Scholarly Opportunities

At Andover, there’s always a path for further scholarship. IPs—Independent Projects—provide advanced study for students who have exhausted Andover’s standard curriculum.

Abbot Independent Scholars Program

The Abbot Independent Scholars Program (AISP) provides selected seniors an opportunity to work independently with a faculty mentor for course credit. Each project is graded on the standard 0–6 scale by the supervising faculty mentor.

Brace Student Fellows

Each year, a small number of student applicants receive funding from the Brace Center to conduct independent summer research projects in gender studies, including multiracial and multicultural dimensions. The Student Fellows Series is presented in the fall and provides an opportunity for the fellows to share their research findings in a public forum.

CAMD Scholars

The CAMD Scholar Program is an opportunity for selected Phillips Academy students to pursue independent summer research projects related to diversity and multiculturalism. Students work closely with a faculty advisor as well as the program coordinator during spring term to focus and shape projects that will be developed and completed during the summer. CAMD Scholars write a significant research paper in the summer and make a presentation to the PA community during the subsequent school year.

Cum Laude Society

The Cum Laude Society was founded at the Jacob Tome Institute in Maryland in 1906. Its purpose was to establish in American secondary schools an honor organization to recognize and encourage excellence in academic work. The Phillips Academy chapter was established in 1907, and in 1926 Abbot Academy became the first girls' school to establish a chapter. Each year, about 20% of seniors are inducted, based on reason of intellectual curiosity, high scholarship, and good character, into the Phillips Academy’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society. Students are informed at Commencement of their election into Cum Laude.