<p>I don't go to Andover, but I'm thinking of applying for the 2011-2012 school year as a junior (9th grader). I don't see too many Andover threads at this time so I thought that I should start one! The only prep school I am applying to is Phillips Academy. I know what you may think of this decision, but I have thought it through. There is just more incentive for me to be at home than to attend another school. I also like the more independent atmosphere at the school. My situation has led me to be a more independent person. Please understand my decision. You don't need to like it, but please don't consider me ignorant.
Anyways, are there any current CCers that could consider themselves resident experts on Andover? Haha. Better yet, are there any CCers that are going to start at Andover next year? What have you done to prepare for your upcoming initial year?</p>
<p>Hi! I am going to be a returning lower at Andover in the fall, and I totally understand your decision to just apply to Andover. I applied to one other school because my friend was applying, but I didn’t really want to go there anyway.
So if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer!</p>
<p>Thank you for understanding! I didn’t want you to think that I was some sort of pretentious brat. I just have certain circumstances. Anyways, how independent are you at Andover? From what I’ve seen, the students have a considerable amount of freedom (ex: no dress code, lack of formal dinners, etc.). Do you feel as if your independence and freedom are in any way compromised?
Thank you in advance for your answers! I [will] greatly appreciate them!</p>
<p>You basically said it, we do have a good amount of freedom, but it’s not like we have unlimited freedom. We still have to sign in everynight (8 on weeknights, 10 on Friday and 11:30 on Saturday) and we have to get permission to leave the town of Andover but that’s not too difficult to get. So all together, I’m very happy with the amount of freedom they give us.</p>
<p>Also, have you read the book “One Daily Tablet.” I’ve only read the first few pages online, but I was very put off by it. How are the teachers? Are they really as supportive and helpful as the website says? Also, could you tell me what your typical weekday schedule is? And what year are you in?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>As far as One Daily Tablet goes, the author has been on pretty much every prep school related page flogging her book. I wouldn’t take it too seriously. </p>
<p>Also, it’s good to remember that books written about prep schools usually exaggerate. The environment that most schools offer, warm and encouraging yet challenging, doesn’t really make for gripping literature.</p>
<p>Thank you for the reassurance. I know that I may have seemed silly, but prep school is a but of a foreign concept for me. Anyways, I would like to know about how much homework (in terms of hours) do you have each night? How much is assigned over the weekend?</p>
<p>bump bump bbuummpp</p>
<p>I’ll be a senior at Andover this year, so I consider myself an expert on most things Andover (well, maybe not all- there’s too much going on to know about all of it!). Anyway, I only applied to Andover as well, so I completely understand your decision. As a side note, I started as a new lower (sophomore in non-andover terms), so I don’t know as much about the freshman experience as some others do.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>@unique6 I have around 3-4 hours of homework per night, and more when I have a major assignment (test, paper, etc). On the weekends it’s about the same.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing my research and I haven’t really found anything about the school that I don’t like, and that kind of irritates me because I know for a fact that no school is perfect. Could you list any cons about Andover?</p>
<p>Con = Its not Exeter.</p>
<p>The only con I can think of is the workload. But it’s going to be that way at any top boarding school.</p>
<p>Very funny, 2010 hopeful. 
Andovergirl, thank you for your responses. They are really helpful. Anyways, due to personal health reasons (of choice not necessity), my diet is vegetarian except I eat chicken and turkey (no fish, and yes im aware that i am not a true vegetarian anymore). I can also consume eggs and milk products. Will it be difficult to find something to eat everyday?</p>
<p>Yeah we always have vegetarian options. I have tons of vegetarian friends who have no problem finding food. Being vegan is a little more difficult, but you don’t have that problem, so you’d be fine.</p>
<p>Eh I know some vegans too. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Sup ksong.</p>
<p>As everyone else said, there are vegetarian options everywhere.</p>
<p>thats comforting. u can’t believe how annoying it is to have to eat salads everywhere you go! but i digress, during the admission process, does the school understand that sometimes people have certain circumstances that prevent a plethora of extra curricular activities. examples would include lack of transportation, options, etc. i do have a few but nothing spectacularly intense. granted, they are diverse and show promise for continuation</p>
<p>Hi! I would really like to go to Andover and if any of you could please answer my questions on my profile, that’d be great!!!</p>