How to Get Into Phillips Academy Andover
Key Dates and Information
- Application deadline: February 1, 2025
- Financial aid deadline: February 1, 2025
- Admissions Tests: required for 2024-25 admissions cycle
- ISEE/SSAT for students applying to grade 9 or 10
- PSAT/SAT/ACT for students applying to grade 11 or 12
- Admissions interview: optional but encouraged
- On-campus interview and tour
- Virtual interview
- Personal video submission
- Decision release date: March 10, 2025
Introduction
Phillips Academy Andover is one of the most selective secondary schools in the world. In fact, it is number one on Test Innovators’ Most Sought-After Schools of 2022
It can be daunting to apply to a school with only a 13% acceptance rate, so we’ve created this guide to help you navigate the application process to Andover. Keep reading to learn what you need to do to apply to Andover and to discover resources that will help you during the process.
We recommend using this guide in conjunction with our Admissions Assist Course, which will help you prepare for common student and parent interview questions, articulate why you are a compelling candidate for admission, and gain a better understanding of how independent schools evaluate candidates.
Expert Insight
“[Phillips Andover is] a very warm office and community, and they take our brightest students who tend to have a solid extracurricular that is already developed, whether squash or newspaper/writing or acting. They have also been generous with financial aid.”
— Kaley Bell, Secondary School Advisor at St. Bernard’s School
Application
Andover uses an online application portal called Gateway to Prep Schools.
Applicants will need to submit the following materials before February 1, 2025:
- Candidate Profile on Gateway to Prep Schools
- Application Fee:
- US Applicants: $60
- International Applicants: $125
- Fee waiver available (contact school)
- Academic Performance:
- Official transcript/grade report with grades from the past two years
- Current grades
- Written Materials:
- Application essay and short answer questions
- Graded writing sample: copy of a recent writing assignment that has been corrected and graded by a teacher
- Parent/guardian statement
- Letters of Recommendation:
- Current English teacher recommendation
- Current math teacher recommendation
- Personal recommendation
- Principal/counselor recommendation
- Special interest recommendation (Optional)
- Arts or Athletics Supplement (Optional)
- Admissions Test Scores (Required):
- SSAT or ISEE for students applying to grade 9 or 10
- PSAT, SAT, or ACT for students applying to grades 11 or 12
- Character Skills Assessment (Optional)
- International Students:
- TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores (not required if the applicant’s primary language is English or if the applicant attends a school where the primary language of instruction is English).
Please refer to Andover’s admissions page for the most up-to-date information regarding application materials, requirements, and deadlines.
Admissions Interview
Andover offers both on-campus and video interviews. The admissions department encourages students to complete an interview and either an on-campus or live virtual tour if feasible. Availability for both the on-campus and video interviews is limited, so candidates can instead choose to include a personal video submission with their applications.
Although the interview is not required this year, it can be an important part of the application process for the school and for you. It gives the school the opportunity to get to know who you are beyond your application, and it gives you the opportunity to further explore if the school is a good fit for you. The interview also gives you the chance to distinguish yourself from the sea of other excellent applicants, so it is important to be prepared.
Interviewing, much like test-taking, is a skill that you can learn and improve. Test Innovators’ Interview Prep Course helps you prepare for the interview by practicing common interview questions and teaching you how to present yourself as a strong candidate for admission.
In addition to practicing, it is important to take some time to research the school before your interview. Explore Andover’s course catalog, performing arts programs, and athletic teams. Look for connections to your existing passions and potential new pursuits that spark your interests, and be prepared to discuss these specific offerings.
For example, if you’re fascinated by the night sky and have always enjoyed trips to the planetarium, you might want to tell your interviewer how excited you were to see that Andover offers an astronomy course. If you play the clarinet, you may wish to ask questions about the symphony orchestra, wind ensembles, and private instruction. If you have always wanted to explore the great outdoors but have never had the opportunity, you might mention that the Outdoor Pursuits program is a big draw for you.
Please refer to Andover’s admissions page for the most up-to-date information and deadlines.
Admissions Tests
Andover will be will be returning to required standardized testing for Fall 2025 applicants and beyond. Students must submit scores from the following admissions tests in support of their applications:
- Students applying to 9th grade or 10th grade can submit scores from the SSAT or ISEE
- Students applying to 11th grade, 12th grade, or the postgraduate program can submit scores from the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
Check out our SSAT Prep Guide to learn more about the SSAT and our ISEE Prep Guide to learn more about the ISEE.
Want to get a top score?
Take a small-group class to learn key strategies and boost your knowledge!
Financial Aid Application
Andover is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for each of its students. Overall, 47% of students receive financial assistance and 14% of students receive full scholarships. All financial aid is allocated in the form of grants, which do need to be repaid.
Andover has a need blind admissions policy, which means that students’ financial needs are not a factor in admissions decisions. Andover therefore encourages students to apply regardless of their families’ ability to pay the full cost of tuition.
Financial aid applications are now submitted and processed through Clarity and are due with the general application by February 1, 2024. The fee to submit the application is $60. Please refer to Andover’s financial aid page for the most up-to-date information, as well as detailed instructions on how to submit your application through Clarity.
International Students
Andover welcomes international applicants as part of its commitment to educating “youth from every quarter.” Currently, 15.7% of Andover’s student body is international and includes residents of 47 different countries.
The TOEFL iBT, the IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test is required for international applicants unless they speak English as their primary language or attend a school where English is the primary language of instruction. Typically, admitted students score above 100 on the TOEFL iBT, an average of 7.5 on the IELTS, or 125 on the Duolingo English Test.
International students applying for financial aid should submit the International Student Financial Aid Form and supporting documents directly to the Andover Financial Aid Office.
Day vs Boarding
*New* Students are able to choose whether to apply to Phillips Academy as a day student or as a boarding student, without restriction. Your choice is a one-time-only option that must be made when the application is submitted to the admission office.
Athletics
Applicants who are interested in competing on one of Andover’s sports teams should fill out the Prospective Student Athlete Form. During the admissions process, prospective student athletes will have the opportunity to discuss the athletic program in more detail with the admissions office and relevant coaches.
Andover has varsity teams for the following sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country
- Cycling
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Indoor Track
- Lacrosse
- Nordic Skiing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
Andover also offers a wide range of intramural sports and other athletic and recreational activities for students who are not competing at the varsity level, including:
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country Skiing
- Dance
- Double Dutch
- FIT (Fundamentals in Training)
- Hockey
- Golf
- Hockey
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Pilates
- Skating
- SLAM (Step Team)
- Soccer
- Squash
- Swim
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Yoga
This list is a great place to draw inspiration for your admission interview and application essays.
For more information about Andover’s athletic programs and facilities, please visit the Andover athletics page.
Arts
Andover also offers a wide range of artistic opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.
Browse this list for inspiration for your interview, application essays, and special interest letter of recommendation.
Music & performing arts
- Academy Symphony Orchestra
- String ensembles
- Academy Chamber Orchestra
- Amadeus Chamber Ensemble
- Corelli Chamber Ensemble
- Wind ensembles
- Concert Band
- Jazz Band
- Faculty-coached chamber music ensembles
- Vocal
- Phillips Academy Chorus
- Fidelio (a capella)
- Gospel Choir
- Private music lessons
- Theatre
- 6 mainstage-productions a year
- Coursework in performance, directing, and technical theater
- Dance
- Andover Dance Group
- Coursework and student groups
- Student groups and clubs
- Hypnotiq (hip-hop dance)
- Blue Strut (modern dance)
- KeyNotes (inclusive a capella)
- Azure (all-girls a capella))
- Yorkies (all-boys a capella)
- Footnotes (tap dance)
- Andover Dance Group (modern, jazz, classical dance)
- Drumline (marching and spirit hype)
- SLAM (step team)
- Handbell Choir (bells in Cochran Chapel)
Visual Arts Coursework including art history, drawing & painting, sculpture, weaving, and architecture.
For more information about artistic opportunities at Andover, please visit Arts at Andover.
Conclusion
It can be challenging and stressful to navigate the admissions process at selective schools like Phillips Academy Andover. However, with the proper preparation you can achieve higher test scores, write compelling application essays, and interview confidently. Test Innovators is here to help you prepare for every step of your admissions journey so that you can put yourself in the best position to succeed.
Preparation Resources:
- Enroll in our Upper School Admissions Prep Courses
- Start preparing for the SSAT
- Start preparing for the ISEE
- Start preparing for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT
- Learn more about Phillips Academy Andover
Originally published on October 28, 2021. Updated on June 25, 2024.
