Student tour guides meet prospective students in the Shuman Admissions Office.
A more immersive campus tour is offered to prospective students from the Prep for Prep 9 (Prep9) program, which helps expand access to elite schools for talented students of underserved communities from New York City. In addition to the regular tour, touring Prep9 cohort members involve themselves in campus life, attending classes and eating meals with their guides, according to Jim Ventre, Assistant Head of School for Admission and Financial Aid.
Prep9 was founded in 1986, with Andover as one of the schools in its original consortium. Andover has continued to work with Prep9, among other organizations with similar goals, over the years. Jessica Acosta-Chavez, Associate Director of Admissions and Director of DEI Outreach, explained her role in facilitating these connections and elaborated on how such programs develop and bolster students in their cohorts.
“In my role as Director of DEI Outreach, I work closely with many programs or community-based organizations (known as CBOs) across the country to recruit students who have historically been underrepresented in independent schools. Programs like Prep for Prep provide extensive support, which can range from application guidance, additional academic preparation, and organizing a campus visit, among other services,” wrote Acosta-Chavez in an email to The Phillipian.
To augment the touring experience of Prep9 students, a more expansive tour allows potential applicants from Prep9 to experience aspects of Andover life and meet with administration members. Ventre elaborated on the specifics of the tour in his email to The Phillipian, and noted that Andover also offers information sessions for parents as a part of the experience.
“We host Prep9 visitors and other CBOs because we believe these students deserve the chance to see themselves at Andover!… Prep9 visitors attend classes, enjoy meals in Paresky Commons, stroll through the Addison [Gallery], and generally engage in a holistic experience to get a feel for our community. They also get to meet with Aquita Winslow, Director of CAMD, and Linda Carter Griffith, our Associate Head of School for Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness.… Prep9 parents [and] guardians [also] learn about academics, residential life, and financial aid through different faculty panels,” wrote Ventre.
There are many benefits to the more immersive Prep9 tour in comparison to the more standard, shorter tour, according to Tyler Tran ’26. Tran highlighted how Prep9 visits help prospective students glean a deeper understanding of life at Andover only attainable from firsthand experience, presenting a unique and enjoyable opportunity.
“The whole point of a tour for a prospective student is [for them] to get a sense of what it’s like to be at that school, aside from just researching themselves. It’s a really unique experience that you can only get when you’re on the campus. This program would definitely further the experience, and honestly it’d be really cool just to be able to sit in on classes and eat at Commons. It won’t be disruptive at all, especially eating at Commons, where there’s so many people. They can really get a feeling, if it’s busy and they’re surrounded by students. Sitting in on classes, if I was a prospective student I’d really enjoy that. Going through that, if I like the experience, it would definitely put Andover at the top of my list,” said Tran.
Carsen Leach ’27, a current tour guide at Andover, emphasized the importance of the Prep9 touring program’s ability to introduce underprivileged students to the boarding school environment, and of its contribution to Andover’s goal of diversity. Leach noted that tour guides are a key component in helping students feel comfortable in an elite institution like Andover.
“[The Prep9 touring program] helps give underprivileged children a sense of belonging. I feel like there’s a stigma with boarding schools that only rich kids apply and only rich kids get in. Having a tour guide who’s friendly, welcoming, inviting, and not hostile towards these kids makes them feel like they have a shot at being a part of a [boarding school] community, which is important, as something huge at Andover is community and accepting people from all backgrounds,” said Leach.
The immersive tours have been well-received by interested students and their families. Ventre affirmed that Andover is eager to continue and expand its partnership with CBOs in the future.
“The feedback [about our tours] has been overwhelmingly positive. Prospective Prep9 students describe the visits as enriching and affirming. Parents and guardians appreciate the depth of care and engagement, and current students feel honored to host, especially those who came through Prep9 themselves.… Looking ahead, we hope to maintain, and strengthen our partnership and deepen the involvement of young alumni in hosting and mentoring,” wrote Ventre.
