<p>According to a source who reads applications in the office of admission, Andover received almost 1,000 more applications this year than it did last. This represents the largest year-by-year growth in applications in Andover's 232 years of history. The admissions office also expects to admit fewer students than last year - with oversized junior and lower classes as a result of Andover's record 78% yield, Andover will most likely admit only 15-20 new uppers, and under 50 new lowers.</p>
<p>Last year, Andover reported 2,784 completed applications, up over 300 from the year before. 455 students were admitted, making an admission rate of 16.3%. If Andover's applications were to increase by just 700 to 3,484 and its acceptances were to decrease by a reasonable 55 to 400, this would put Andover's admission rate at about 11.5%.</p>
<p>This rate would put Andover's selectivity on par with that of University of Pennsylvania (18% - already less selective than Andover), Dartmouth College (13%), Brown University (11%), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (11%), and Princeton University (10%).</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see the office's official statistics on March 10. Best of luck to all applicants!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised to see admissions rates drop at all the top schools.<br>
How on earth do they predict yields? (and why can’t I ever spell yield right the first time? )</p>
<p>It’s a chicken and egg thing to some extent: selectivity increases as apps increase so kids apply to more schools because of the increased selectivity which increases the number of apps…</p>
<p>I think they predict yield based on the fact that Andover is now one of very, very few schools who still offer need-blind admissions. This may well have been what put the yield at 78% last year. Andover also recruited very aggressively nationally and internationally this year - while most schools run about 20 trips around the nation and a few abroad, Andover led 80.</p>
<p>Of course, in the year that I’m applying, this out of all things happens…
Do you, or anyone, have a guess as to why this is happening? Economy maybe? Thanks for sharing this with us.</p>
<p>WOW … I now feel so discouraged. Ughh this was the last thing I needed to read right now, but at least I know what I am looking at. Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>I would expect waitlists to be VERY long this year. That is the way schools can manage yield. </p>
<p>By all accounts, I have heard that all the top tier schools are setting application records this year.</p>
<p>From what I have heard and read, a lot has to do with the economy and the impact on public schools. With public school funding being cut, parents are worried about their child’s education. </p>
<p>It would be interesting to note whether a larger percentage of the increase in applications is coming from full pays or those needing FA. My guess is that acceptances for those students needing FA will be even more difficult then usual vs. full pay candidates.</p>
<p>Don’t feel discouraged! Remember, admission isn’t all about grades and test scores! Schools like Andover turn down plenty of people with 99th percentile SSAT scores and straight “A” grades. It’s about character.</p>
<p>Dapple, my guess is that it is because of the economy - Andover, despite the economy, still offers need-blind admission, making it the affordable choice. Not many schools can still say that of their admissions programs. I think the formula for why this is happening is really quite simple. It’s a desirable school that’s guaranteed to be affordable to anyone who is accepted.</p>
<p>Well TTC, your piece of advice has calmed be down a bit, I think as a person I would be a good fit but then again who am I to judge. My interviewer and I connected, I had an amazing interview but my ISEE did not go well :s. So we shall see, fingers crossed huh.</p>
<p>I think this may be happening at a lot of the ten organization schools. This is part of an article from the most recent SPS newspaper (any errors are due to my poor typing):</p>
<pre><code>Due to over-enrollment, admissions for new forth formers (especially girls) will be especially competitive this year. According to Mr. Bonhom, about 450 students started the admissions process for the forth form. A number of those students will not apply, but that is still a large number of students for very few spots.
While there will be an appreciable difference in the number of new forth formers, the numbers for third form will be relatively stable. “We’re trying to make sure its’s about 50-50 for boys and girls this year,” says Mr. Bonhom. Since the number of new fifth formers is always small, admissions for fifth form will not be greatly affected.
In general, the number of students applying to St. Paul’s is exceptionally high this year. “Numbers are up, including fourth form,” Mr. Bonhom reports. Although St. Paul’s has always had one of the highest number of applicants int he Ten Schools Admissions Organizations, there are many more applicants this year than usual.
The increase in applications is most likely due to the newly-created shared Candidate Profile. This profile is akin to a Common Application for prep school admissions-the profile is also accepted by Deerfield, Groton, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Andover, Exeter, and Taft. "Now, students who might not have applied to St. Paul’s before are more willing to fill out an application, " says Mr. Bonhom.
The admissions office is making an effort to keep the third form to roughly 100 students, and keeping the school size down to about 520 students. With more students applying for less spots, “St. Paul’s is going to be a more selective school” says Mr. Bonhom.
</code></pre>
<p>It is normally 75 new lowers a year, but the freshman class is pretty big at the moment because of over enrollment - as are most of the other classes. Again, there’s no reason to be nervous because you’ve done all you can possibly do at this point - it’s out of your hands now.</p>
<p>Really, don’t worry about it… Everyone has a chance. The difference between last year’s rate, 16%, and 11% is not drastic enough to have heart palpitations about</p>
<p>Swissbrit, I don’t know… I considered myself pretty well-rounded, I guess. I’m international, scored 99th percentile on the SSAT, had a 3.8 unweighted GPA from a private school, played three sports, and was genuinely interested in Andover which I guess showed during my interview and in my essays. On top of that, my mom went to Andover too, which may or may not have given me a leg up.</p>
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