I’m currently in eighth grade in MA and am looking to apply as a boarder for freshman year at Andover. I am taking the SSATs this weekend so I will post those when I get them back but:
English- 99%
Social Studies- 99%
Science- 97%
Math- 88% (I am trying desperately to get this up to at least 91%!!)
Spanish- 91% (I am also trying to bring this up, it shouldn’t be hard to get to a 95% soon)
My brother just graduated last year and my dad also went to PA. Two of my uncles, my grandfather, and grandmother(she went to the sister school) attended PA as well. I play lacrosse, soccer and run track and I am part of the Student Leaders club at my school. I also work with organization which takes underprivileged kids from the inner city of NYC and uses lacrosse as an outlet to get them out of the city and into a good boarding school/college. I have recently volunteered down in Harlem over the summer tutoring and coaching a couple of girls.
I know its pretty hard to tell my chances w/o my SSAT scores, but do my math and Spanish grades make it so hopeless I shouldn’t even apply? Or do you think I could salvage them and try to apply? I know test grades mean a lot in PA admissions so if anyone has any advice.
@julesg18 , omgosh, for goodness sake APPLY, APPLY! Work on your application essays, plan on retaking the SSAT if you totally tank it (which I doubt will happen), improve that math grade, and for Heaven’s Sake enjoy the process of applying. You are a pure legacy! :)>- :-bd
Wouldn’t you know the answer to this a lot better than most of us? I mean, surely your brother would have some insights at the very least, based on kids he knows, or your parent’s fellow alum parents from their kids or or or… IYKWIM.
Hi @6teenSearch
I just wanted a little bit of insight from someone other than my brother for once. I find that loved ones often tend to obscure the truth in order to make sure you hear what you wanna hear… you know what I mean? Also, my brother went to a totally different middle school than I did where the scoring system was completely different AND he was a total genius who had almost straight 100% in every class he took… so I try not to compare myself too heavily to him.
I ask my dad and other relatives quite often as well, but as I mentioned they usually just tell me what I want to hear. They also tell me that the school has changed and gotten a lot more competitive since they attended PA.
Thanks for the response though.
Andover legacies have a really high admit rate in comparison to the rest of the applicant pool–but I definitely know what you mean about loved ones saying “Oh, you’ll get in for sure!” That frustrated me a ton when I was applying.
The sports will definitely help if you’re good/passionate. The club you mentioned will help if you can speak to it well and tie it into how it shows you’re a good fit for Andover–shouldn’t be hard considering you can speak to the importance of diversity and social consciousness, both of which Andover has been all over lately, as your brother can probably tell you.
So yeah. From an unbiased alum perspective, your set-up to get in is great. Now it’s just up to you to write awesome essays and do well in the interview if you haven’t already! But still remember that admission is tough for anybody. Good luck!
Legacy admissions definitely plays in your favor; your grades are fine (average for incoming PA students is an A); ECs are very good; so as long as the SSATs, Recs, and Essays don’t drag you too far down, you should be fine.
