Read more details about Phillips Academy Andover on their 2024-25 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
1. No mandatory church services/sitdown dinners/dress codes/sturday classes -- Anodover gives students a great deal of freedom to think and make decisions of their own. Students are in charge of managing their own time, developing their own talents and pursuing their own passions.2. Great downtown!!! For food, there are numerous restaurants including Italian, French, Chinese, Thai and fastfood. For groceries, there's Market Basket and CVS. For clothes, there's Athlete's Corner, Marshalls and Kaps. For books, there's A-Buck-A-Book and the Andover Bookstore. For flowers, there's Flowers-By-Steve and Kabloom. For hanging out, there's Starbucks. What more can students ask for?
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
My three years at Andover have definitely helped me to mature and grow as a person. Aside from academics, I have learnt how to live independently, manage my time effectively, and face problems and challenges courageously. I have also gained a broader perspective of the world from my talented peers from all over the world.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Nothing really -- I have enjoyed every minute at Andover thoroughly...no regrets...
4.) What would you never want to change about your school?
The warm energetic atmosphere within the community and the close faculty-student relationship.
5.) What things could be improved about your school?
Andover is AWESOME!!!
6.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Try new things, new activites, things you think you can never do or would never dream of doing...meet new people, people different from you!! TRY EVERYTHING!!Best Restaurant: Sweet Basil Downtown!!!
7.) How was your experience as an international student?
Communication at Andover is very convenient. Every student has their own phone AND ethernet line. There are computer labs all around campus if students did not bring their own.There is a very supportive advising staff for international students specifically. The faculty and other Andover students are very amiable and understanding of the difficulties international students are facing anyway.
Academics:
1.) What did you like best about your schools academics?
There was a great variety of classes.
Although there is a basic academic requirement, Andover's curriculum offers a lot of flexibility for students to pursue their own interests at their own comfort level. If students want to explore a subject in much greater depth, they can do independent research projects.Very supportive and accessible faculty.
2.) What did you like least about the academics in your school?
At times, the environment can be really stressful and competitive -- it's all about time management and balancing school work with social life.
Athletics:
1.) What did you like best about your schools athletics?
Again, great variety ranging from tennis and basketball to yoga and dance. There's Varsity, Junior Varsity, recreational, intermediate and beginner levels. Everyone can find their place in Andover's athletic department.
2.) What did you like least about the athletics in your school?
As a bi-varsity member, there were strenuous practices and huge time commitments -- but being on a team and seeing your team improve with all the hard work is very satisfying.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) What did you like best about your schools art program?
the art/music requirement--
Although in the beginning everyone dislikes this requirement, everyone becomes really appreciative of it. Some people even decide that they LOVE art and music after the required introductory classes. Personally, I found those classes enjoyable and a good class to have among all the other tough classes.
2.) What did you like least about your schools art program?
nothing really...
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) What did you like most about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
You can meet TONS of cool people!!Also, the great range of activities--
Andover has political, academic, social, cultural, community service, and debating organizations. Students can also start their own organizations if they want to. Typically, clubs meet once a week but they are all optional. Students can adjust their activities according to their schedules.
2.) What did you like least about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
Sometimes too many activities can be hard to juggle around, but it will be all good as students learn how to manage their time effectively.
Dorm Life:
1.) What was the best thing about dorm life in your school?
the atmosphere within the dorm--
Although I lived in a pretty big dorm (40 girls), everyone bonded really well and everyone became close friends. We had late night snacks, study sessions, dorm trips etc. We all still keep in touch and are actually planning a dorm reunion!
2.) What did you like least about dorm life?
Room-visiting policies at Andover can be very troublesome at times, especially when students are only to try to find a quiet place to study or do groupwork with peers of the opposite sex. However, these policies are also here for the students' protection.
Dining:
1.) What was the best thing about your dining arrangements?
cafeteria hours -- 7AM to 7PM!!
There are definitely no worries about access to food. There is also the Ryley Room-- an extension of the dining hall selling better food like pizzas, burgers, fries, chicken fingers, sodas, icecream etc. And they deliver too!
2.) What did you like least about your dining arrangements?
Though the food at Andover is not that bad, the routine gets boring somtimes. That's where the Ryley Room and downtown retaurants come into play!
Social and Town Life:
1.) How welcome did you feel by the other students when you first arrived at the school
Each incoming student is assigned to a small orientation group of 5 people (usually in their grade), led by a Blue Key (student orientation staff, usually a senior). Blue Keys are energetic, passionate about Andover, and helpful. They make sure the incoming students are settling in well throughout the year and build strong friendships with their group. EVERYONE has fond memories of the first week at Andover...
2.) Describe the level of diversity and integration of students in your school:
Andover has amazing diversity. Students represent over 25 countries and nationalities, ranging from Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong to France, Yugoslavia, Australia and Bahrain! Though some students tend to hang out with their own racial group, there is absolutely no discrimination or cliques.
3.) Describe typical fun activities you did on a weekend:
eating out, dances, movies, shopping, hanging out with friends in the dorm/downtown/in boston
4.) What was the town like?
As I said, the town is awesome! There are lots of things to do -- good food, clothes shopping, hanging out in Starbucks, reading at the bookstore...
Besides, Rockingham Mall is only 15 minutes away by car, the movie theatres only 5, and even Boston is only a 40-minute train ride away!
Daily Schedule:
Weekday
7:00 AM
Wake up
8:00 AM
AP Latin Vergil class
8:45 AM
BC Calculus Class
9:30 AM
Conference period/Break
10:15 AM
Physics Class (Double Period today)
12:00 AM
Lunch!
1:00 PM
English Class
1:45 PM
Visual Arts Class
2:30 PM
Rest time/Prepare for squash practice
3:15 PM
Squash practice
5:00 PM
Dinner!
6:00 PM
International Club Meeting
8:00 PM
Go to a movie with friends
9:00 PM
Hang out in Starbucks
10:00 PM
Sign-in back to the dorm/Socialize within the dorm
12:00 PM
ZZZzzzzzzz
Weekend
11:00 AM
Wake up
12:00 AM
Got to Lantern Brunch (great place!) downtown with friends
1:00 PM
Take the train to Boston
2:00 PM
Shopping/Watch movies/Dine in Boston!!!
8:00 PM
Watch a movie in the dorm with friends/Eat/Hang out
10:00 PM
School-organized Dance
11:30 PM
Sign-in to dorm
11:30 PM
ZZZZzzz/other things within the dorm
Read more details about Phillips Academy Andover on their 2024-25 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
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Description
As I look back on my life, I found the English Department profoundly brilliant. The level of reading (weekly) was extraordinary. The level of commitment of the faculty was genuine.. . .
Our campus has a cluster system which means we have five somewhat distinct residential communities. It definitely helps build smaller communities within Andover’s larger student body. Another thing that was unique about Andover was their. . .
Andover has a need-blind admissions policy, which means that they don't take into account someone's ability to pay for the school when deciding whether or not to admit them. This makes the school much diverse. . .
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