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heyo!

I’m a current 10th grader at Andover and I’m in process of choosing my classes for next year. I signed up for english, history, math, foreign language, bio, and acting. However, I’m worried because NONE of my classes are AP prep classes. (ok some can choose to take the APUSH exam after history but the course isn’t designed to). To be honest, this entire school year has been extremely rough for me academically wise because my grades are struggling and so are my stress levels.

At my old high school, I had the option of taking two AP’s my sophomore year because it’s an easier school. Here at Andover, I’m struggling with regular/honors classes because my school is so rigorous so idk if I’ll be able to stack up on advanced placement courses.

In my situation, is it better to leave the Academy or stay and continue with what I have?? Here is a pros/cons list of my old high school and my current school:

OLD HIGH SCHOOL
pros: classes are MUCH easier, mostly A/A+ grades, student ranking likely in top 1-10
cons: unranked small suburban high school, club offerings are weak, class offerings are limited (there is no BC calc, computer science, etc)

ANDOVER
pros: one of the best high schools in the us, a LOT of opportunities for extracurriculars, amazing relationship with students and faculty, i have a lot of fun!
cons: the academics are very very difficult at least for me bc I’m not used to the rigor, I’m constantly stressed, my grades are below/at the school average.

Thank you so so much for any input.

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Just yesterday you posted that you loved the challenge at PAA and couldn’t be happier. Talk to your advisor about your course choices for next year. You need to be at the right level. If you feel stressed, please share that! I know at our school, the first question on the course selection sheet was “Am I sleeping enough?” Sounds simple, but you need to be positively engaged with your work, not feeling like you don’t have time to breathe.

If you feel like you could benefit from additional help with study techniques (including tutoring, peer or otherwise), seek that out. Part of what you learn at a rigorous BS is how to learn, and believe it or not, that is likely to be an ongoing “course of study” for the rest of your life! Figure out what you need to do to do better next year. Do you need to use your time differently? Are you using your homework and assignments to learn or are you just completing them to finish them? Do you invest more in work that counts more toward your grade? Do you need to schedule your own reviews rather than wait for tests to do that?

When you apply to college, schools will understand how to interpret your grades based on where you are coming from. They know what an A at your local school means as well as what the grades at PAA mean. I don’t think you can really game that system.

And here’s one more thought… Lots of people spend a lot of effort trying to make sure that on paper, they look like what they think colleges want. (This is getting an A at an easier school, for example, as you suggest.) There are a few instances where this might make sense (i.e., legacy, big donor and admissions can’t have a reason to say no, state where top x% get into state flagship), but 99% of the time, admissions know how to read right through that. This is, imo, why so many people are "shocked " at their college acceptances and feel bitter that “all they did was for nothing”… Don’t fall into that trap.

Focus on being the best possible version of yourself, which means learning how you learn, what you like and what excites you, what comes easily to you and what challenges you. Engage at PAA, and tap into the excitement you have about learning. THAT person can pick colleges that will be a fit. It’s a far better way to do this than to shoehorn yourself into something else.

PAA will prepare you to take advantage of wherever you go to college, and when you get to the point of looking, you will be amazed at how many truly amazing schools are out there, including ones you probably have not heard of. And you will be well prepared to choose the one that fits for you - because you will know who you are - and make the most of it - becausePAA has prepared you.

One last thought. If you can pick up the book “Excellent Sheep”, give it a read this summer. Sounds like it might give you some insight into your thoughts about school.

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@gardenstategal thanks so much for your input. I was just ranting bc I’m feeling stressed lately lol. but yeah I do truly mean what I said before about how I do love the challenge here at Andover it just can be a lot sometimes.

What you said makes sense, and I probably am going to stay. And yes, I’ll put that book on my reading list!

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@andoverblue21 - thanks for sharing your concerns and your views in such an honest way. I am sure that there are many students on this thread who can relate to what you are experiencing. I admit that I don’t know much about Andover these days, but it’s my impression that taking AP’s are not such a big deal at boarding school as they are at local public schools or day schools. Many of your courses at BS are probably as rigorous as a college level course. I am sure that the colleges you will apply to will see Andover and totally understand/appreciate your coursework. It’s also difficult because students at the local high school are probably getting the GPA “bump” for Honors. AP or Accelerated courses. We know kids at the LPS who load up on as many AP’s as possible and it’s still like having a “McEducation” (sorry McDonalds). You are gaining a multifaceted educational experience that provides a platform for personal growth outside of the classroom. Take advantage of the great opportunities and, like @gardenstategal stated, “PA will prepare you for wherever you go to college”.

You are not alone. Maybe there are other students - even students one year older - who can be in a study group with you. Sometimes, talking with Uppers about this topic can be of help. If you can, focus on the many positives and the many oppotunities. @gardenstategal gave you great advice.

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@andoverblue21, like others have said, you’re attending a super prestigious school largely for the purpose of being challenged. It’s not easy and not meant to be a walk in the park; it’s meant to challenge the brightest and most motivated students. You’re dealing with challenges that go well beyond just the school work (including just dealing with the humbling aspect of a challenging school).

On that note, you’ve listed some “pros” above, but trust me, there are “pros” of attending BS that you may not even realize yet — I can see the tremendous maturation in my son that has occurred and have no doubt that you are growing in ways that go beyond your transcript. This — in addition to decent grades at a tippy-top school — will help you for college and beyond.

The hard work itself will pay off. I don’t promise any particular outcomes to my kids but I DO promise that hard work will pay off, even if not in the manner that they want or expect. Grit and a “stick-to-it” attitude will get you further than will easy As.

Talk to your advisor about course selection so that you’re challenged but not drowning and have the opportunity to move up over the next couple of years. Also keep in mind that kids may not talk about it, but many feel the same as you. I talk with other Moms about how hard are kids are working for B+ grades, and I know it’s a grind. Don’t let the shock and discouragement get the better of you, and think about how accomplished you will feel to graduate from Andover.