Hitting the Road: Greenwich, CT & The Campus Visit

October 29, 2009

The week of October 19th took me back on the road to Connecticut and New York City. I made a quick stop at Greenwich Country Day School to talk with parents of eighth graders about the right time to apply to secondary school. Greenwich Country Day is one of a number of independent schools that offers a curriculum through the ninth grade. Given the strength of the school’s program, students really do have the choice of coming to Andover in ninth or tenth grade. There is no “right” answer to this question.

My general opinion is that students should transition when there is a natural break in schooling. Andover’s biggest entering class used to be tenth grade, but this was due to the fact that the nation’s public school system was built around a junior high model (grades 7-9). Now the middle school model (grades 6-8) leads students to make their school transition for ninth grade. Today at Andover the largest incoming class is the ninth grade. We will have about 200 students join us in ninth grade, 70 in tenth grade, 20 in eleventh grade, and 30 as one-year seniors, including postgraduates.

I counsel parents to take seriously their child’s interest in exploring a new educational setting when the child is tugging on the parents’ sleeves. After a brief introduction to the opportunity, students should be able to articulate why it is that they want to consider boarding school. They should be aware that far from going away to school to be “on their own,” boarding schools are communities that require their members to follow rules and participate in making the “village” work. When a student comes to campus for his/her interview, the interviewer will ask questions like, “Why are you interested in the boarding school option?” and “How will you contribute to our community?”

Watch my latest video blog about what to expect during your tour and interview below.

If you would like to schedule an on-campus tour and interview, please call our office at (978) 749-4050. Students who cannot make a campus visit can interview locally with an Alumni Admission Representative.