<p>Andoverfinally, ignore Invent. His post makes literally no sense. He says he’d sign up in the dining halls. For what, I don’t know, but I don’t think he does either. He has a history of nonsensical posts - better to just leave him alone.</p>
<p>I am, in fact, on “vacation,” which at the moment means helping my parents set up their art summer program in france. I’m taking a break - they’re having me install printer drivers on the photo macs… Anyway. I’d definitely recommend you sign up for GPS (Global Perspectives Society), formerly International Club. I was one of the co-presidents of that club last year, and it’s composed of a really great group of students not just from all over the world but from all over the US. We have great discussions covering a range of issues, but we also occasionally host barbecues and game nights as well as an annual sleepover in the log cabin, a, well, log cabin in Phillips Academy’s 80-acre forest, the Bird Sanctuary. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to meet people that you might not otherwise.</p>
<p>In addition to that, I’d say give news writing at the Phillipian a try. The Phillipian is Andover’s school newspaper. I’d recommend you check out [The</a> Phillipian Online](<a href=“http://phillipian.net%5DThe”>http://phillipian.net) to check out some of the articles. If you want to see how the paper looks in paper format, go to [Directory</a> Listing of //](<a href=“http://pdf.phillipian.net%5DDirectory”>http://pdf.phillipian.net) and check out every Phillipian published since 1878. Neat, huh? Anyone can sign up, and you will be assigned articles anywhere from once a month to several a week.</p>
<p>I’d also try out the Philomathean Society, Andover’s debate club/team. In my two years at Andover, I never did, but I really do regret it. Philo takes in many new debaters each year and yet almost consistently sweeps the competition, sending debaters to international competitions each year. It’s the oldest high school debate society in the country, yet it’s not stuffy in the least. One of my best friends is one of the two co-heads this year, and under his direction the club will go even further than before. It really is a powerhouse, but you don’t need experience. They’ll teach you. Like I said, I really wish I’d given it a try. But I was too intimidated. Turns out I didn’t need to be.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions whatsoever, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Hey, rizzledizzle. I’m attending the University of Edinburgh in Scotland next year to double major for a Masters in French and Political Science. Exciting!</p>
<p>Several reasons: first and foremost, I didn’t view Andover as a stepping stone to the next stage, college. I went to Andover because I wanted the experience of living far away from home in an environment that truly valued intellect and hard work. I wasn’t a happy kid at my old school; I’d been a student there for 11 years, both of my parents taught there (I had both as teachers in my final year), and I was sick of the incredibly transient and generally not incredibly motivated student body. I was ready for a change - and a challenge. So I decided, while knowing it was unlikely I’d even get in and get enough financial aid in the first place, that it was worth trying. And things worked out well, so I went.</p>
<p>However, I wasn’t as lucky with American universities in terms of financial aid as I had been at Andover. I had known all along that I might be traveling back to the UK for college, and I was fine with that - we’re not short of great options, anyway (and Edinburgh is ranked 22 in the world, ahead of both Brown and Dartmouth. Like I said, a great option). So, when it turned out that I was rejected from Brown and Cornell, got no financial aid at Wesleyan, and a pretty pathetic amount from Tufts that would have bankrupted my parents, it made sense to go back to the UK where I, as a UK citizen, will pay tuition of £1,820 (around $3,000) next year. And that’s with no financial aid! It still sounds weird to say it: I won’t need financial aid next year.</p>
<p>I’m fine with not going to college in US. I’ll miss the amazing friends that I’ve made at Andover, but I plan on visiting whenever it makes economic sense. And Edinburgh’s a great place. Like I said, I think things have turned out really well.</p>
<p>^Andover has simply incredible financial aid, including for the middle and upper-middle classes. In comparison, the packages I received from colleges (excluding merid aid) were pathetic, and in some cases, non-existent. They really do their best to allow accepted students to attend.</p>
<p>This reminds me that I need to make my annual donation towards financial aid in the next couple days…</p>
<p>Tom, I am also an international student. Do you know any international students that did get scholarships from American universities? It is my dream…</p>
<p>Hard to get scholarships at most American universities if you’re international. I think your best bet would be U Chicago, which has these full-ride merit scholarships. One of my international friends is doing that and is super, super successful.</p>
<p>I just ahd one bigg question about FA. My brother and i were accepted to andover as new juniors this fall. I got in as full pay but would like to apply for FA for the next semester because we realise now how much the costs are going to be. Is there any chance that my family will be granted any??</p>
<p>That question is best suited for the FA office. There probably isn’t too much money left at this point, but it’s worth a try. However, it might be better to just apply for FA next school year.</p>
<p>Andover is a need-blind school and is very generous with FA. You should definitely contact admissions and FA office and make your case. TomTheCat said many including himself at Andover are on full financial aid.</p>
<p>swimdude, out of curiosity, what cost was hidden or that you didn’t realize before? Are you talking about stuff like the travel and/or book cost? Are you going to ask the school for like three thousand bucks? I think you could get it if you can prove your financial need to the school.</p>
<p>The situation is more like we never realized my family COULD apply for financial aidbuntil a few months ago. My family is not in any financial situaiton, and are doing pretty well. My family thought that FA was only for people who need it badly. One of my friends who’s going to lawrenceville was granted lits of fa and is in the sam financial situation. Its not that my situation changed in any way, but that the tuition cists would set my family back a lot, especially if my little brother plans on going as well next year…</p>
<p>I have friends that go to Phillips Academy and if you can get all A’s in the school you are guaranteed to go to an Ivy league school. Also they have great sports teams, i have played them in lacrosse before and they are very good</p>
<p>Swimdude, If you qualify for FA and didn’t realize it, I think you have a good case. Andover is a need-blind school which means they meet the demonstrated need of all admitted students. It looks like you have a valid case of not knowing all the facts about FA and you should definitely talk to the admission and the FA offices. Good luck.</p>
<p>Honestly, this is not a question that can be answered by strangers on college confidential- you need to contact the PA financial aid office directly. My guess is that they will only reconsider you for FA if there have been significant changes in your family’s financial circumstances. They accept a certain number of “full pay” students and expect them to be just that- full pay. That is only my guess though, and you won’t have a definitive answer unless you call them.</p>
<p>I am curious about how the school would respond to a situation like swimdude’s. In theory, if a school is need-blind, then they should evaluate a family’s financial need at any point of time upon request and offer the necessary aid as needed. However, if that means any family can start requesting FA at any point without real changes in their fiancial situations, would the school be able to handle the uncertainties and fluctuation in FA payout? Does anyone know how the top colleges such as Harvard and Yale’s policies when it comes to families that didn’t apply for FA (i.e. didn’t file any FA application and documentation) but start applying for FA the next year?</p>
<p>Why are you bringing colleges into picture, to confuse matters? What colleges do have no relevance to what happens when Swimdude communicates with Andover’s FA dept. I think Swimdude should address this matter with admissions and FA at Andover and see what they can do to help their admitted students. Many students have posted here on CC in the past that they negotiated their FA awards successfully.</p>
<p>thanks for the insight! was very helpful as to helping my situation. I plan on applying for FA next year, and contacting the FA office this week. honestly, there’s nothing that i could really lose. the most the FA office can do is say that I don’t qualify.</p>