Looks like they are trying to sell you Andover by making things look easier than they really are. Well it’s hard to get leadership positions as 1100 equally bright kids are competing for the same spots.
This is cheesy! If you don’t get the positions, they can say “Oh you may not have worked hard enough!”
Why so? Beats me, but they know you are entering as a 10th grader!
I hope you are getting the idea.
Sanguine12… What?.. What’s with the cynicism?
If you look just a few pages earlier, I describe Andover as a place that BREAKS people. I say specifically that it is not for everyone. But getting a board position is the absolute least of your worries at Andover. Especially when you can make your own club whenever you want…
And yes, honestly, if you don’t get board positions, you probably didn’t work hard enough. What other reason is there? I’ve found that Andover students are EXTRAORDINARY about giving positions not to their friends, but to students who truly deserve them.
It’s like college admission–you might be really qualified, but they can only take so many people. Working hard and being passionate will lead to success. It might not be in the form of a board position, but if you’re only working hard to get a name on your resume, you’re not doing it for the right reasons.
Seriously?
I WAS a new tenth grader. Hope that clears things up for you.
Being a new lower is great because:
Four things might not seem like a long list, but those four things affect every aspect of your life.
Let me reiterate: Andover is tough. I pulled an all-nighter the night before prom to write a paper–that’s what Andover’s like. It’s tough until your very last day. It’s not for everyone and people drop out every year. BUT our new headmaster is really turning things around. He knows that Andover needs to change, and he’s doing the best he can. I really trust him with the transition, and it’s an exciting time to be a student there.
I’ll say it again: when you enter Andover, you become part of a family. I have lunch with my old professors whenever they visit my college, and I recently went to an alumni event that had alums of all ages. Everyone is there to support you. It’s hard, but it’s only “sink or swim” if your push away the lifeboats.
Thanks cassat! You’ve been great. I really appreciate your thoughtful responses. Thanks to you to sanguine12 
The [State of the Academy 2014](http://■■■■■■■.com/oszj7h5) has recent campus life survey information that you can navigate using the tabs on top of the page.
@Current Andover Students, How bad is the drug and alcohol use at Andover? [Phillipian News](http://■■■■■■■.com/oh722j7). Are the students that are caught using or selling drugs on campus?
No different than at pretty much every high school (boarding and non-boarding) in the US and the world. The correct question to be asked is, “How does the school deal with it?”
Ok…How does Phillips Academy Andover deal with drug and alcohol use?
Have any students there been caught using or selling drugs on campus?
The level of use is pretty much similar to every other boarding school.
There is something called ‘sanctuary’ which can be invoked if a student suspects another student may be taking drugs. The student may turn themselves in, with no disciplinary action, however the drug use cannot have already been in investigation.
Most other cases will result in major disciplinary action or dismissal.
Quoting from Andover’s Blue Book (Parent Copy): “A student who obtains, sells, trades,
donates, or makes available to others alcoholic beverages or illegal or prescription drugs (including those prescribed to treat ADD and ADHD) ** can be dismissed regardless of his or her previous disciplinary record. ** Similarly, a student who consumes drugs, including alcohol, may be dismissed after a single offense, upon the recommendation of the Discipline Committee and at the discretion of the dean of students, based upon the particular facts 6 Community Expectations & Policies Community Expectations & Policies 7 and circumstances of the situation. Such circumstances may include but are not limited to egregious alcohol or drug use that has resulted in harm or a risk of harm to self or others.”
More information is available at this link, starting at the bottom of page 7, all of page 8, and the top of page 9: https://www.andover.edu/Admission/WelcomeAdmittedStudents/Documents/BlueBook20142015Final.pdf
As for your second question, here is a student survey conducted by the Phillipian regarding statistics about drug/alcohol usage (among other statistics) at campus: http://sota-14.phillipian.net/sections/drugs_and_alcohol.
From a practical standpoint Andover gives two strikes (unless the first one is particularly egregious). In answer to a question during revisit day on Friday the head of school said 6 students have been separated from Andover for drugs or alcohol during his three year tenure.
Drugs and alcohol are most prominent among upperclassmen. But honestly, when I was a senior, if you asked me where to find drugs, I would not be able to tell you. I counted myself as a pretty social person, and yet I knew very little about the community that was involved with that kind of stuff.
To avoid drugs/alcohol, just stay away from the wrong crowd, and if you accidentally find yourself among the wrong crowd, leave and find another group of friends.
Can someone please recommend the best dorm or living arrangement to request as a freshman boy?
@itsjustmyfuture That really depends on the student. Andover provides a questionaire and I suggest you answer it completely and honestly. Who you are with is at least, if not more, important that where you are. Neat people tend to do better with other neat people. Is having your own space more important than the social benefits of a room mate? Would you be better in a small dorm with only a few students or a larger dorm with more variety of people. Focus on those things before identifying a dorm and I think you will end up in a better place.
I’m an only child who doesn’t really know any other freshmen as of yet. I am used to having my own room and would like to live in a large dorm with a single room. However, I am worried the dorm may be too loud ( if 40 or 50 boys live there) to study. On the other hand, I love to play the piano… if I bring my keyboard & play in my room would this disturb others? Do the dorms get hot? I have heard there is no air conditioning in New England dorm rooms. Any insight? Thanks in advance.
@itsjustmyfuture One quickly learns to adapt. Bring ear plugs, headphones, and a fan.
@itsjustmyfuture I would recommend not bringing a keyboard as they can be loud. The music building (though kind of isolated from the rest of campus) has many practice rooms with pianos open to all to use.
I think bringing your keyboard is a good idea, especially if you want to peruse music while there. A kid in my dorm has a piano and he doesn’t bother anyone. Graves(the music building) is kind of annoying to walk to on a cold night in New England.
Bring a keyboard that has a plug for headphones. If you can’t use headphones, I would recommend that you limit your practice time to before 8PM (study hours).
Also, you won’t get a single until senior year, unfortunately. You might get a two room double upper year, which is sort of like a single, but you’ll most likely have a roommate until (or even during) senior year.
Definitely bring a fan!
Actually many 9th grade boys can get a single. Rockwell is all singles for about 40 boys. There are singles in some of the Abbott dorms too (B.Bailey, French House). Very few singles for 10th graders though there are some.