Living on Campus

Where will I be living?

You will be living in one of 40 dormitories across the campus, half of the dorms housing boys and the other half housing girls. The size of the dorms varies. Some have as few as 8 students and some as many as 35. The housing assignments are done by the (MS)2 office. Only 3rd year scholars have a preference of what dorm to live in.

Where do boys live? Where do girls live?

Boys and girls live in gender segregated dorms. In addition, boys and girls are never allowed in each other’s rooms during the summer.

Are all the (MS)2 scholars living in the same dorm?

No. (MS)2 scholars live in dorms with Phillips Academy Summer Session students. The Phillips Academy Summer Session has 550 students from 40 different countries and 40 different states who are on campus at the same time as (MS)2 scholars. (MS)2 scholars live in the same dorms as Summer Session students and they have the opportunity to meet other students from around the U.S. and around the world.

Will I have a roommate?

Yes. All first year scholars have another first year scholar as a roommate. After your first year, you may request a single room, request to have another (MS)2 student as a roommate, or request to have a student from anywhere around the world assigned as a roommate.

Can you describe what a typical room looks like?

Since there are so many dorms on campus, describing a “typical” room is difficult. However, each room is similar in size to a small bedroom in a house. Each room has a bed, desk, chair, dresser, closet, and phone.

Are the dorms air-conditioned?

No. The dorms and dorm rooms on campus are not air-conditioned. At the start of the summer, students may borrow a window fan from the summer office or they may purchase one at a local store. However, many of the classrooms where students spend most of the day are air-conditioned.

Are the classrooms air-conditioned?

As mentioned above, many of the classrooms where (MS)2 courses are taught are air-conditioned.

Are there adults in the dorms?

Yes. Every dorm has adults in residence and we call these faculty members House Counselors. They are the adults who have primary responsibility in the dorm for the summer. During the first week of the program, you will get contact information from these adults.

Will I have fun?

One common experience I constantly hear from both current scholars and alumni scholars is that, regardless of the large amount of work they had, they did have fun. The classes are intense and you do spend many hours doing work, but there is time to unwind for the students. There are school-sponsored activities on and off campus during the weekends and all students participate in afternoon activities after classes. Lastly, some of the most fun experiences that students describe involve spending time with each other.

What afternoon activities are available?

The list of afternoon activities is varied and changes from year to year. Among the activities that have been offered in the past are basketball, swimming, running, tennis, lacrosse, gospel choir, as well as outdoor adventure, social dancing, and physical fitness.

What activities are available during the weekend?

Weekend activities are varied and can include trips to the mall, movies, Boston, and museums. Most weekends there are movies on campus, dances, and performances. In addition to these there are some (MS)2 exclusive activities including ice cream socials, an opening weekend picnic with a volleyball tournament, and Cultural Sharing.

What is Cultural Sharing?

Cultural Sharing is an integral part of the (MS)2 program. Each cultural group represented in the program puts on a performance for the entire summer community. In the performance, they share aspects of their culture.

Can you describe the town of Andover?

The town of Andover is a mix between a small New England town and a suburb of a major city. The town has a population of approximately 35,000. Within a five-minute walk of the campus, you arrive downtown which is comprised of several blocks of shops, restaurants, and banks. When you see the word “downtown” you need to imagine downtown in a small town, not in a big city.

How safe are the campus and the town of Andover?

Both the town of Andover and the campus of Phillips Academy are very safe. There is public safety team on campus which patrols the campus 24 hours a day. Though the campus and town are very safe, we always ask students to use common sense and to walk with other students when traveling on campus and into town.

What is the weather like during the summer?

The weather in New England can change dramatically in a short period of time. Typically, the temperature will be in the high 80s during the day and the high 60s at night. However, the temperature can go as high as the 90s and as low as the 50s. It is also important to note that New England may be more humid than other parts of the country. Students will have to get used to the humidity during the summer. Many students borrow or purchase a fan once they arrive on campus.