How to Visit, Interview & Apply

Current students check in prospective students at a table with nametags

Admission Process

This section of our website aims to give you a clear and complete description of the application process. The first step in the application process is to complete the Candidate Profile, a common biographical form that you can elect to share with over 50 schools who are members of the Gateway application consortium. Within 24 hours, the Gateway application system will process your Candidate Profile so that you can access the visit schedule online.

Most of our interviews take place on campus and are preceded by a student-led tour. Prospective students who would like to apply for entry in September 2026 can schedule an interview on campus for the fall after completing the Candidate Profile. Instructions for requesting a remote interview can be found below.

Applications for enrollment in the fall of 2026 are due on January 15, 2026. The application fee is $50. If your financial circumstances make it difficult to pay this fee, email us or give us a call.

You may access "Finding Your Way", a recording of our webinar about the application process by clicking here.

Applying to independent schools can seem like a daunting set of tasks, but we are here to help. If you have any questions, please feel free to email our office (admission@groton.org) or give us a call at (978) 448-7510.

The Inquiry Form

Complete our inquiry form to join our mailing list and learn about events that may be happening in your area. The information you provide will help us connect you with people at Groton who share your interests.

If you would like to provide more detailed information to our coaches and/or arts directors you can also complete these forms:
Athletics Interest Form
Performing Arts Interest Form

1. The Candidate Profile

2. Campus Tours and Interviews

Interviews

To schedule an interview, prospective students should first complete the Candidate Profile. Within 24 hours of submitting your Candidate Profile you will receive an email that provides you with a link to your application portal and your login information. In the portal, you can schedule a tour and interview and send additional documents. An individualized student-led tour immediately precedes the interview.

Remote Interviews

The remote interview is conducted via video chat. Remote interviews are offered because Groton recognizes that there are various reasons why candidates for admission may not be able to travel to our campus. If you are certain that you will not be visiting campus during the year ahead, we strongly encourage you to interview remotely during the summer.

To schedule a remote interview, prospective students should first complete the Candidate Profile. Within 24 hours of submitting your Candidate Profile you will receive an email that provides you with a link to your application portal and your login information. In the portal, you can request a remote interview and submit additional documents. During the school year, opportunities to interview remotely are limited and, in many cases, require testing to demonstrate proficiency in English.

As the year progresses and more and more remote interview slots are filled, it is a good idea to submit more pieces of the application before requesting a remote interview. Test scores and grades are particularly helpful. Applicants who submit their request for a remote interview after January 1, must submit the results of their standardized test (SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT).

Video Introductions

You can help us get to know you by submitting a video introduction of yourself. We prefer video introductions that are simple statements of your interests and aspirations rather than a presentation that is extensively rehearsed or edited. Its length should not exceed five minutes. It is perfectly acceptable to send us a "selfie-style" video recorded on a phone! A video introduction can serve as an alternative to an interview.

Please click here to share your video introduction.

3. Standardized Tests

Groton School requires applicants to submit standardized test results. For entry in 2021 and 2022, this requirement was suspended because of health concerns at testing sites. Standardized test results are one of many factors that help admission offices determine whether or not a school is a good fit for an applicant. Transcripts, recommendations, test results, and the Candidate Statement are all important in assessing an application.

Without test results, great applicants may be overlooked. When admission counselors are unfamiliar with an applicant's school, test results help to contextualize an application. Testing helps us fulfill one of our primary objectives: enrolling a diverse and talented student body. Some see standardized testing as a barrier preventing access to a great education. We see testing as a means to overcome barriers such as incomplete recommendations and grade inflation. Standardized testing helps applicants from many different backgrounds become students at Groton School.

Through the years, the majority of admitted applicants have submitted test scores that are quite strong, but this is certainly not true for everyone. Test scores are evaluated with consideration of each applicant's educational background. They are only one of many factors considered in an application to Groton.

The Enrollment Management Association and the Educational Records Bureau provide schools with fee waivers for the SSAT and the ISEE. Groton considers fee waivers to applicants who complete a Candidate Profile, submit a financial aid application through Clarity, and request a fee waiver via email (addressed to admission@groton.org). Household income for the previous year should be stated in the request. Requests sent after November 1 should also include the previous year's grade transcript.

You may take the SSAT or the ISEE. For more information on testing dates and sites, visit www.ssat.org and www.erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb/. Be sure to list Groton's code when you register for the SSAT (3598) or for the ISEE (220930). 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 Second Form (8th grade) may take the middle or upper level SSAT. Students applying for Third Form (9th grade) may take the upper level SSAT. Students applying for Fourth Form (10th grade) or Fifth Form (11th grade) may submit test results from the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or upper level SSAT. All grade levels may take the ISEE test.

English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, and you have not been studying in a school where English is the primary language of instruction for the past two years, you should also take an English language proficiency test. We accept results from Duolingo test, TOEFL iBT, and IELTS. International students admitted to Groton tend to score above: 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 7.5 on the IELTS, and 125 on the Duolingo English Test.

Groton Testing Codes: Please use these codes to have the score reports sent directly to Groton.
SSAT - 3598
ISEE - 220930
TOEFL - 8224

4. Recommendations

Groton applicants use the Gateway to Prep Schools online application for 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.

Recommendation forms will be available in October.

5. Complete the Application

To complete an application, you must submit all forms to the Admission Office by January 15, 2026. Groton uses the Gateway To Prep Schools, an online application system. With the exception of applications submitted through community-based organizations, applications to Groton must be submitted electronically through the Gateway application system. Samples of these forms can be found below. You can access the Gateway platform and all the forms here.

Candidate Profile - should be submitted to initiate the application process.
Candidate Statement
Parent Statement
Principal/Counselor Recommendation
Current Academic Year Grade Report and Previous Grades - No application can be considered complete without a transcript that 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.
Test Score Report
Multimedia and Additional Documents (voluntary) - You may provide links to athletic or musical performances, artwork, or any other supplemental information through your Application Portal. 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. You may also upload other documents here. Please note that we strongly prefer to receive grade reports directly from schools. Please do not email multimedia and additional documents to members of the admission team.
Clarity Financial Aid Application - Only for Families Seeking Financial Assistance. Deadline, January 15 2026.

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.

Groton School is proud to partner with organizations such as A Better Chance, Beacon Academy, Prep for Prep, the Wight Foundation, Inspiring Young Minds, and New Jersey SEEDS. Community-based organizations like these target deserving students from low-income backgrounds and guide them through the application process.

Click here for more information on applying to Groton through these community-based organizations.

Questions?
Contact us at 978-448-7510 or admission@groton.org

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