<p>I graduated from Andover in 2005 (it seems ages ago, to be honest) and I wanted to let you know that I'm available to answer any questions you have about admissions and/or life at PA. Since it's now been nearly 8 years since I applied, and 6 years since I graduated, my information about admissions is likely to be somewhat outdated. However, I think I can still provide some insight into life at Andover. In addition, I can provide a perspective on the long-term (relatively speaking) benefits of an Andover education. </p>
<p>In case you're wondering, I went to Georgetown for undergrad, and am now about to begin my second year in a PhD program at UChicago. I still cherish the skills I learned at Andover, and my intellectual experiences there remain some of the most challenging I've ever encountered. In fact, I didn't find anything as intellectually challenging (or rewarding) as my Andover classes until I began graduate school. </p>
<p>I was lucky enough to not need FA. I applied to the following schools (based on the advice of a school counselor, since my family has no history of attending private schools):</p>
<p>I was admitted to seven of them outright, and waitlisted at Lawrenceville (I took myself off the waitlist). </p>
<p>I chose Andover for a few reasons. After visiting all eight schools, I felt the most comfortable at Andover. I tend to trust my gut a lot (and it’s rarely steered me wrong), and I felt as though I belonged at Andover. It also felt less stuffy than some of the other schools (particularly Deerfield and Hotchkiss), so I felt as though I’d fit in better, coming from a family with no history of private schools. </p>
<p>In addition, I felt as though Andover would be able to provide me with high quality opportunities, regardless of how my academic and extracurricular interests developed over the course of my high school career. I didn’t want to be in a situation in which my high school couldn’t accommodate my interests. </p>
<p>I also liked the combination of a relatively large student body with a comprehensive counseling and support system. Andover is the sort of place that doesn’t coddle students; however, if you reach out and ask for help (or if the network of adults watching out for you feels as though you’re floundering), an excellent support system clicks into place. That means that the school allows students to grow independently, but catches them if they need to be caught. That was important to me, as well as my parents.</p>
<p>Of course, the reputation of the school was a factor. It wasn’t the deciding factor, but I did take into consideration the connections Andover has with college admissions offices.</p>
<p>I went to a good public middle school in the New York metro area, but the Andover academics were much harder, regardless of that. I still count the final exams I took at Andover and the analysis I was required to do in essays as some of the most challenging academic work (adjusted for my age, of course) I’ve ever done. I graduated with honors (so in the top 20% of the class), but had to work my butt off to do it. </p>
<p>I will say, though, that the work at Andover prepared me extremely well for college. I found the first three years of college pretty easy in comparison (and I think you’ll find that to be true for a lot of people who went to Andover).</p>
<p>It really depends on the type of academic preparation you have. That said, if you’re admitted as a transfer student, it obviously means that the Andover admissions committee feels that you’ll be able to handle the work. </p>
<p>I know that when I was there, they offered a couple of courses meant specifically for students who started in the 11th grade (I believe they were English and History classes). So I’d say that as long as you’re willing to go through a bit of adjustment, you should be fine.</p>
<p>I loved my English classes; they were some of my favorite memories of Andover. They’re quite challenging, but the teachers will force you to learn how to become an excellent writer. I particularly loved an elective I took on Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Classes are discussion-based, and are focused on close reading and analysis. I remember one hour-long class in which we spent the entire time analyzing three lines of poetry. It was very challenging, but also extremely rewarding. I still have the copy of The Great Gatsby I read as an upper (3rd year). </p>
<p>As for specific faculty, I just took a look at the department listing and noticed that a few of the great teachers I had are still there. If you end up at Andover, I’d highly recommend taking classes from Mr. Bardo, Mr. Kane, Mr. Domina, and Mr. Tortorella.</p>
<p>Andover05,
What would you advice a very good, able and thriving 8th grader (maybe even top of the class) from the best New York or Boston area day schools (Brearley, Collegiate, Trinity, or Roxbury Latin) who has the choice of staying in their day school or goes to PA or PE? For the purpose of discussion, assuming both PA and PE have accepted the student for 9th grade, and the student is a well-rounded, taking advantage of most offered activities from current school.</p>
<p>Andover05, one concern that’s often raised here on CC is about the size of Andover, which is larger than most of its peer schools. It’s said that with such a size, it’s hard to build a “close knit” community, which I partially agree (“physically” it may just be impossible to know the first name of everyone on campus). I don’t see it a problem though unless because of it people in this community are lacking of pride and sense of belonging (for lack of a better term) to the community. As a recent alum of Andover, how do you see this issue? In your experience, do students still connect with each other and with the school after they graduate? How does the alumni network help?</p>
<p>Deerfield and Hotchkiss are considered real close-knit communities because of their small size and students and faculty know each other by name. It’s like Mayberry. Many here on CC have said that schools like Andover are large, hands-off, rigorous, and mini-college like. But it may be a good fit for some people.</p>
<p>@Ann: I don’t have enough experience with the top Boston & NYC day schools to do a true comparison; however, my sister attended Horace Mann, so for the purposes of this discussion, I’ll use Horace Mann as the day school stand-in.</p>
<p>My family came to the conclusion that academics at Andover were stronger than at Horace Mann. (My sister and I are roughly equal when it comes to intellectual abilities). This was particularly true when it came to English classes. </p>
<p>In addition, the social scene at Andover was easier for me to deal with than the social scene at Horace Mann was for my sister, just because the boarding school environment placed everyone on a much more equal playing field. Of course, it’s possible to tell if a given student comes from a wealthier background than another student if one compares computers and other belongings, but it’s easier to forget about peers’ backgrounds while away from home. This meant that, at least when I was at Andover, there wasn’t really a social hierarchy. Sure, there were social groups, and some were more cliche-y than others, but there was no “popular” crowd.</p>
<p>In contrast, my sister found the social scene at Horace Mann tough to deal with at times. I’m sure it would be similar at a place like Brearley or Collegiate.</p>
<p>However, it’s important to figure out whether the boarding school environment would work for your child. I knew several people who left Andover because they just couldn’t deal with the rigorous academic environment while away from home. For the right student, Andover can cultivate tremendous independence, in addition to excellent academic skills. For the student who has a tough time being away from home, it can be absolute hell. The admissions committee tries to ascertain whether applicants have the appropriate personality type, but they aren’t always able to make the correct judgment.</p>
<p>@DAndrew: Obviously, I didn’t attend a smaller boarding school, so I can’t truly compare my experience at Andover to attending a smaller school. However, I can say that I absolutely felt as though the community was close-knit. For one, the cluster system helps create smaller schools within the larger community. Cluster pride is a pretty big deal; the inter-cluster sports can get ruthless.</p>
<p>As for student-teacher relationships, my teachers all knew me by name. I had dinner at teachers’ houses many times. I remember one time when I underperformed on a math test, and my math teacher invited me over for tea right after we got the tests back. I spent 2 hours at her house, as she counseled me on how to reduce test anxiety. When I returned for my 5-year reunion, my teachers immediately remembered my friends and me.</p>
<p>As for peer relationships, I absolutely feel a tremendous sense of community with my class. I keep in touch with my immediate group of friends, and there’s a mutual understanding that any of us can contact anyone else in the class (or any other Andover class, for that matter) for a couch to sleep on, or even a job. At my 5-year reunion, nearly the entire class ended up at one classmate’s house, talking and reminiscing until 6:30am. We all felt like no time had passed at all. </p>
<p>I also want to address the hands-off descriptor that Invent used. The philosophy that Andover employs is that, when it comes to academics, students should take responsibility for keeping up with their studies. However, if they need help and ask for it, they can take advantage of an extensive counseling system. During my first semester, my parents were concerned about my test anxiety, so my house counselor (the faculty member who lived in my dorm) called my parents every week to give an update. My report cards were accompanied by 2-page single-spaced letters from my house counselors giving a detailed report on how I interacted with my peers during that semester. </p>
<p>As for emotional health, there’s a system in place by which every adult a student regularly comes into contact with is put on alert if any one of those adults sees signs of depression, anxiety, or some other emotional problem. It’s almost like an amber alert.</p>
<p>I have heard that Andover is very much a “party crowd,” is this true? I also have heard the kids are active in drugs and sexual relations. My mom told me that when she went to boarding school, one of the sport’s team that she met were very heavy drinkers (They competed against each other and hung out afterwards). She isn’t lying to me or anything, she is just saying what she saw at her time, and everyone in my family agrees. We have a lot of boarding school history in our family and friends. So, what is your opinion on that?</p>
<p>Another question is what happens when a kid gets sick and live far from their family? Are they given some medicine and told to suck it up? How sick do they have to be? How long can they remain sick without being throw back into classes (What I mean by that is what if a kid gets a really bad flu with horrible sore throat, stuffy nose, achy, the whole nine yards, and the kid doesn’t feel much better after four days. What then?)</p>
<p>Also, how do the kids if they are sick keep up with their classes, and I have heard there is a room for kids who are having issues with Sleep Deprivation, is this true?</p>
<p>The reason I’m asking is because I have a really bad flu right now, and I just imagined what it would be like if I was in boarding school right now. I would just die if they tried to throw me back into class. Also, I am really bad when it comes to colds, I have allergies that make me worse than most kids. My mom is saying they would throw me back into class most likely, but she didn’t go to Andover, and she was a much MVP sports person, so they might have different rules, you know?</p>
<p>I want to let you know though, that I absolutely adore Andover, and I really hope I get in. I have nothing against it at all! In fact, they seem awesome. If I didn’t care about Andover I wouldn’t being asking these questions :-)</p>
<p>do you feel that the environment is over-competetive? I mean like if you ask a classmate to pick up some notes for you because you’re sick will they do that, or will they fear that you will do better on the test and refuse?
Also, I know that it’s Andover and that it is academically challenging but is it unreasonable? I currently have a teacher who will cover things in class and then the test will be very different and we’re expected to use “problem solving abilities” because she doesn’t teach us. Does that happen at Andover?</p>