Can Andover be truly need-blind in admission even if it wanted to be?

Prep School Admissions
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<p>The yield is indeed 85%. This article notes that 366 students accepted matriculation, and the initial Fast Facts page says that 427 were admitted. 366/427 = 85.7%. Of course, we have to assume that Andover published the correct numbers of both admitted students and those who accepted, but I don’t believe that Andover would have tweaked their numbers. Call me a dreamer…</p>

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SAS stopped being need-blind last year, so Andover is correct in their claim.</p>

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<p>366/427=0.86</p>

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<p>This is misleading. The demand is going down because they reported 32 or 3300 applications in previous years. People at Andover seem to like to be number one, though Exeter is more rigorous.</p>

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<p>^ That’s completely opinionated.</p>

<p>I have friends that go to Andover who tell me it is an extremely rigorous high school.</p>

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<p>Get Serious. Talk to some Exonians.</p>

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<p>I am serious. I have talked to Exonians. Really, do you know anything about these schools? It sounds like you’re implying that Andover is NOT a rigorous school, which is a completely false statement.</p>

<p>What’s your rub with Andover? It seems like pretty much every thread you’re expressing something critical towards it.</p>

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<p>Because they like to boast about data that they control for which you have no access. If you follow what they say, you know it is not accurate. I gave an example about demand growing when in fact it is decreasing according to their own data.</p>

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<p>But it is true, or, you don’t know that it’s not true. Are you an AO at Andover? Because there’s no way to prove it isn’t increasing.</p>

<p>What you gave was an example not supported by anything. Come up with a source.</p>

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<p>Read about the admission stats on their website for previous years.</p>

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<p>Want to provide a link?</p>

<p>I’ll go on it, but it doesn’t mean it’ll be there, and if it’s not, I’ll be confounded.</p>

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<p><a href=“235th Admitted Class Visits Campus – The Phillipian”>http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2012/03/29/235th-admitted-class-visits-campus&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>They were referencing demand as in the yield rate, not the applications completed. The sentence above that reads:

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<p>That 85 percent of the spring visit was just a coincidence, the entire yield was 85%.</p>

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<p>According to Andover math, a decrease in the number of applications is increased demand for Andover education. Compare their own data for previous years.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2014/04/17/andover-reaches-record-high-85-percent-yield-rate”>http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2014/04/17/andover-reaches-record-high-85-percent-yield-rate&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“235th Admitted Class Visits Campus – The Phillipian”>http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2012/03/29/235th-admitted-class-visits-campus&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Oops! Sorry I posted on the wrong thread. I meant to post this here. </p>

<p>See my original post <a href=“The Waitlist? - #91 by dowzerw - Prep School Admissions - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1624227-the-waitlist-p7.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I pulled the total financial aid $’s for the last 3 years for the admitted students.
2014: $5,685,000
2013: $5,515,330
2012: $5,478,680</p>

<p>It too looks like that Andover goes through their “YES” pile until their budget of ~$5.5M is used up. The numbers are just too close to be a coincidence. Andover really does appear to be taking liberties with the definition of “need-blind”. They know what people believe it to mean, which is why they tout they are the only school to be so, but there is no way they are following the unqualified definition of “need blind”.</p>

<p>Here are my sources for the #'s:</p>

<p>2014:
<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/Admission/WelcomeAdmittedStudents/237Class/Pages/default.aspx”>http://www.andover.edu/Admission/WelcomeAdmittedStudents/237Class/Pages/default.aspx&lt;/a&gt;
2013:
<a href=“http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2013/04/04/236th-admitted-class-represents-lowest-andover-admit-rate”>http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2013/04/04/236th-admitted-class-represents-lowest-andover-admit-rate&lt;/a&gt;
2012:
<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/About/Newsroom/Pages/AdmissionReport2012.aspx”>http://www.andover.edu/About/Newsroom/Pages/AdmissionReport2012.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>The percentages remain relatively steady year after year, because Andover’s sports teams and musical program remain steady year after year. On PA’s website, they state they offer “31 interscholastic sport offerings.” It takes time, and family support, to become a great squash, golf, hockey, soccer, tennis, baseball, lacrosse player by the beginning of 8th grade. Advanced musicians have taken years of private instruction, as well as renting or buying expensive instruments. Orchestra, band, ballet, and other talents beside, are not hobbies one begins in high school.</p>

<p>PA’s website claims they admitted ~400 students this year, and matriculated 319. That’s really not many students to support the rich and varied programs the school offers. </p>

<p>So my answer is, no, you will not see the percentages of financial aid students fluctuate wildly from year to year, as long as Andover wants to field winning teams and to support the performing arts. Exeter is about the same size, also wants to offer a deep and rich program, and wants to field winning teams. </p>

<p>Andover may not need to offer as much financial aid as Exeter to meet its needs, because it’s in the greater Boston area, rather than up in New Hampshire. </p>

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<p>I agree with you @sgopal2‌ that they are trying their best and taking an admirable position. But they shouldn’t claim that they are being truly “need-blind,” when their admission and FA profiles are awfully similar to another school that is not need-blind but has a similar size of endowment, FA/FP ratio, FA admission rate, etc. Your episode with Andover AO confirms to me that there is a well-meaning, but subconscious bias toward favoring FP applicants. How else could they have twice more FP than FA in their first round picks?</p>

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<p>No school is truly need blind, as you will find out with colleges as well. For starters, such schools truly give a bost in admissions to very low income applicants, some of whom will be applying to the prep schools through programs like Prep for Prep, ABC, and coming to the attention of the schools for others. A certain % of those kids each year are accepted as the budget allows, which is why the %s are constant for those needing financial aid. </p>

<p>So yes, a school can be need blind in that it accepts all candidates on a need blind basis on its first run, reserving spots for those they would not ordinarily be accepting who are high need kids whose stats and prep would put them in the reject pile They do take a certain constant number of such kids each year on not only a holistic basis, but making exception.</p>

<p>I know any number of kids who were accepted to Andover over years who did not get the aid they needed. You can always ask, you won’t always get. For some other prep schools, I know kids put on the financial aid wait list My friend’s DD was one put on Choate’s. She decided to waive the fin aid request, and her DD did get in. But all of this was made clear. Game? Yes, but all facts on the table. </p>

<p>If your DD was a student that made the accept cut there, A would have accepted her and only given her the fin aid that she is entitled to get by formula, unless the fin aid dept decided to make exception and grant your request. They do sometimes if the reason is good enough for them. It’s called Professional Judgement and done all of the time. Many of the other schools have financial aid waitlists and the parents are told if their kids are on them. I know a number who did get put on them. </p>

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<p>Do people believe all PA “first round” picks are safe (no matter what) and that list is never tinkered with? Do people believe PA would never (ever) swap a FA candidate for a FP candidate from that list? How is Andover’s selection process more “admirable” than other schools? It’s all a variation on the same theme (or practice). The only difference (IMHO) is that Andover has honed and effectively nailed a brilliant marketing strategy. </p>