swimdude006

If there's any questions on the admissions process, interviews, or just life at Andover in general, write on this thread!

Invent

What times do we need to do to get recruited for swimming say for 100m freestyle? How is the social scene?

swimdude006

Invent, I thought you were at Deerfield or something? And there is really no specific times for hundred meter freestyle, let alone any stroke. what really matters is what stroke the team needs. For instance, if three seniors were to be graduating and they were all butterfliers, then they would need to have 3 more butterfliers on the team. The average time for the 100 yard freestyle (NE prep league is short course yards) would be around a 53-54. If you want the freestyle to be your event, then you might have to go sub 50 seconds for the 100.

UKgirl23

are there any swimming oppurtunities for longer events eg 400m fc?

swimdude006

Hey Ukgirl23! yes, they do have longer distance events. In the USA though, we follow short course yards during short course season, so the main distance event would be the 500 yard free. No high school in the nation goes above the 500 for distance, so this is a small setback fro distance swimmers.

Scholar1

How is the pool facility/dorms at Andover? I play water polo and swim (not well though) and am debating applying there.

Also would a high 56 second 100 free help me at all for recruiting onto the swim team?

swimdude006

Scholar1: the pool facilities aren't the best i've ever seen. The temperature is pretty nice in the pool, but the actual facility is pretty old, as with lots of the athletic buildings as well. the water polo and swim programs here are pretty top notch. Though in water polo, we aren't the best, the program helps you improve in your skills more than anything. Before coming to andover, i had no experience in water polo. Now, I feel pretty proficient in my skills. As for your question about your times, I can't directly answer that. I can tell you that Andover's freestylers are very fast, and go sub 50 for the hundred. A 56 is still pretty fast, especially for a freshman. Remember that recruits also have to be proficient in academics as well. Being good at a sport may help in getting into the school, but it won't garuntee (sorry, could never spell that word!) your acceptance.
Hope this helps and best of luck!

swimdude006

and the dorms here are pretty nice. They are big enough to have a desk, bed, dresser, large shelf(s), a fouton, and some other necessities. I've managed to fit everything into my room, and still have space for more stuff!

swimmer15

All these times like sub 50 im assuming you're talking about guys times correct? And do you know about the girls team like whos leaving and what their going to need next year by any chance?

UKgirl23

What kind of time would an entering sophomore girl want to have to be a potential recruit?

karategirl2005

Is the math very challenging? I LOVE Math, and if I try to Andover I want to make sure that it has a good math cirriculumn

swimdude006

UKgirl23 & swimmer15: I am reluctant to talk of "recruitment times" to anyone because none actually exist. All i can say is that Andover is a very fast school in swimming, and that we rely on depth in our races more than anything, meaning we may not have the first place finisher, but the swimmers will finish second, third, and fourth. Sorry to dissapoint you guys, but I just don't know what the standards of a recruit are. hope this helps a bit!

Karategirl2005: the math here is pretty challenging. Your class is determined by placement, not by grade, which makes it easy for students to be on their own pace. They offer classes from first year algebra to accelerated AP calculus BC (the highest class a freshman is taking this year). The teachers here are very good in explaining the content, so math is definitley strong here

to all of you, i wish you the best of luck to all of you!

TheTester

Hey. Hope you don't mind if I jump in (Andover freshman too).
Some dorms are nice; some aren't. Hale's aren't that great (one room had mold a week ago), but the others are pretty good. My room's definitely big enough.
Also @Karategirl2005: Math is okay. Their placements are not the best. I'm in Accelerated AP Calc BC and it's more than manageable. It also depends on the teacher you get - like in any school, some are much better than others.

sandol1010

Hey. My visit and interview is early this December. How much do I need to emphasize EC's on my app? My school's clubs and extracurriculars are very weak. My club schedules have been inconsistent, and I've been on a swim team for about 5 years now, but I stopped a little over a year ago, because of a busy study schedule. I've also done soccer for about 4 years, but I quit that as well. I'm worried about my Extracurricular recommendation-- Don't know where to get it. Can it be a recommendation from a school club? and how are the interviews?

swimdude006

The recommendation can be from basically anyone. As long as you have a passion for the thing you do, then write it down! it doesn't hurt to mention it! just don't write every single thing you've done since the fifth grade: the AO will just get annoyed. Whatever you are passionate for, you can get a recommendation for. To answer your question, yes, you can get a recommendation from a school club. Also, the Interviews are not bad at all. You just have to be very open with the interviewer. Don't be scripted, but instead, be yourself. The questions should be honest, and pretty easy to answer. If they ask you a hard question, try and put it into simpler terms. If you are VERY good with people, try making your response witty! AOs like kids who can make a potentially nerve-racking situation into a comfortable setting. And don't worry about rushing the recommendations and applications. I didn't start my applications till Christmas, and interviewed on the deadline date for applications. just take the process one step at a time. Trust me, after you are done, you will feel very accomplished

Best of luck!