<p>There seems to be two trends: incoming classes each stronger than the previous one and increasing difficulty in placing students in the top ten. Like a swimmer fighting a strong current. Initially it is a standstill and then the current starts overwhelming the swimmer. The result will be to force the swimmer back to the shore Unless something changes.</p>
<p>I am not a pessimist. It is easy to abuse others while being anonymous. In fact what I am saying is that an excellent effort by the faculty and the students is being weakened by a mediocre administration that is blind to the changes in the weather. The Andover grad of 2010 is being poorly served by the current administration which is more intent on marketing the myth and raising money. While money is certainly green, what is immediately needed is professional advising starting from the freshman year and a more caring attitude to the average boarder. The number of boarders dropping out or being asked to leave is shocking and the clear difference in the performance of dayschoolers and boarders in terms of GPA as well as college admissions is evidence that the school’s residential policies as well as advising need to be intensively re-examined by the Trustees.</p>