For 9th-Grade Families

Welcome to Andover! The College Counseling Office (CCO) looks forward to supporting your ninth grader and their years at Andover. 

The CCO encourages ninth graders to fully invest in their Andover experience. We hope they lean into the abundant opportunities available to them – academic courses, theater productions, athletics, clubs, and community engagement. There will be so many new resources and experiences, and 9th grade is an excellent time to explore and engage. The CCO encourages students to open themselves to new things and invest in the many new relationships and opportunities. When 9th graders engage fully in the exceptional possibilities at Andover, they present dynamic and authentic narratives to colleges and have a more fulfilling high school experience. The 9th grade year at Andover is the perfect on-ramp for students learning who they are and what they are interested in. 

9th-grade families and students can expect the following programming from the CCO: 

• Fall Athletics Focus Meeting for students who want to learn more about the athletic recruitment process
• Family Weekend presentation for families with an overview of college counseling at Andover
• Spring group meeting for 9th-grade students that provides information about making the most of their time at Andover, course selection, standardized testing, and the CCO timeline
• Spring webinar on College Financing for all families

A note about summer: 

Summer is a time to fulfill family responsibilities, rest and restore, seek joy, and find inspiration in new places. Colleges value a broad range of summer experiences, from summer jobs to volunteer experiences to enrichment programs, especially when students pursue and then reflect on their activities with authenticity. By and large, summer programs at a specific college do not increase admission chances at that college.