<p>I'm an entering sophomore at Andover and one of my fears apart from the cold is that everyone there will be so much more used to the work etc. How do entering applicants do compared to returning students at schools like SPS, Exeter, Groton, Choate, Deerfield and Andover?</p>
<p>Shore- one of my children had the same concern, and we bought her schoolbooks early in the summer. She was able to read ahead and do a little math ahead so that the first few weeks weren't so overwhelming.</p>
<p>Everyone equalizes by the end of lower year. It just depends on how hard you work. Are there kids who get perfect SAT scores while drunk? Take multivariable calculus as a freshman? Write papers on Hegelian synthesis that no one understands what the hell they are talking about? Yes. But as long as you are not trying to be the next Paul Joo you should be in good shape as long as you put your head down and get to work.</p>
<p>biohelpmom where did you find the booklist for your D's school? Because I'd love to do the same.</p>
<p>ok i understand ur concern shore, but STOP worrying...if they didnt think u could handle it they wounldn't have let u in....i know u will do well...but still the booklist is a good idea it make sure ur not bored lol...Good luck (again)lol ttyl</p>
<p>:)
:p</p>
<p>The returning students will be used to the work and the system. There are many new kids during lower year, so teachers go easy for the first couple weeks. It usually evens out by the end of the first term. Don't worry about it. After coming back from summer break, everyone has difficulty adjusting to work again. The Andover book list won't be online for another couple months, so just enjoy your time at home.</p>
<p>ok, thanks bball prep for the belief! Yeah, I'll keep an eye out for the booklist but not much else I can do. How intense is the homework? If you're a casual worker thats very slow, how long with a rigorous lower courseload take?</p>
<p>Lower year is usually the easiest. I had about two hours of homework every night. If you're slower I'd bump it up to about three maybe four especially if you're taking harder classes.</p>
<p>I'm taking a four hour a day geometry course this summer at the university of chicago lab school. its one of the best day schools in the country and is on par with the big bs in terms of sat scores, etc. </p>
<p>I truly don't want to scare you, but before this i thought i was good at math. Man, i was wrong. Yes, most of the kids in my class are sophomores, and yes i don't have much of a scope coming from a grad class of 14, but jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzz it's hard. I get like 5 hours of homework every night. </p>
<p>Just look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Like i'm taking acc adv algebra/trigonometry as a freshman this fall. just find the positive.</p>
<p>I just finished 9th at Andover, but I've heard repeatedly that Lower Year is the easiest. It will probably be more difficult for you the first term, at least--my teachers spent most of spring term trying to give us "what you'll do lower year," so we're probably better prepared. However, there are plenty of New Lowers. So long as you work hard, it will all even out.</p>