PA Q /A ANDOVER STUDENTS AND FACULTY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS
WHY ANDOVER? BECAUSE YOU’LL BE WELCOMED INTO AN INSPIRING COMMUNITY OF SMART, MOTIVATED, CURIOUS, OPEN-MINDED, AND GENUINELY NICE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH SCHOOL THAT CELEBRATES DIFFERENCE AND PRIZES ORIGINALITY. BECAUSE AT ANDOVER YOU CAN BE YOUR MOST HONEST, AUTHENTIC, DARING SELF. And because we take a balanced approach to academics, extracurriculars, and just plain having fun; because our talented, caring teachers, coaches, house counselors, and advisors are always ready to help; because we have a renowned art gallery, archaeology institute, and observatory right on campus; and because we offer the best of high-tech, low-tech, and multidisciplinary learning plus nearly 40 “Learning in the World” opportunities for every student in fascinating places on five continents.
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Because this is a place of limitless opportunity. THAT’S WHY.
PHILLIPS ACADEMY
IS IT EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS?
PABLO
has figured out how to balance athletics, academics, community engagement, and life in general. His strategy? “Take small breaks when possible, and step back when necessary.” An avid animal lover, he is co-captain of the wrestling team and a board member of Af-Lat-Am, Alianza Latina, and Brotherhood.
YES! EVERYBODY HERE WANTS TO MAKE FRIENDS. Just be open and
be yourself. Great friendships can start at orientation, walking to class, in the library, or even just standing in line for stir-fry. Pablo, senior, Los Angeles, CA It is. For me, the process of finding friends just flowed. It’s important not to rely on first impressions. TAKE TIME, GET TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND DISCOVER PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU HAPPY AND OPEN YOUR WORLD. There are a lot of those people here.
Gracie, lower, Garden City, NY
Honestly, I was nervous at first. But I MET MY BEST FRIENDS DURING THE FIRST DAYS OF ORIENTATION as we walked from one place to another, talking, laughing, sharing information, and discovering everything we could. Mafi, lower, Guatemala City, Guatemala
[Footnote] At Andover, we call 9th-graders “juniors,” 10th-graders “lowers,” 11th-graders “uppers,” and 12th-graders “seniors.”
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GRACIE
coordinates the Andover chapter of Jumpstart, a national literacy organization; it’s her favorite community engagement project. “The school I came from was really tiny,” she says. “I wanted to be exposed to lots of different ways of thinking. I wanted to have an international roommate—and I did. And we’re best friends.”
MAFI
is a member of Alianza Latina, writes for Boss (a feminist magazine), attends lots of guest speaker events, and will be a dorm prefect next year. Her greatest passion is squash and practicing with her varsity teammates. “Andover is the most welcoming and inspiring place,” she says. “Everyone can be so focused on what they’re doing yet never stop caring about the people around them.”
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WHAT ARE CLASSES LIKE? My first term here was eye-opening. In my previous high school, I was at the top of my class. I could sit in the back, take the test, and get an A. IT’S DIFFERENT HERE. Everyone is at the same level—really smart. WE’RE ALL LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE. We want to push ourselves. Alex, upper, New Canaan, CT CLASSES ARE SMALL, so there’s not really any way to “hide.” That
may seem intimidating at first, but I think it really pushes people to be positive contributors in all their classes, which benefits everyone. Ava, upper, Woodland Hills, CA The really exciting thing about teaching here is the chance to dive into COMPLEX TOPICS with INQUISITIVE STUDENTS. They’ll do the hard work that leads to discovery. And I get to learn alongside them. Chris Jones, instructor in history and social science My 9th-graders, fresh to campus, approach new and tough material collaboratively—with the MOST DIVERSE SET OF CLASSMATES and perspectives they’ve ever had. It changes how we all read a text. I love that. Steph Curci, instructor in English
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ALEX
is co-president of the Motor Sports Club and a member of Mock Trial, the Competitive Robotics Team, and the astronomy research program. He’s also co-president of the Makers Club, where he’s working on building an LED sign for PA’s makerspace.
AVA
is co-president of Af-Lat-Am and a board member of the Psychology Club and CAMD’s Out of the Blue. Through the Rise Against Hunger student group, she plans an annual event to help feed people around the world. “The first year we packaged 10,300 meals. This year we did 25,000 meals. Our goal next year is to double that.”
CHRIS JONES
has spent a long time studying and teaching about slavery, race relations, and the American Civil War. “Right now, I’m having a blast co-teaching an interdisciplinary class about its most significant antecedent—the Haitian Revolution.” A history and social science teacher, he’s also an advisor, house counselor, and coach.
STEPH CURCI
is an English instructor and has been visiting Haiti for 40 years. The class she co-teaches with Chris Jones (see above) “helps students grasp the full impact of the Haitian Revolution.” She also teaches electives on dictatorship, postcolonial India, and the graphic novel. And she’s an advisor and house counselor too.
[Footnote] CAMD = Community and Multicultural Development, a place and a program that raises awareness and encourages understanding of our differences, such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic class. Interdisciplinary = a class team-taught by faculty from two departments that blends insights from each. 7
[Footnote] We are the Big Blue — and Blue Key heads are our spirit leaders! There are 10 of them, and every Friday they wear blue field hockey kilts (guys, too!), party fanny packs, and every piece of blue gear they own. They fire up fans and athletes alike! 8
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ANDOVER
WHAT GOES ON OUTSIDE OF CLASS? There are SO MANY CLUBS you can get involved with, SO MANY EVENTS you can go to, SO MANY CULTURES AND IDEAS YOU CAN EXPLORE. But you can also just enjoy being with friends— sprawling on the Great Lawn, relaxing in your dorm, talking about school stuff and hometowns and families. Lauren, lower, Hong Kong My friends and I like to explore the GREAT OUTDOOR PLACES that aren’t far from campus. One of my favorite places is Holt Hill—just a few minutes away by BIKE OR SKATEBOARD. The first time we went, we saw the Boston skyline from the top and even caught a beautiful sunset. Salvador, upper, San Juan, Puerto Rico The cool thing about the town of Andover is how close it is—just a short walk along a nice shady street. My friends and I love to EAT IN TOWN on the weekends. Sometimes we TAKE THE TRAIN TO BOSTON for a Red Sox game or just to explore. Peter, upper, Pacific Palisades, CA
LAUREN
is a member of Andover Dance Group, Azure (an a cappella group), and the tennis team. She really likes her proctor, who’s “like an older sibling,” and she has fond memories of her junior year prefect, who “always had a big tub of pretzels by her door.”
SALVADOR
serves on the boards of Af-Lat-Am and Model UN and is a member of the JV swim team. Recently elected school co-president, he is also a dorm proctor. He loves skateboarding, hanging out with friends in the dorm, and taking his “proctees” for burger runs downtown.
PETER
plays varsity baseball, helps manage girls’ squash, and writes for The Phillipian. He’s also a Blue Key head and a prefect in a 9th-grade dorm. “Since coming here, I’ve branched out and become part of many different groups and activities with some really interesting people. I’ve grown a lot.”
[Footnote] Great Lawn = wide open space in the center of campus for socializing and play. Af-Lat-Am = African Latinx American Society (all students welcome!). Community engagement (formerly called community service) = dozens of popular programs in which student volunteers listen, learn, empathize, and do. 10
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PHILLIPS ACADEMY
ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS?
KARISSA
is a proctor, a board member of both the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the Philomathean Society (i.e., debate team), and a stand-up comic. She also ran for school co-president. “Andover has given me the eyes to see people fully—and with empathy.”
BE DARING. First of all, don’t be afraid to apply. I never
thought I’d even get into Andover. But I got in—and I got financial aid. Without it, I wouldn’t be here. Karissa, upper, Coral Springs, FL Definitely TRY NEW THINGS. I do a lot of sports, but this year I surprised myself and danced in The Nutcracker. I was super nervous! I had to lift and balance my dance partner on my shoulder three times. Luckily all went well. Mark, upper, Andover, MA
MARK
is a day-student mentor, Blue Key head, and member of the Pencils of Promise charity club and Pot Pourri yearbook club. He plays football and lacrosse and helps manage girls’ ice hockey. “My most memorable moments at Andover are when I challenge myself.”
LOOK AT THINGS FROM A FRESH PERSPECTIVE—that’s why we’re here.
I love it when we’re talking about a problem and my students offer some new, creative, efficient solution that I hadn’t thought of before. Caroline Odden, dean of studies, instructor in physics, Phillips Academy Observatory supervisor
[Footnote] Proctor = student mentor/ confidant in lower, upper, or senior dorm; junior dorms have prefects. (Day students can also fill these leadership roles!) Honking = part of Andover’s traditional loud and rowdy welcome to new students in September. Not to be missed!
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CAROLINE ODDEN
coaches golf and loves to walk the paths of Cochran Sanctuary. She and Andover astronomy students have been part of a NASA project—and even discovered new stars. She’s a big fan of “Honk if you love Big Blue!” madness. “I always find an excuse to drive by and honk. Sometimes twice.” (See footnote.)
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PHILLIPS ACADEMY
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
JAYSHAWN
is a prefect and a member of Af-Lat-Am, Cluster Council, and Mock Trial. He’s also a member of an affinity group for students heavily supported by financial aid. “One thing we do is read the book Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s a bit of reassurance that you can come from humble origins and still go on to do great things.”
REMEMBER TO BE BALANCED. I came to Andover so focused on
academics. It took me awhile to realize that having a social life is crucial. Your social self makes your academic self better, and vice versa. JayShawn, upper, Newark, NJ LILA
Forget your expectations; drop your stereotypes. BE WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS. Grab onto new opportunities. Lila, lower, Yarmouth, ME TRUST THAT YOU BELONG. The amazing thing about Andover is
that everyone is so different; there isn’t a “right” way to be a student here. That means you can be who you are, not who you think you should be. Kate McQuade, instructor in English
[Footnote] Cluster = a dorm grouping (there are five) that creates a residential neighborhood. So you have a community (dorm) within a community (cluster) within a community (Andover). Cluster Council = student governing body of a cluster.
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takes photos for the yearbook and is a member of Cerulean (an a cappella group), Women’s Forum, and three athletic teams, plus a tech group for girls—Technovation—that solves social problems with apps. “I came to Andover thinking technology was something I could never do. But the people doing coding here are so cool—and now I’m this person who works with technology.”
KATE MCQUADE
is the award-winning author of the novel Two Harbors and a new story collection, Tell Me Who We Were. She loves to support and embolden new writers, especially students in Creative Nonfiction, her English elective, and in Hiking and Writing, a spirited afterschool “sport” she created.
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FOUNDED IN 1778
855
1,150
boarding
from
day students
students
295
51
countries and
125+ student-run RAYNARD S. KINGTON, MD, PHD, P’24 head of school
44
U.S. states & territories
400+ STUDENTS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS EACH TERM
50% STUDENTS OF COLOR
30+ weekly community engagement programs
25,000+ objects in the Addison Gallery of American Art
100%
of demonstrated financial need met
APPLY! Find out more about Andover and apply at
www.andover.edu/admission
5 RESIDENTIAL CLUSTERS (LIKE NEIGHBORHOODS)
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students in the average class
300 courses offered, including 8 world languages and 150 electives
19 playing fields 4 athletic facilities 2 dance studios
70+
interscholastic teams in
23
sports 85-acre Cochran
38+ PA faculty-led
and affiliate Learning in the World programs annually
5:1 STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO
90+%
of faculty live on campus
45% OF STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID Numbers reflect a typical year.
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clubs and organizations
Sanctuary
3 ORCHESTRAS
21 miles to Boston 10-minute walk to the town of Andover
600,000+ objects in the Peabody Institute of Archaeology
Phillips Academy Statement of Purpose Phillips Academy’s Constitution charges the faculty to teach “youth from every quarter” to aspire equally to knowledge and goodness. This obligation challenges students to develop what is finest in themselves and others, for others and themselves. Phillips Academy is committed to nurturing an intentionally diverse, inclusive community that encourages students and adults to respect, inspire, and learn from one another. Guided by the ideal of non sibi, leading lives “not for self,” the Phillips Academy community promotes a balance of intellectual curiosity, engagement, leadership, and service in the pursuit of excellence: academic, civic, and moral.
Statement of Values Non Sibi—We strive to embody the ideal of non sibi (not for self) with intentional teaching, learning, and engagement guided by a sense of responsibility toward the global community and natural world. Youth from Every Quarter—We are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive school in which students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences— including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and ability—learn and grow together. Knowledge and Goodness—We challenge students in mind, body, and spirit such that they may pursue the knowledge, develop the skills, and sustain the integrity needed to lead a responsible, fulfilling life.
Nondiscrimination Policy Phillips Academy admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Phillips Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other school-administered programs.
ANDOVER CHECKLIST Visit www.andover.edu/ admission/apply to begin! Join our mailing list Complete the Candidate Profile Schedule your admission interview or submit personal video (both optional) Register for standardized test (optional) Submit complete Andover application Submit financial aid application (if applicable)
Application deadline:
February 1
PHILLIPS ACADEMY
180 Main Street Andover, MA 01810-4161 www.andover.edu 978-749-4050
18 2022–2023