Phillips Academy Andover admissions for Fall 2027 stand out for one thing: the final step asks for a graded writing sample, an essay response, a short video response and a parent statement. The school lists February 1 as its deadline. I've seen families finish the test and the forms and leave the video for the last evening.
Andover Admissions at a Glance
- Application for Fall 2027: available now. The school lists February 1 as its deadline.
- Interview: on-campus, virtual or a recorded interview, conducted through January.
- Test: one of the SSAT (Upper Level), ISEE (Upper Level), PSAT, SAT or ACT.
- Writing: a graded writing sample and an essay response through Gateway to Prep Schools.
- Also required: a short video response, a parent or guardian statement and four recommendations.
- Optional: a special interest recommendation and an arts or athletics supplement.
Andover Admissions Steps for Fall 2027
Andover lays out four steps. Step 1 is the Candidate Profile on Gateway to Prep Schools. Twenty-four hours after you submit it, you receive your login for the Andover application portal.
- Step 2: interview, through the portal's scheduler.
- Step 3: required standardized testing.
- Step 4: the remaining documents, including the writing sample, essay and video.
The school sends reminders about missing items closer to its February 1 deadline. The page does not list a decision date.
The Andover Test Requirement: Which Test to Take
Students submit one of the Upper Level SSAT, the Upper Level ISEE, the PSAT, the SAT or the ACT. Andover gives a code for each, so the testing company can send results directly to Phillips Academy.
The choice is wider than at many schools.
In my experience, families pick the test their friends take. A better approach is to pick the format that your child handles at pace, because the result is a single number that reads across all applicants.
The Graded Writing Sample, Essay Response and Video
The final step lists a graded writing sample, an essay response, a short video response and a parent or guardian statement. The writing sample and the essay come through Gateway to Prep Schools, and the video goes through the Andover portal.
These pieces test different things. The graded sample shows how the student writes for a teacher. The essay shows how the student writes for a stranger. The video shows how the student speaks.
The common weak essay lists activities. A stronger essay picks one scene and lets the reader notice the student's thinking. Students rarely see that difference in their own drafts.
An essay, a video answer and a timed test are hard to judge on your own, because a familiar reader hides the gaps and an untimed attempt hides the pace. Start the combo plan for timed STEM Critical Thinking test simulations and detailed Essay Writing feedback.
Recommendations and Interviews at Andover
Andover asks for four recommendations through Gateway: a principal or counselor, the current English teacher, the current math teacher and a personal recommendation. A special interest recommendation and an arts or athletics supplement are optional.
For the interview, applicants choose an on-campus or virtual interview, or an interview recording. Interviews run through the month of January and appointments are added on a rolling basis.
A multimedia link, such as an art portfolio or a performance clip, can be added to the Candidate Profile.
Planning the Andover Calendar
Work backward from February 1. Submit the Candidate Profile in the fall, book a test date in the fall, and write the essay in early winter. Keep the video for last, since it needs a quiet room and a calm morning.
I've worked with students who wrote a strong essay and then rushed the video. Treat the video as a real piece of work. Practice answering the prompt out loud before you record.
Phillips Academy Andover Admissions FAQ
Q: What are the Andover testing codes?
A: The SSAT code is 5758, the ISEE code is 220030, the SAT code is 0156 and the TOEFL code is 8127. Use the code when you register so the testing company sends the results directly to Phillips Academy.
Q: Which tests does Andover accept?
A: Students submit one of the SSAT (Upper Level), the ISEE (Upper Level), the PSAT, the SAT or the ACT. The choice is yours, and you only need one result.
Q: How do students interview?
A: Applicants choose an on-campus interview, a virtual interview or an interview recording through the Andover application portal. Interviews are conducted through the month of January, and appointments are added on a rolling basis.
Q: What is the graded writing sample?
A: It is a graded piece of writing that the applicant provides through Gateway to Prep Schools. It is one of several items in the final step of the application, listed next to the essay response.
Q: What recommendations does Andover want?
A: A principal or counselor recommendation, a current English teacher recommendation, a current math teacher recommendation and a personal recommendation. A special interest recommendation and an arts or athletics supplement are optional.
Q: Can a testing fee be waived?
A: Yes. Families applying for financial aid can request a standardized testing fee waiver through the application portal, which explains how to make the request.
Q: When does the Andover portal open?
A: You get your login 24 hours after you submit the Candidate Profile on the Gateway to Prep Schools website. The portal holds the interview scheduler and the video response.
Scored Practice for the Andover Test and Essay
Andover reads a test score, a graded writing sample and an essay. Use STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests for timed test simulations with progress tracking and Essay Writing Practice Tests for practice essay prompts with detailed grading and feedback. The combo plan covers both, or compare all plans and pricing first.
