swimdude006

Hello fellow CC members!! I have just started my lower (sophmore year for most of you) year at Andover, and am pretty sure I can answer most of your questions. I'll give you guys some stats on me, and then ask away!

Boarder from CT, USA

Academics:

AP Calc BC
AP Chem
English 200 (required)
AP music composition
Spanish 300 (advanced spanish)
proof and persuasion (philosophy course)
computer science

EC:

Philomathian society (debate)
EMARC (teach mentally disabled how to swim)
Economics club
BBQ club
Cello
Piano
Violin

Sports:

Water Polo (Varsity)
Swimming (Varsity)

SEWinter

What is the student reaction on campus to Dr. Keller's incident?

DistantDreamer

Oh yeah. I saw that on the news the other day.
How're people at your school taking in this news?

Exeterlover

What was your stat like when you applied to andover?? Thanks.

Sundlun

What type of activities are there available on campus on weekends?

swimdude006

SEWinter and DistantDreamer: although I never had a chance to meet the man, many of my friends attending PA have, and were shocked by the turn of events. The PA community has taken the news pretty well, and is adjusting back to the normality of campus that was present before the incident occurred. The school has made every possible effort to confront and deal with the situation, including aiding the authorities and by blocking the media from campus.

Exeterlover: I had basically the same stats except no clubs, no community service, and mediocre grades. I swam (probably my hook), but had never touched a water polo ball before I came to campus

Sundlun: The student activities board (run by students) organizes many different events to do on the weekend. For instance, just yesterday we had a smores cook-out in front of the dining hall at 8 where people congregated and just hung out. This year, because of the low attendance to lots of the dances last year, are going to have dances every other weekend, which will hopefully be better than last year! don't get me wrong, there were a ton of great dances last year. There are also trips to boston, the local shopping plaza, some nearby malls, movie theaters, movie showings on campus, or people just go down town to have dinner/hang out at starbucks. It is pretty hard not to find anything to do on the weekend here!

Sundlun

Thanks for the response. It sounds like a lot of fun.

UKgirl23

These threads are always great swimdude still so sad I can't apply to Andover, it seems like such an amzing school

swimdude006

UKgirl23: Sorry to hear that Wherever you are, hopefully, you are making a difference and really trying your hardest. Honestly, boarding school isn't perfect. There are plenty of bad and good teachers at EVERY school, bad and good kids at EVERY SCHOOL, etc. i would've been content with going to my local public HS, but because the opportunity presented itself, i grasped it. Just remember wherever you are, you can make the most out of it if you try

swimdude006

Bumpity bumpity bumpppppppp

PrepQWill

A friend of mine said you study a ton at Andover. How often do you study? And is it recommended to study over weekends?

ballerina22

Is it hard for new sophomores to get integrated into the community? Also, which cluster is the best?

swimdude006

PrepQWill: I study almost every day, including weekends. At PA, you want to be on top of your work, and if it means preparing over the weekend, you do so. I mean you waste at least two hours on the weekend doing stuff you will regret doing once you've gotten that first F on a test, so you might as well study.

ballerina22: it all depends on how much the new lower wants to integrate. If he/she wants to stay in the new lower community, they will stay. If not, they will integrate. And there is no particular cluster which is the best. Each cluster has its good/bad dorms, but other than that, they don't really do much (except for munches and cluster events)

J24601J

Hey ballerina22,
I'm a new lower at Andover right now, so I can tell you a little bit about the adjustment.

It's not easy. Being a new lower is tough in many different ways. Academically it's pretty tough, as well as socially. Teachers don't slow down the material like they do for freshman. Also as a new lower, you won't immediately know the majority of your grade, so it feels little bit weird.

That being said, the transition is manageable, and you can find your place here. Here's my advice:

-Request flagstaff. Or maybe PKN or one of the quads. Just not Abbott. You do NOT want to be put into Abbott. The daily walks will murder you.

-Request a roommate. I requested a single, and I regret it. It allows you to get know someone extremely well early on.

-Dorms are up to you. I'm in a small dorm, and it has it's pluses and minuses. On the plus side, I know everyone in my dorm extremely well--something I wouldn't have in a big dorm of 40 kids. On the downside, I didn't get to meet as many people. Orientation is much easier if you're in a large dorm because you get to meet more people, and you'll always have someone to talk to. Also, it really depends on your dorm/the chemistry of people in your dorm. Some dorms click immediately. Other dorms take time. Other dorms never click.

-Put yourself out there somehow and get known for something. Helps so much. Also, I'd advise running for student council. One of my friends ran for lower rep as a new lower, and he met so many more kids from doing that. He now knows almost all of our grade. So, I'd definitely advise that if you're looking to meet people, student council is a great bet.

-Don't be afraid to approach people you don't know during the first few days. The way I met two of my best friends here was in the lunch line one day.

Anyways, PM me if you have any more questions. I'll continue to update more about the transition.

ballerina22

Thanks for your reply. I will definitely be requesting a roommate - I like the idea of having someone to be friends with immediately (providing she and I get along!) If I were to attend Andover, it seems like it would be a harder transition for me, since I am quite shy at first. However, once I make a few good friends, I begin to become my normal, goofy self I will probably be PMing you soon with tons more questions!