dreamBIGGER

Hey overandover (:

I'm planning to apply for 10th grade. Do you have any idea how many people get accepted each year for 10th grade? I know it's a lot harder than 9th grade...

Anyway.
how's the learning environment here in Andover? ( I know it's a cheesy question )
For my current school, we have 44 people in each class, and it's just awkward and you can't learn much from others...

Please reply when you have time?
Thanks. I really appreciate it.

overandover

Hey,
I don't know how many new 10th graders (lowers) there are each year, but you can probably find that statistic somewhere on the Andover website. It's a pretty large number. Definitely not impossible to get in.

It's a great environment. I'm just going to be frank here: everyone is really smart. Everyone grew up caring about class and wanting to learn and succeed, so it's totally encouraged to speak up in class. I think the average class size is fifteen, so you'll definitely have a different experience. Obviously you control how much you participate, but you'll absolutely at least get the chance to add your two cents.

dreamBIGGER

thank you (:

Tapper7

Every year about eighty new lowers matriculate. I don't know the 10th grade matriculation rate specifically, but it's probably comparable to the overall matriculation rate meaning about 110 get accepted. If I recall correctly it's only marginally harder to get in as a 10th grader. Let's put it this way. The overall acceptance rate is about 19%, and the hardest year to get in by far is upper year with an acceptance rate of about 14%. The fluctuations aren't all that big.

The average class size I believe is actually thirteen, though it depends heavily on your grade. Junior and lower year, classes are likely to be relatively large (though they are usually capped at eighteen) as almost everyone is taking very similar classes. Upper and senior year, as you get into the higher division electives your classes will get smaller. Last year, my smallest class had six people, but some of my friends have had even smaller.

andovergirl

Abbot!!!!!

assign

Hi overandover,
What do you think is the strongest department at Andover? Do they have a strong performing arts program?
Do many Andover students consider themselves smart? (I know the question's kinda weird but whatever )
Thanks in advance.

PaulaZaria

Hey overandover,
Are you allowed to use your own laptop in class for notes and such? Haha random question
Thanks!

SoontoBoard

I'll throw in an answer:

PaulaZaria, you are probably allowed, but no one actually does.
Assign: Andover's Physics department was rated top secondary school Physics department I'm pretty sure. The stereotype, however, is that Andover is a humanities school and Exeter is a Math/Science school. Also, yes and no. They are really self-deprecative in public (especially when talking about math placement), but they feel smart (They don't want to seem cocky) and they are usually.

SoontoBoard

It was actually marginally easier to get in as a tenth grader last year. Overall: 16.6%, 10th Grade: 20%.

PaulaZaria

wow cool. thanks for answering my random question!

benevolent4them

GO ABB!


I hope we have a munch next week. I loved the cinnamon role one. I ate like 3 of those things.

Xymera

Hey, actually the choir in my school is singing a song with the word "over and over" and it reminds me of Andover so much!!!

I'm also going to have a interview next week! So excited!


My questions are..
Are there students that major in art and music specifically?
Are the students open to other cultures and countries? Do they care where you are from?
I'm currently in a boarding school, and I've been doing great. Does this count as an advantage?
How hard is it to get in as a 9th grader?

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

Tapper7

SoontoBoard: I was using the 9th grade acceptance rate as the comparison. I think, but I'm not positive, that it is slightly harder to get in as a 10th grader than as a 9th grader. But yes, you're right, it is easier than average to get in as a 10th grader. And I should probably also mention that those stats I listed were for my year, the entering class of '07.

Xymera: If you're asking whether students go on to major in music or art, then yes, a few do every year. But if you're asking whether you can do that at Andover, then no you can't, per se. Everyone has the same graduation requirements which will lock in almost all of your classes for the first two years. After that you're free to take whatever classes appeal to you and fit in your schedule.
Students tend to be very open to other cultures. Some won't care where you're from and others will care, but only to the extent that they'll find it interesting and want to know more about it. I never came across anyone who had an issue with someone because of their home country/town/state/etc.

overandover

Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to reply! I've been super busy with schoolwork.

Assign, Soontoboard covered the department question pretty well, and yes, Andover has a great performing arts program. The talent of the students here, whether it be in dance, theater, playwriting, filmmaking, photography, or anything else, never ceases to amaze me. There are endless opportunities in the performing arts program: weekly student-run plays, improv troupes, a cappella groups, big productions, and probably a lot more that I'm forgetting.

In the background, it's known that everyone is smart. Everyone was at the top of their class at their old school and worked really hard to get here, but nobody is arrogant about it. Yes, it's cool to be in a high class, but it's not cool to brag.

PaulaZaria, as Soontoboard said, you are allowed (and almost everyone owns a computer), but nobody uses them in class.

Xymera, good luck in your interview! Maybe I'll end up giving you a tour. Tapper7 gave good answers, but to the rest of your questions...I can't really tell you if boarding school would give you an advantage or not. Each candidate is different and respected for their own reasons. Of course it would show admissions that you're mature enough for the environment, but they probably are able to gauge maturity regardless of where you come from. So basically, it won't hurt.

It's hard, I'm not going to lie. Something like 70% of applicants are academically admissible, so it really comes down to how unique your experiences are, and how you will contribute to the school. Don't get discouraged though- just try hard and that's all you can do.

Hope that helps, I'll try to be more prompt next time!

fledgling

This is just a curious question, but does Andover calculate GPA or do class rank? Someone once told me they didn't, but I'm just checking to confirm.

(I'm not planning to go to Andover anytime soon lol... I'm a high school junior and won't be switching schools at this point. I just wanted to know if this was true.)