Phillips Academy Andover review by Duke University student.
Phillips Academy Andover's academic curriculum is strong in all areas; however, it is highly dependent on the quality of the teacher. Furthermore, over the last few years, especially with budget cuts, many elective classes are being dropped from the curriculum which is always disappointing. The teaching staff is mixed, some being very good, many being of average quality, and some being very poor. For all those who spend 3 or more years at Andover you will definitely have one or two classes with bad teachers. As for the nature of the student body, academically it is very college acceptance driven. Students are very motivated and do not hesitate to challenge themselves, but it is clear that there is always the underlying theme of getting into college. Surprisingly, it is not cutthroat competitive. The school does not have a blanket teaching philosophy. Whilst some classes are primarily lecture and some are primarily discussion, and some are a bit of both, they are all small, with an average size of around 10. This diversity in teaching styles makes the school day more interesting because you are not sitting through the same class 5 times over again. Faculty is very accessible, and very helpful. It is never hard to get an extension, or get help on a project, or homework. In fact 30 minutes is set aside 4 days a week when teachers must be in their classes to answer student questions. For talented students there is always a higher level class, or an independent project. For those who are having issues, the academic support center is fantastic, and even individual teachers are very understanding, often going out of their way to find out what the problems are.
I think Andover does a fantastic job of placing students into top colleges. Although often.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Phillips Academy Andover as experienced by former pupil and Duke University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
I was at Andover for 4 years, applying during my 8th grade year. Logistically, Andover.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Phillips Academy Andover by former pupil and Duke University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
At Andover you will live well. Dorms are nice, but you soon realize it doesn’t really matter if you live in five star luxury or your Andover dorm, it is about whom you live with, and the students at Andover are some of the best people you will ever meet. A new dining hall has just been built so that and the food served there is fantastic. Andover is very very safe. You will not feel worried walking around alone and if you do, Public Safety will drive you. As far as notable social events go Andover certainly makes an.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Phillips Academy Andover as experienced by former pupil and Duke University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review