To get into Andover, a student submits a complete application by February 1, 2027 for fall 2027 entry: a Candidate Profile, one standardized test, a graded writing sample, an essay, a short video, a parent statement, grades, and four recommendations. The school says it has no minimum grade or score requirements. It also says the average Andover student maintained an "A" average at their previous school.
What the school says it looks for
Andover does not publish a formula. The pages we reviewed say:
- The admission committee has "no minimum grade or score requirements for acceptance."
- The average Andover student kept an "A" average at their previous school.
- Standardized testing is required.
- Admission is need-blind.
For fit and culture, read the school's own material and compare with other schools using the school fit page. The school's admission page describes about 1,169 students from 53 countries and 41 U.S. states and territories in what it calls a typical year.
Which grade to apply to
Andover takes new students in several grades. The school's FAQ says more than 200 new ninth graders join each year, along with about 85 new 10th graders, 20 to 25 new 11th graders, and 30 to 35 new seniors and postgraduates. Most openings are in ninth grade. Gateway lists grades 9 through postgraduate for boarding and day.
Steps in order
- Visit. The school encourages an on-campus or virtual tour. The Visit page lists Discover Andover events on October 24, November 14, and December 5, 2026 (on campus, 9 to 11 AM) and January 7, 2027 (virtual, 7 to 8 PM EST). Register for only one. Student-led virtual tours are listed on November 4, November 21, December 9, and December 12, 2026, and January 9 and January 20, 2027.
- Submit the Candidate Profile on Gateway to Prep Schools. Portal login arrives by email about 24 hours later.
- Choose day or boarding. The school says this is a one-time-only choice, not restricted by geography.
- Take one test. The Upper Level SSAT, Upper Level ISEE, PSAT, SAT, or ACT. See the SSAT and ISEE guide.
- Add an interview option. On-campus, virtual, or a recording, through January. See the interview guide.
- Complete the documents. Graded writing sample, essay response, parent statement, and video response. See the essays guide.
- Line up recommenders. Four are required, and the English and math recommendations must come from current teachers.
- Send grades. The first term of the current year plus the two prior years. Grade 12 and postgraduate applicants send a complete transcript.
- Apply for aid if needed by February 1. See the financial aid guide.
After you apply
The school's FAQ says its decision release date is March 10. It gives no year, so confirm the date for your cycle in the portal. It also does not state a reply date on the pages we reviewed, so check your decision letter.
Students placed on the waiting list are not ranked. Andover says each confirmed candidate "has an equal opportunity for consideration" for the grade applied to, and a student could come off "as early as April or as late as August." You must return the waiting list reply form to keep your place.
Day or boarding
Applicants indicate whether they are applying as a boarding or day student, and the school says the choice is a one-time-only option made at submission, with no geographic restriction. Tuition differs: the Tuition and Financial Aid page lists 2026-27 tuition of $79,800 for boarding and $63,840 for day. Talk through the choice as a family before you submit, because the school says it cannot be changed afterward.
Is Andover the right fit
Getting in is one question. Whether your child will thrive there is another. A school with more than 300 courses, according to its admission page, and a full residential life suits a student who wants breadth, independence, and a busy schedule. A student who prefers a smaller, quieter setting may do better elsewhere. Visit if you can, listen to current students on a virtual tour, and compare at least two other schools on the same questions: how far from home, how much choice in courses, how much support, and how the family will handle the tuition and travel.
What to do over the year
The school sets no minimum, so the useful preparation is steady and ordinary: strong work in current classes, teachers who know your child well, reading, and an activity the student cares about. Do not add things to fill a list. For the month-by-month plan, see the Andover admissions timeline and the application guide.
Common mistakes
- Assuming test scores decide the outcome. The school publishes no cutoff and reviews a full file.
- Choosing a former teacher for the English or math recommendation. The school requires current teachers.
- Treating day or boarding as changeable. The school says it is a one-time choice.
- Missing the aid timing. Aid is requested in the initial application year.
- Relying on third-party acceptance numbers. See the acceptance rate guide for what the school has published.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do you need to get into Andover?
Andover says its admission committee has no minimum grade or score requirements. The school's FAQ says the average Andover student maintained an "A" average at their previous school.
What is the Andover application deadline?
The deadline for Fall 2027 entry is February 1, 2027, for both the admission and financial aid applications. The school's FAQ gives March 10 as the decision release date.
Do you need a test score to apply to Andover?
Yes. The school says standardized testing is required, and applicants may submit one of the Upper Level SSAT, Upper Level ISEE, PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
Can you apply to Andover as a day student?
Yes. Applicants choose day or boarding, and the school says the choice is not restricted by geography and can be made only once.
Getting help
If you want structured support with preparation, see the programs page.
Sources
- How to Apply, Andover admission
- Admission FAQs, Andover
- Andover FAQs
- Admission, Andover
- Visiting Andover
- Andover's Waiting List: Commonly Asked Questions
- Gateway to Prep Schools
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