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Andover Admissions Timeline for 2026-27: Month by Month

Month-by-month Andover admissions timeline for fall 2027 entry: visits, interviews, testing, the February 1 deadline, and March 10 decisions.

Published

Andover's 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry) is built around two dates published on andover.edu: the application deadline of February 1, 2027, and a decision release date of March 10. Everything else, including visits, interviews, testing, and recommendations, has to fit before February 1. Interviews run through January, so the real working window is now through the winter.

This guide is for families applying to Andover for fall 2027 entry. It lays out the cycle month by month using only dates the school states. Where the school does not state a date, the guide says so and tells you where to check.

What the school has fixed

  • Application open: the application for fall 2027 is available now. The school's site does not give an opening date.
  • Interviews: conducted through the month of January.
  • Application deadline: February 1, 2027. The financial aid application deadline is the same day.
  • Decision release date: March 10. The school's admission FAQ gives no year, so read it as the March 10 that follows the February 1, 2027 deadline and confirm on the school's admissions site.
  • Financial aid decisions: communicated March 10.
  • Reply date for admitted families: not stated on the pages we checked. Check the school's admissions site and your decision letter.

October 2026: start the application and book your slot

The first step is the Candidate Profile (Part One), completed on the Gateway to Prep Schools website. About 24 hours after you submit it, you receive an email with login credentials for the Andover application portal. That portal is where you schedule an interview and submit the short video response. You cannot schedule a tour or interview until the Candidate Profile is submitted, so this is the step that unlocks everything else.

Family events: Andover lists a Discover Andover event on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Events on campus run from 9 to 11 a.m. unless noted otherwise. Space is limited, and the school asks each family to register for only one Discover Andover date.

Also in October: decide whether the student will apply as a day student or a boarding student. The school describes this as a one-time-only choice made when the application is submitted, with no geographic restriction.

November 2026: tours, testing plan, and first drafts

Andover lists these dates:

  • Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00 p.m. EST: virtual tour led by current students.
  • Saturday, November 14, 2026: Discover Andover.
  • Saturday, November 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. EST: virtual tour.

The school encourages every applicant to take an on-campus or virtual tour if able. A tour is not a substitute for the interview, which is a separate step.

Testing: Andover requires one standardized test. Accepted tests are the Upper Level SSAT, the Upper Level ISEE, the PSAT, the SAT, or the ACT. The ISEE's 2026-27 guide says students may take it once per testing season, with a fall season of August through November and a winter season of December through March. If you plan to take the ISEE, that means choosing the fall or winter sitting deliberately. For SSAT dates, check the SSAT's own test calendar.

This is also the month to ask the English teacher, math teacher, and counselor for recommendations. The school requires the teacher recommendations from the student's current teachers.

December 2026: interviews and the writing components

Dates the school lists:

  • Saturday, December 5, 2026: Discover Andover.
  • Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m. EST: virtual tour.
  • Saturday, December 12, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EST: virtual tour.

Interview appointments are added on a rolling basis. Choose from three formats: on-campus interview, virtual interview, or interview recording. Book as early as your Candidate Profile allows, since appointments are added on a rolling basis and the window closes at the end of January.

December is also the month to finish the written pieces: the graded writing sample, the essay response, and the parent or guardian statement, all submitted through Gateway. The school does not publish the essay prompts or word limits on its public pages, so read them inside your Gateway account.

January 2027: the last interview month

  • Thursday, January 7, 2027, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST: virtual Discover Andover.
  • Saturday, January 9, 2027, 9:00 a.m. EST: virtual tour.
  • Wednesday, January 20, 2027, 7:00 p.m. EST: virtual tour.

The school says interviews are conducted through the month of January, so January is the end of the interview window. If you have not interviewed by mid-month, schedule now. Reminders about missing items come from the school closer to February 1, but do not wait for them.

Check that score reports have reached Andover. The school's codes are SSAT 5758, ISEE 220030, and SAT 0156. Also confirm that grades have been uploaded: the first term of the current school year, plus the prior two school years.

February 1, 2027: deadline

All application parts are due. Families applying for financial aid must also complete the financial aid application by February 1. Andover uses the Clarity Tuition application for this, and the submission fee is $65 per the school's financial aid page.

March 10: decisions

The school lists March 10 as its decision release date and its financial aid award decision date. If a student is placed on the waiting list, the school says the list is not ranked and that students could come off it as early as April or as late as August.

Common timeline mistakes

  • Waiting to submit the Candidate Profile. Interview scheduling, the video response, and the portal all depend on it.
  • Asking a former teacher for the English or math recommendation. These must come from current teachers. A former teacher can write the personal recommendation.
  • Registering for several Discover Andover dates. The school asks for one per family.
  • Missing the ISEE season. Students may take it once per testing season.
  • Assuming a date. The school's site does not state a reply date, so do not assume one.

FAQ

When is the Andover application deadline for fall 2027?

February 1, 2027. The financial aid deadline is the same day.

When does Andover release decisions?

The school's admission FAQ gives March 10 as its decision release date.

When are Andover interviews?

Interviews are conducted through January. Schedule through the application portal after submitting the Candidate Profile.

Is there a reply deadline?

We did not find a reply date on the pages we reviewed. Check the school's admissions site and your decision materials.

Getting help with the work

Families who want structured support with essays, interview practice, or test preparation can look at the AndoverPrep programs page.

Sources

AndoverPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Phillips Academy.