Phillips Academy Andover review by Yale University student.
Academics at Andover are, without doubt, its most distinguishing feature. Classes are consistently small, intimate, and encourage over all else informed discourse. At the same time, the workload is concordantly demanding, with readings and assignments that normally amount to roughly 20 hours a week. As would be expected, less is expected of freshmen, and the workload scales upwards as one becomes used to it. Those that have difficulty keeping up have at their disposal a large array of support structures, from the in house counseling center (Graham House) to student and faculty tutors. What sets Andover apart is the fact that classes, while cognizant of exams, are never taught merely to an exam (with the exception of rote math courses), and are free to wander and dance around the subject matter.
Although much of the student body bemoans their perceived loss of advantage by attending Andover,.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Phillips Academy Andover as experienced by former pupil and Yale 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...
Like most prep schools, Andover requires applicants take the SSAT. Though the average score on.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Phillips Academy Andover by former pupil and Yale 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...
Dormitories and dormitory life/culture anchor the Andover experience. One grows, over the course of four years at Andover very close to those with whom one lives, often times forming life-long friendships. The campus is gorgeous, and when the weather is fair one can see students flocking to the Great Lawn to soak up rays while doing reading or playing frisbee. The town of Andover is an ideal prep school town; it is quiet, safe, yet not overfar from Boston nor the coast. Dedicated students, with ample budget, are responsible for organizing the social scene, which though it sometimes runs repetitive.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Phillips Academy Andover as experienced by former pupil and Yale University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review