Shadowing a current Andover student, prospective students gained a glimpse into Andover on revisit days.
Prospective students shadowed current students for the school day while their parents participated in panel discussions on April 4 and April 7. Other events included a dessert reception and talent show the night before each revisit day, giving prospective families a deeper sense of campus culture.
Despite recent events, involvement during revisit days reflected a strong sense of unity and pride. Assistant Director of Admissions Timothy Liu highlighted the widespread student engagement as a reminder of what makes the Andover community so special.
“The Andover community is going through a challenging time, but so many students came out in support of our work in admissions by hosting admitted students, performing in our talent shows, or participating on panels. It reminded us how special the Andover community really is,” said Liu.
Liu shared that “mini classes” were reintroduced to Friday Spring Visits to give admitted students a more comprehensive glimpse into campus life, offering exposure to spaces and programs they wouldn’t typically experience during a standard class schedule.
“[This year] we brought back a previous feature of Spring Visits by offering mini-classes during our Friday program, since admitted students are only able to attend two classes on our Friday Spring Visits. The mini-classes introduced students to the Addison [Gallery of American Art], the [Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archeology,] and [some] of our less commonly taught languages,” said Liu.
Cyrus Law ’27, a Revisit host, explained that revisit days give students a better sense of student life beyond standard tours. While students toured classes, they could interact with their revisit host and explain their experiences at the school. Law elaborated on some conversations he had with a prospective student.
“My favorite part about Revisit Day was showing them around campus, especially places that they couldn’t see during tours because of the time constraints. Hosting the revisit day on a Monday was a good idea on the administration’s part because the revisits could get a taste of most classes,” said Law. “My friend’s revisit talked with me about his experiences in a small town of only 2,000 people. We talked about how different being in a bigger community like Andover is, because I’m also from a relatively small town.”
Gabi Tinoco, a prospective class of 2028, commented on how one of the most impactful aspects of the revisit experience for prospective students is the chance to immerse in the school’s culture. He found himself imagining what it would be like to be part of the school next year, paying closer attention to the atmosphere that defines the community.
“It’s been cool envisioning myself here next year, and I’m paying a lot more attention to the environment around me. It’s really nice that you get to shadow someone. It’s like you’re able to see how the school is unscripted. I went to the talent show yesterday. It made me more excited to be part of [an] environment where people are very passionate about what they do,” said Tinoco.
Gia Estrada ’29, a prospective class of 2029 student, commented on how the interaction with other revisits showcased community relationships and culture, which helped her decide on Andover.
“A highlight for me was meeting a lot of the other revisits because even though we all met that day, I’ve been able to really connect with people and it makes me feel really excited to meet other people in the fall,” said Estrada.
