<p>That was very helpful! Andover seems to be like an amazing place;;</p>
<p>Pulsar, the Dean’s Blog cites no decimals in those statistics. For all you know, last year’s acceptance was 14.9% and this years was 14.0%. If you really want to, though, go calculate the statistics for yourself - the numbers are all publicly available between here and the Andover website. As for bragging about progress year over year… Well, it’s admissions, isn’t it? Of course they want to make public the strides they make every year, however insignificant you may find them. You need to remember that admissions is admissions, and as a student you will have no contact with them again (unless you decide to apply to become a tour guide). Most kids on campus have no idea what the admit rate is.</p>
<p>As for work, I meant what I said. I work HARDER than ever before. There’s a lot more work here than there was at my old school, but the work itself also demands more attention because it’s harder in nature. For example, at my old school, we were given MONTHS to write hefty research papers 7-9 pages in length. Here, I was assigned a research paper of 12 pages in length and given one month to do it. Working harder and working smarter are not mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>My 5th grade math teacher taught me that 14.9% is truncated to 15% and she is a great math teacher.</p>
<p>Excellent.</p>
<p>What writing courses are available? Is the economics department strong? Do they have any courses beyond AP micro and macro.?</p>
<p>Haha, too many courses for me to list - I’ll link you to the course handbook, though. Econ courses I think should be listed under History or Social Sciences. In terms of its strength, I really don’t know - never taken any econ courses here before. I’d guess they’re strong, though…</p>
<p>[Phillips</a> Academy - Course Listings](<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/Academics/CourseCatalog/Pages/default.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.andover.edu/Academics/CourseCatalog/Pages/default.aspx)</p>
<p>In terms of writing, there are plenty of writing courses - interesting ones, too. In addition, the library has a computer lab in the basement called the Writing Center devoted entirely to writing of every kind. There are student and faculty proctors who help to edit essays, too, which is such a great tool to have.</p>
<p>If you are a boarder and live nearby, can you go home on the weekend?</p>
<p>Of course you can. All you need to do is request an overnight form by the Thursday night before the weekend.</p>
<p>How has Andover changed you as a person?</p>
<p>Tom,</p>
<p>Thanks for your insightful and entertaining comments!</p>
<p>What’s the reading list and the expository writing work load like in “The Season of Literature for New Uppers” course? Also, what’s the deal with the pass/fail option? Is it only for electives? Do people choose it often or only sparingly? </p>
<p>I appreciate the input.</p>
<p>Pulsar: Oh, absolutely, in ways I can’t even quantify. First of all, I came to Andover during what for anyone is a really important developmental phase, so I would have undergone changes anywhere I was - but nowhere else have I felt so welcome and encouraged to really become an activist. International Club has been my BABY for the past year, and nothing brings me more pleasure than leading meetings. Turning over the board this spring will be very emotional for me. On top of that, I also serve as Director of Outreach with Andover’s GSA (though we’re considering renaming the club) and the activism involved in helping to run the oldest GSA in the country is enormous and the impact on the campus community is visible everyday.</p>
<p>At my old school, the only thing I could really see myself doing was becoming a banker or lawyer. Andover’s given me a real sense of social responsibility, and I’ve realized that nothing would make me happier than the opportunity to interact with people closely in a volunteer/service setting. We get a whole bunch of really, profoundly inspirational speakers at Andover, and they’ve really made me realize “wow - maybe the feeling of fulfillment one gets from teaching a class of inner-city youth or coordinating relief efforts in Haiti is worth more than earning a lot of money in a dull, conventional job.” I’ve reevaluated what’s important to me.</p>
<p>SergeantFriday: Thanks for reading them! New Upper English, English 301, is very writing-intensive. I haven’t written as much as I did in that course since I was in that course. The reading list last year included The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (incredible book), Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and we dedicate the entirety of spring term to a close, close reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Seriously, after taking that course, your whole perception of literature will change - Hamlet is EVERYWHERE. How I loved that class…</p>
<p>There is no pass/fail option - however, freshmen are graded on a pass/fail basis during fall term in English and History classes, primarily because few of them know what they’re getting into in terms of writing expectations. After that, no more pass/fail grading.</p>
<p>Tom, as the mother of an Upper who doesn’t bear her soul as much as you about school, I love reading your comments. What I know about her life at Andover is in agreement with what you say----incredible opportunities to stretch and shine in ways she couldn’t have anticipated at her old school, unbelievable work load, including all-nighters, but not busy work at all, and really lovely friends. Thanks for always being such an honest voice about Andover.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your wonderful university plans next year.</p>
<p>Thanks, lemonade! 
I really appreciate it - but it’s my pleasure!</p>
<p>Keep these questions coming!</p>
<p>Yours,</p>
<p>TomTheCat, PA '11</p>
<p>Glad to see that there are people from the UK who attend BS in America. </p>
<p>@TomTheCat, is the UK represented well at Andover? Or are you the only one from here?</p>
<p>Hey, PreppyDude!</p>
<p>There are actually several of us. My count is eight at the moment. Two of them are good friends of mine and one I actually went to school with in London. There certainly aren’t too many of us, but we’re around :)</p>
<p>Tom, my daughter is weighing acceptance to Andover vs. Exeter and has found your posts very helpful - our family has found much of what you write throughout the last year during our application process most helpful. I hope you end up in a career that allows you to continue your informative, positive and helpful style of communicating - you are a credit to Andover and put a personal, honest face on what is at risk of turning into a “slick” PR experience by what has been noted elsewhere to sometimes seem like a “big blue marketing machine.”</p>
<p>Thanks, 2prepMom! I really appreciate that! It means a lot to me to know that what I write has impact and means something - it’s real validation, and I’m glad - proud - to be able to help.</p>
<p>Does the rivalry (? not sure what to call it, exactly) between PA and Andover High School ever become intrusive? I know that during the summer session they were relentless in their drive-by insult shouting…</p>
<p>Well, I suppose it really depends on what you mean by intrusive - much of it is very goodnatured and downright hilarious. For those who don’t know, the AHS (Andover High School) insult of choice for PA students is “catboner.” Don’t ask me what it is; I really don’t know, but I would posit that the AHS students who coined the term were looking for a term, just a single word, that they knew PA students wouldn’t understand. You know, to prove there’s stuff we don’t know.</p>
<p>There is a wide variety of types of catboner, but by far the most popular is the drive-by catboner. In this scenario, a PA student or a group thereof will be walking near the road when a car filled with AHS students will drive by. The AHS students will shriek “CATBONER!” out their windows and drive away.</p>
<p>I have to be honest - I kind of like being catboner-ed. It reminds me I’m a PA student. In fact, I was extremely excited last year when I was catboner-ed for the very first time because it seemed almost like a consummation of my PA-ness. It meant I was outwardly identifiable as a PA student! That felt great. Nowadays, though, I sometimes get catboner-ed two or three times a day, but only because I wear my Varsity jacket around pretty frequently. It gets a little old. It’s become a trend for PA day students to mockingly catboner other PA students from their cars, too, and that’s just hilarious.</p>
<p>What’s important to remember is that this type of behavior from AHS students is rarely intimidating and almost always goodnatured. In fact, last term I was walking downtown with my friend Mia one evening, and a car slowed down on the road beside us and a guy our age rolled down his window, yelled “CATBONER!” Then he paused and asked if we wanted some glow sticks. We said yes and he threw out some newly lit neon-colored glow sticks for us. It was really nice and that same night we encountered him downtown in the CVS and exchanged pleasantries.</p>
<p>Oh, that sounds MUCH better than what my friends have been telling me. Haha, I always assumed it was horrible being “catboner”-ed, but I agree that it would make me feel like more of a PA student. Thanks for answering!</p>