How to Apply

List of 6 items.

• 1. Complete the Inquiry Form

  If you would like to schedule a visit or simply receive information about Groton, complete our online inquiry form.

• 2. Tours, Information Sessions, and Interviews

  We are opening our campus to visitors this year, but we are taking some precautions due to the pandemic.
  
  A campus visit involves taking a self-guided walking tour of the campus, which includes accessing videos along the tour route that have been produced by our students. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet with an admission counselor. All visitors to campus must be fully vaccinated with an authorized COVID vaccine and provide proof of vaccination upon arrival. 
  
  Information sessions are online interactive meetings between current Groton students and prospective applicants. It’s a good idea to prepare some questions in advance of your information session. We hope you will engage in conversation because we would like to get to know you, but you can also hang back and ask questions via the chat function if you prefer. Visiting the school is great, but hearing from a number of Groton students may be an even better way to get a sense of our community! 
  
  

  We advise applicants to review our website before interviewing, but an information session can be helpful either before or after an interview.

   

  We cap the number of families attending each information session so if you make an appointment and then realize you cannot attend, please let us know.

   

  The admission interview is a one-on-one meeting via Zoom between an admission counselor and an applicant, followed by a meeting with parents or guardians who may have questions about Groton and the admission process.  Interviews will not be conducted in-person this year.
  
  Please complete the Admission Inquiry Form before, or right after, you have registered for an interview time. We also ask that applicants explore our website to learn more about Groton before the interview.
  
  To reserve an appointment for a campus tour, remote interview or information session, please click here. 

• 3. Complete the Candidate Profile

  The Candidate Profile offers admission candidates a convenient way to provide biographical data to numerous schools with one form. You may access the Candidate Profile online through our website or by visiting the Gateway to Prep Schools www.gatewaytoprepschools.com, an online application system created by Groton School, Deerfield Academy, The Hotchkiss School, Phillips Academy and St. Paul's School.
  
  At Groton, we would prefer that you submit the Candidate Profile online.

• 4. Standardized Tests?

  Groton School is test optional for applicants applying for entry in fall of 2022. All applicants must provide a sample of recent work from their mathematics and English classes but they need not submit results from a standardized test. 
  
  If you want to provide standardized test results, the SSAT exam is preferred, though you may take the ISEE in place of the SSAT. For more information on testing dates and sites, visit www.ssat.org and www.erbtest.org. Be sure to list Groton's code (3598) when you register for the SSAT or 220930 for the ISEE. We can only accept scores directly from the testing services. The November or December test dates are preferable; the January date is acceptable. Students applying for Fifth Form may submit test results from the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. 
  
  If you have not been studying in an English speaking school for the last two years, you should also take an English language proficiency test.  Duolingo test, TOEFL and IELTS are accepted.  Groton's TOEFL code is 8224.

• 5. Recommendations

  Groton applicants will use the Gateway to Prep Schools on-line application for the recommendation forms. To access the Gateway recommendation system you must submit the Candidate Profile. Completing recommendations online through the Gateway system is a simple and secure process for you and your teachers. Your first step is to ask people if they will recommend you. If they agree, ask them for their email addresses. You will then enter those addresses in the recommendation section of the Gateway application so your recommenders will receive the forms via email. We advise recommenders to print copies of their recommendations before submission. These copies may be accepted by schools outside the Gateway consortium because the Gateway recommendation forms ask the same questions as recommendation forms used by boarding schools across the country.

• 6. Complete the Application

  To complete an application, you must submit all forms to the admission office by January 15, 2022. A complete application includes the following online forms:
  

  • Candidate Profile - should be returned with the application fee to initiate the application process.
  • Candidate Statement
  • Parent Statement
  • School Report
  • Transcript - No application can be considered complete without a transcript which includes grades from the first marking period of the current school year and grades from the past two school years.
  • Current English Teacher Recommendation
  • Current Math Teacher Recommendation
  • Personal Recommendation - The Special Interest Recommendation may be used in place of, or in addition to, the Personal Recommendation.
  • Special Interest Recommendation - The Personal Recommendation may be used in place of, or in addition to, the Special Interest Recommendation.
  • Graded Writing Sample - We prefer non-fiction papers written during the current school year.  Papers should be written in English.
  • Graded Math Sample - Provide a recent graded mathematic assessment (test or project) and explain your approach to the most challenging problem. 
  • Test Score Report (optional)
  • Arts or Athletics Multimedia (voluntary) - You may provide links to athletic or musical performances, artwork, or any other supplemental information through the Additional Information section of the Candidate Profile online. We do not accept original artwork, CDs or DVDs. Do not delay the submission of your Candidate Profile because you are waiting for multimedia to be prepared. In the additional information section, please indicate that a link will be provided later. Email us your link at admission@groton.org. You must write your name and the words "SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION" in the title of your email.
  • Parent Financial Statement - For Financial Aid applicants only. Deadline: January 15, 2022.

  The School reserves the right to request additional information, including complete files from schools attended. 
  If your financial circumstances make it difficult to pay the application fee, please call us at 978-448-7510.