The Dean's Journal

Welcome to "The Dean's Journal," Jane Fried's personal online journal where she'll share her thoughts on the Andover admissions process and give a glimpse into the world of admissions counselors. If you'd like to comment on one of Jane's entries or have a question, feel free to contact her at jane.fried@andover.edu.

Hitting the Road: Greenwich, CT & The Campus Visit -- 10/29/09

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.

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The Road Less Traveled, Part II -- 10/19/09

Members of the Andover admission office travel great distances to reach out to youth from every quarter. Nowhere in the country do families travel farther to learn about Andover than those who live in the western part of the country. The custom of four- to five-hour drives broadens the audience of my western Evening with Andover receptions, known as EWAs in admission parlance. For example, at my Missoula EWA on October 5, one family drove from as far away as Great Falls. They traveled Route 200, across the Continental Divide, and through Rogers Pass—despite an early snowfall and slippery roads—to learn more about the Academy. How did they learn about Andover and why did they make the trip? In this particular case, a veteran public school guidance counselor took the initiative to share the invitation for the event with the parents of two very bright young ladies whose academic needs and aspirations are not being met in the local, hard-pressed public system. On the advice of an educator who knows both the unmet academic potential of her students and the unique opportunities at Andover, this mother made the long trip to hear about Andover.

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Developing a School List -- 10/15/09

Having gone through secondary school and college admission processes with my own two children, I appreciate the time it takes to research schools. I realize that families’ lives have never been busier and scheduling one more event in an already full calendar is not easy. Still the secondary school search is a moment for students and parents to pause and reflect on not only the family’s values but also the different educational options that exist and the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. Beginning at home with a realistic assessment of the student’s current profile and future dreams is the best first step in the process (see my video journal on developing a school list here). Once the family has an informed idea about what the student needs in a school, the candidate and his/her parents can move on to exploring different school communities and programs.

While a visit to campus is a great way to learn about a school, it is not always feasible. With limited time and resources, prospective families can take advantage of Web sites, publications, and local presentations by admission staff to help educate themselves about the vast array of schools and narrow their list of schools to consider.

The Road Less Traveled, Part 1 -- 10/9/09

Getting to know the country is one of the best things about working in secondary boarding school admissions. Not only have I visited hundreds of schools across the nation but I also have seen a lot of the country itself. While much of my travel takes me to major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, or traditional boarding school locales like New Canaan or Greenwich, CT, I also have the opportunity once or twice a year to reach out to less populated areas where boarding school remains a mystery. Often my responsibility is to “open up” the region. As Dean of Admission, I will make the first trip to identify helpful school and alumni contacts. Other members of the admission office will follow up in subsequent years. This model of balancing the Dean’s efforts among high demand, traditional markets as well as new markets is an effective recruitment strategy.

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Hitting the Road: First Stop, New York City -- 10/1/09

With the new class of students safely tucked into campus, it is time to hit the road to develop the next crop of candidates. While the hustle and bustle of travel has worn thin during my 18 years at Andover, I never tire of the actual work on the road: meeting students and parents as well as teachers and counselors (those dedicated professionals we refer to with admiration as “kid people”). The first trip of the year is generally a visit to New York City schools and talent identification programs. Andover is a founding member of a number of these programs that seek out underrepresented students of color or low-income students. I begin this year’s first trip with a celebratory breakfast in honor of the 25th anniversary of De La Salle Academy, one of my favorite schools on the planet.

When I arrived for my first visit to De La Salle many years ago, I could not find the school. This is a rare occurrence for an experienced admission counselor, for we pride ourselves on being able to locate any school anywhere. I had the address in my hand but it was no match for the name carved into the molding above the front door of the building at the address listed on my itinerary. I walked past the school a few times trying not to look like a lost tourist in the big city. Finally, in frustration, I planted my feet square in front of the steep granite steps leading to the front door with the “wrong” name and stared at the building, which I had discreetly, or so I thought, circumnavigated a few times by now. It was then that I heard a little voice ask, “Lady, are you lost?” “Well I am not sure,” I responded to the petite girl dressed in a neat uniform not unlike one I wore to kindergarten. “I’m looking for a school at this address but not this school,” I said pointing to the name above the door. “Wait up, we have another visitor,” she called to her classmates and teacher who had passed unnoticed behind me as I stood fixed in my trance. She gently took my arm, pointed to the top floor of the building and said, “De La Salle is up there. We go this way.”

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The Joys and Challenges of Opening Day -- 9/21/09

“Go PA, go PA, go PA go!” the Blue Key welcoming committee screams from the corner of Main Street and Chapel Avenue. “Honk if you love Andover!” signals a sign held by one of the spirited leaders who is about take on the responsibility of orienting a group of new students. Family vehicles brimming with duffle bags, backpacks, comforters, and desk lamps file past the crazed upperclassmen and honk with gusto. New students experience the first of many conflicting emotions of the day. Should they duck or wave? While they may feel a twinge of embarrassment by their parents’ enthusiastic toots of the horn, they stare out the windows in awe of their face-painted-tie-dyed-clad big brothers and sisters.

Opening day at school is full of anxiety and expectation. While it is wonderful to see the students we have come to know so well through the admission process, we all recognize the challenges of this particular day. Long drives, heavy lifting, and emotional goodbyes punctuate the schedule. Luckily everyone is so busy setting up their dorm rooms, registering, and attending meetings with administrators, house counselors, and advisors that there is little time to focus on the leave-taking at the end of the day. Still we can read the tense eyes and breathless voices of both students and their parents. This is going to be ok, right?

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All Hands On Deck -- 9/11/2009

“All hands on deck” is the expression we use to signify the first week of the new admission season. Admission counselors and staff know that all vacation needs to be completed by the Monday before Labor Day. We all return to the office ready to recruit the new class to Andover.

Of course, we have spent the previous four months—the time between the April 10 response date for admitted students and August 31, the day we technically begin anew—planning the how, where, when, and why of the upcoming admission season. By the last day of August, our travel schedule is mostly set, the new catalog and application are ready, the Admitted Student Survey results are in, and the numbers have been crunched. We know our direction and our plan.

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