Eager to begin the first day of Spring Visits, around 90 prospective students flooded the lobby of Kemper Auditorium last Friday morning. This year, over 300 prospective students, approximately 75 percent of admitted students, spent a day at Andover.
James Ventre, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, said, “[The Spring Visits have], over the years, become a very popular opportunity for admitted students… I’ll say [it] has to do with students and families really appreciating the culture of different schools and finding where their value structure is consistent to the school with which they’ve been admitted.”
Approximately 50 percent of admitted students had officially enrolled in Andover prior to Spring Visits, said Ventre.
The night prior to the Spring Visits, the admitted students are invited to attend a cupcake social and talent show. The show features performances from all varieties of student talent ranging from a capella groups to “mathemagics’”.
“It’s not an all polished up kind of talent show. It’s meant to be fun and engaging – to give families the sense that we [can have fun], while [being] very dedicated to providing all the substance around curriculum and residential life,” Ventre said.
The Spring Visits include participation in classes as well as various forums. The visits are designed to allow prospective students to gain a sense of the classes and daily life at Andover.
Isabelle Bicks, a prospective Lower, said, “[I liked] sitting in on classes because, when I came to tour [earlier in the year, I had] more of an outside view. When you come back for the visit, you can see more in depth… When I got accepted, I was pretty sure that I was going to come, but [I visited] just to make sure – just to see the school one more time before I definitely said yes.”
Each prospective student followed an Andover student host from second period to the end of sixth period. These Andover students hosts are currently enrolled in the grade in which the prospective student will enter in the fall.
Carra Wu ’17 said, “I always like having a revisit and I apply every year, but I think one of the hard things is you can never predict what your day is going to be like that day. So you could have a test the next period that you really have to cram for or some kind of … class that’s not conducive to having revisits that day.”
During conference period, the prospective students took a mini class without their hosts. These classes, ranging from trying different language classes to looking at the stars in the observatory, showed a wide variety of interesting activities and classes offered at Andover.
Xander Schwartz, a prospective Junior, said, “[I] probably [want to try] the clubs and [see] how many different options there are and how many people can start things. I wouldn’t start anything my first year or two, but when I’m an Upper or a Senior, [I’ll take advantage of] the different options… You can create your own path [at Andover].”
The night prior to the Spring Visits, the admitted students are invited to attend a cupcake social and talent show. The show features performances from all varieties of student talent ranging from a capella groups to “mathemagics’”.
“It’s not an all polished up kind of talent show. It’s meant to be fun and engaging – to give families the sense that we [can have fun], while [being] very dedicated to providing all the substance around curriculum and residential life,” Ventre said.
In addition to the student program during Spring Revisits, a simultaneous parent program is included as well. Parents begin the day with a one-on-one question and answer section with Head of School John Palfrey. They then participate in a “mini-class” where the teachers discuss and display various methods of teaching students.
“[These ‘mini-classes’ are] really fun because we want to give our faculty the chance to get some exposure to our parents, and [a program like this invites] a variety of different faculty from different disciplines to explore with parents the way they approach students in the classroom,” Ventre said.
After the “mini-classes,” parents participate in a variety of forums and panels held by faculty and current students that focus on various aspects of Andover life and education.
Natalie Wombwell, Assistant Dean of Admissions, said, “Parents get to experience a lot. It’s all about the living, the learning and …the student life and extracurriculars as well.”
At the end of the day, parents and prospective students alike gather to listen to a forum regarding the performing and visual arts at Andover. After Spring Visits, still undecided admitted students are required to send in their decisions by April 10 at noon.
“This is an important decision for families to make, and we are very clear in our ambition to provide them with a vision of their future that is authentic and genuine and real and I close every day by saying, ‘We are the Phillipians, we are the big blue and we are here for you.’ That’s my little message and people understand that… This is who we are – we’re not trying to be something that we’re not everyday in our lives here,” Ventre said.
