I am applying to Andover and I’m dead set on getting in. I looked at their website and it said 85% (or something like that) of their students board. I was wondering if I am applying as a day student, would this hurt my chances of getting in, or do I have the same chance as someone who is applying to board? Thanks in advance for the answer!
You are competing for one of the day student spots. I don’t know how big that applicant pool is at Andover. At many schools, competition for day spots is tougher than for boarding – there are few seats and every kid within 20 miles who is considering private schools is applying. When it is restricted by zip code, it can help a bit to reduce the pool.
You can ask your interviewer this question and ask if they could move you to the boarding pool if it would make a difference (and if you are open to that.) I know kids who did this at other schools and who chose to board to be admitted.
Wait but is there a possibility it could be the opposite? I would do anything but board to increase my chances, because I’d be away from my family for too long.
It could be. Look at the website.
There are 298 day students and 849 boarding. So 15% is wrong.
It lists the towns from which day students are accepted. It says you must make a one time choice as to day or boarding.
It really depends on the number of applicants and how qualified they are as to whether it is easier or harder. My guess, given the requirement that Andover and North Andover residents must be day, is that many faculty kids are in this pool. I would guess that coaches know some of the stronger athletic recruits. It’s not just #s.
At this point, you can only worry about you. Make your application as strong as you can.
Alright, thank you so much for the advice and have a great day!
Back when my son was applying to Andover we were told that the admit rate for day students was higher than for boarding. Not sure if that’s still the case, but would make sense as they limit the towns from which day students can apply. The other spots are from kids all over the world.
Andover is 85% boarding/ 15% day student population.
I suspect that yield is higher for students accepted as non-boarding day students.
Whether the admit rate differs significantly between day & boarding students should be information available from Andover admissions.
Since you are unwilling to board at Andover, your question has little meaning since you are applying as a day student.
Just make sure that you are eligible to apply as a day student under Andover’s rules.
Thank you all for the help. I live 30 minutes away, so I am allowed to board.
@M0hammad @Publisher Andover 2018-2019 School Profile states: 300 Day students, 844 Boarding students. 26% Day students.
We know numerous Day students at Andover. They believe the pool of Day applicants is somewhat less competitive than the Boarding pool. Fewer “I played Carnegie Hall when I was 14” or “I wrote a NYT Op-Ed” types. Exaggeration, of course.
Funny that I misstated the percentage of day students at Andover as I insisted that it was 75/25 to an applicant’s father who insisted that I was incorrect & that it was 95/5. And now I make a similar mistake.
Yield tends to be very high for day students.
That’s pretty good to hear. I hope I get accepted