This week, Andover welcomed prospective students who were selected from a record high applicant pool.
Overall, 446 new students were admitted out of 3103 completed applications.
According to Jane Fried, Dean of Admission, there has been a significant increase in the number of applications in the past few years. Completed applications have risen 34% since 2008, according to Fried.
Despite the larger applicant pool, the admission rate remained the same as last year at 14%. Fried said that more students were admitted this year to compensate for the larger Class of 2011, graduating this June.
Phillips Academy received applications from 52 states and territories as well as 79 countries. This year’s admitted students represent 42 different states and territories and 29 different countries. The incoming class of 2014 consisted of students from 33 states and 25 foreign countries.
“Our strategic outreach as well as prospective students’ online searches for educational opportunities have significantly diversified the geographic backgrounds of our new students,” said Fried.
The Admissions Office focused on a national recruitment strategy to yield students from less common regions of the nation, including Boise, Idaho, Crockett, Texas and Florence, South Carolina, according to Fried.
The outreach efforts expanded internationally as well. Students were admitted from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa, which have not been greatly represented at Andover previously.
Under the need-blind admission policy, 171 of the 446 admitted students will be granted financial aid next year. The total amount of financial aid scholarships awarded amounts to $5,597,400, according to Andover’s website.
Fried said that Andover expects that 45% of the newly admitted students and 46% of the student body will be receiving financial aid next year. The budget for financial aid totaled to $17.1 million for the 2011-2012 school year. Since Andover’s need blind admission policy launched in 2007, financial aid had has risen 10% in the student body.
Fried said that participation in talent identification programs, such as John Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth and Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development, was common among many of the applicants.
“All of these programs lift students’ educational aspirations and introduce students to the idea that there may be a more appropriate educational setting for them. Once students begin to research options, they find PA quickly,” said Fried.
The Spring Visit Program began this past week and will continue through Tuesday, April 5. Fried said that the purpose of the program is to present Andover in action to the admitted students so they can make a proper school choice.
“It used to be that parents introduced Andover to their children. Now children are convincing their parents to let them come to Andover,” said Fried.
“I receive quite a few calls from concerned parents whose arms are being twisted by their children. ‘Why would I send my child away for high school?’ is a common question from a parent whose child has found Andover on his own and is trying to convince his parents to allow him to visit,” Fried added.
This year’s Spring Visit Days include a new program for the parents of admitted students. Parents can now attend demonstration classes in the Addison Gallery, Chemistry department and the Peabody Museum.
As in past years, students will shadow current students to experience a day in the Phillips Academy community, and parents will attend panel discussions to hear from students and faculty members.
Sarah Goldenberg, an incoming Lower from Minnesota said, “I think spring visits are a great way to get a sense of the school and the community before coming here as a student, and I have really enjoyed my time at Andover so far.”
Saloni Jain ’13 said, “It is great to have an All School Meeting during the Spring Visit Days because the prospective students can see the spirit of the school as a whole. The admitted students can really experience the student life here at Andover.”
Fried said that most admitted families attend the Spring Visit Days and that over 80% of the accepted students will matriculate.
“I feel satisfied when every family comes away from the revisit experiences with an understanding of the Academy’s programs and values, and a feeling that Andover is a special place,” said Fried.