Benicio del Toro and the late Jimmy Stewart. You can join one of our many theatre, music, dance, or literary organizations and perform or exhibit your work in the Burgin Center for the Arts, our 65,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility.

Fine, Literary, and Performing Arts Opportunities Acting Advanced Studio Art Blue Review Literary-Arts Journal Ceramics Choral Scholars Chorale Computer Art Concert Band Dance (ballet, jazz, modern, pointe and variations, and tap) Digital Video Art Drawing Jazz Band Magalia (women’s a cappella group) Octet (men’s a cappela group) Painting Play Production Sculpture Speech String Ensemble Stony Batter Players Tech Theatre 11

yes,

you and your parents can get here from there.

Only 90 minutes by car from Washington, D.C. or Baltimore ... Northern Virginia or Montgomery County, Maryland ‌ 3 hours from Philadelphia or Pittsburgh ‌ 4 hours from New York City.

C To minimize the impact on the environment,

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this publication is printed on paper made with 30% process chlorine-free post-consumer recycled fiber.

The paper is also FSC and SFI chain of custody certified and 100% of the electricity used to manufacture the paper is Green-e certified renewable energy. The inks contain a high proportion of renewable vegetable-based ingredients.

campus map 1 Masinter Outdoor Education Center 2 Culbertson House 3 Faculty Home 4 Irvine Memorial Chapel 5 Burgin Center for the Arts 5a Hale Studio Theatre 6 Traylor Hall (Admission) 7 Landis House (Alumni & Development) 8 Lenfest Hall 9 Keil Hall 10 South Cottage 11 Swank Hall 12 Rutledge Hall 13 McFadden Model Railroad Museum 14 Main Hall 15 North Cottage

16 17 18 19 19a 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Security OďŹƒce Physical Plant Football Field/Track Nolde Gymnasium Davenport Squash Center Health Center Baseball Field Buchanan Cabin Softball Field Ford Hall Irvine Hall Tippetts Hall Fowle Hall

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Design: CEH Design, Inc., Bethel CT • www.cehdesign.com

AboUT mErCErSbUrG

MERCERSBURG

Mercersburg Academy abides by both the spirit and the letter of the law in all its employment and admission policies. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

28 Girls’ Field Hockey and Lacrosse Turf Field 29 Faculty Homes 30 Smoyer Tennis Center Frantz Tennis Pavilion 31 Class of ’38 Observatory

Playing Fields Driving Paths Parking

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about ADMISSION, TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID. Our admission process is highly selective. Each year we receive 600–800 applications for about 150 openings.

Demonstration of academic achievement and promise are our primary prerequisites. But we are also very interested in your character, curiosity, and drive. That’s why in addition to standardized test scores, graded papers, and teacher recommendations, we require a personal interview—ideally here on campus.

Mercersburg has $4.9 million in financial aid available annually. More than 49 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid. While our tuition is competitive with those of other selective boarding schools, we do not want cost to be a barrier to qualified students. Mercersburg offers financial aid in many forms, including grants, low-interest loans, and merit scholarships, as well as various payment plans.

For current tuition and to apply for admission and financial aid, please visit www.mercersburg.edu/admission and see the section “Affording Mercersburg.”

Questions? We can help.

Email us:

admission@mercersburg.edu

Phone us:

717-328-6173

Write to us: Mercersburg Academy 300 E. Seminary Street Mercersburg, PA 17236 www.mercersburg.edu

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717-328-6173

Define Yourself and Define Yourself. Here. are registered service marks of Mercersburg Academy.

300 E. Seminary Street, Mercersburg, PA 17236 www.mercersburg.edu