Take Action
Due Date
Submit your LITW Application or Affiliate Expression of Interest via EduCompass, the LITW online portal, by 5 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2025.
On EduCompass, all students—whether applying to a LITW faculty/staff-led program or expressing interest in an affiliate opportunity—must start with the "Main Application for March/Summer/Affiliates" form in order to unlock the chosen program-specific and/or affiliate form(s).
After the Deadline: Students who apply to a Learning in the World program after the application deadline will be placed on the associated waitlist.
Process
Participation
Students may participate in one Learning in the World program per year while they are enrolled at Phillips Academy. Seniors expecting to graduate in June will not have access to programs that take place after Commencement.
Financial Assistance
Andover is committed to offering confidential need-based financial assistance for LITW programming on a per-program basis. To maintain confidentiality, this assistance is managed within the Financial Aid office. Please review the following information, which answers the most frequently asked questions related to LITW financial support.
Financial support toward LITW programming is capped at $9,000 throughout the course of a student’s Phillips Academy career. This amount is sufficient to allow every student the opportunity to participate in at least one LITW program before they graduate, though tuition may vary significantly by program. Affiliate programs may have their own financial assistance, and students should check their program of interest’s website. When available, it is in the student’s interest to apply for financial aid directly with the program by that program’s deadline, to preserve some of their LITW funding allotment.
- First-time participants in a faculty/staff-led LITW program: When a student enrolls in their first faculty/staff-led LITW program, those currently receiving financial aid toward their Andover tuition need to take no action to receive financial support for that program. Financial assistance will be credited to their account automatically, at the same rate of support awarded through Phillips Academy’s Financial Aid application process, when the program tuition installments are billed to the student’s account in the FACTS tuition billing system.
- First-time participants in a LITW affiliate program: In most instances, confidential financial support is available from LITW toward affiliate programming. Affiliate programs may offer their own financial aid or scholarships, and students should check their program of interest’s website for that information. When available, it is in the student’s interest to apply for financial aid directly with the program by that program’s deadline, to preserve some of their LITW funding allotment. It will also be important for families interested in these programs to note whether the tuition includes/excludes travel expenses. When travel costs are not included as part of the program tuition, families will typically be responsible for managing their student’s travel and paying those costs. Since financial aid for affiliate programs can vary significantly, it is important for students to reach out to Mrs. Andréa Prescott Gerakaris of the Financial Aid office ([email protected]) as early as possible to discuss their program of interest and how support for that program is managed.
- Subsequent participation: Students hoping to participate in additional LITW programming of any kind should also reach out to Mrs. Andréa Prescott Gerakaris (see above) to inquire whether any of the funding allotment remains available.
Programs
Performing in the World
The Music and Theatre & Dance departments alternate years offering programs, known as Performing in the World, or PITW. These programs are considered separate from LITW programs in specific ways. First, students do not apply to these programs via EduCompass, but rather they are chosen by the Music and Theatre & Dance departments based on auditions or other performance criteria set forth by the departments. Also, while financial assistance for PITW programs is available and provided in a manner similar to the method described above, PITW programs do not count towards students’ cap for cumulative financial assistance for LITW. Finally, because of the performance criteria for PITW, students are allowed to participate in both PITW and LITW in the same year.
LITW Programs
Students apply to faculty/staff-led programs via EduCompass and rank their choices, up to a total of three faculty/staff-led and/or affiliate programs, in order to make their preferences clear. Program leaders will make selections in consultation with the Dean of Studies, Dean of Students, the Sykes Wellness Center, the Financial Aid Office, and the Bursar’s Office. This sometimes affects eligibility, though we will strive to find a suitable placement for all qualified candidates.
Affiliate Programs
Students intending to pursue a program with one of our affiliates must submit an Expression of Interest via EduCompass in order to receive formal support from Learning in the World. Students will rank their affiliate program choice(s) against their faculty/staff-led program choice(s), if any, up to a total of three faculty/staff-led and/or affiliate programs. Formal support from LITW includes support with visa applications, any required attention before, during, and after programs, as well as financial assistance, as noted in the Financial Assistance section, above. The LITW Director will notify students and their families of their approval or denial to pursue an affiliate program with LITW support the week of December 8, 2025, and approved students must RSVP by December 15, 2025. Once a student has confirmed their intent to pursue an affiliate program, their main responsibility will be to the affiliate organization regarding paperwork, payments, and logistics. Some LITW deadlines still apply—see below.
School Year Abroad
Students have the opportunity to apply to School Year Abroad (SYA) for a full academic year of living and learning in France, Italy, or Spain. It is generally recommended that students do this in their upper year, though some students will participate in SYA for their lower or senior year. (Please note that the Academy does not support the semester option of SYA.) Students wishing to pursue a full academic year with SYA should start with the Affiliate Program Expression of Interest form on EduCompass, as they would for any other LITW affiliate program. Next, students should consult with Mr. Cutler, Director of LITW, and Mr. Rielly, Director of Studies, who can advise them and their families about the potential expectations and requirements of taking a leave of absence from Phillips Academy to participate in SYA. As with all leaves of absence, the Student Response Team (SRT) is responsible for approving a leave and setting conditions for potential return. Financial assistance from LITW covers qualified families’ needs in accordance with their Phillips Academy financial aid agreements. For confidential consultations regarding financial assistance, families should contact Mrs. Andréa Prescott Gerakaris of the Financial Aid office.
Enrollment
The LITW Director will send invitations and waitlist notifications the week of December 8, 2025. RSVPs are due December 15, 2025. Please be ready to make your decision by that time, having fully considered your available financial resources, coinciding or conflicting personal and familial commitments, and other logistical details, such as passport status, immigration status, visa requirements, etc. The RSVP is all that is required to proceed with an affiliate program application (according to the affiliate’s schedule); for faculty/staff-led programs, continue reading.
A non-refundable $200 commitment fee will be billed to the account of every student who enrolls in a PA faculty/staff-led LITW or PITW program, regardless of their financial aid status. This fee may be waived or reduced in a small number of cases, per review of the Financial Aid office. Once students have accepted their invitation to a LITW program, the deadlines to submit payments and the various enrollment forms are as follows:
LITW faculty/staff-led programs
- December 15, 2025: RSVP due
- January 5, 2026: Commitment fee and Form 1 due
- January 16, 2026: First half-payment due
- February 16, 2026: Second half-payment, Forms 2, 2B, and 3 (if applicable) due
If you have specific questions regarding the selection requirements and/or enrollment process for any given program, please be in touch with the associated program leader and/or Director of Learning in the World, Mr. Mark Cutler.