<p>Hey everyone! Since a few people on this board have been accepted/waitlisted at Groton School I've decided to make a questions/acceptance thread. I'm a current student and will try to answer all questions to the best of my ability. It would be helpful if you put what form you were accepted for followed by your question.</p>
<p>Hi! I was just accepted into the…I don’t know the form term yet, sorry…I’ll be going into 9th grade. I was wondering what you thought of the size. Too small? Do you outgrow it? Any comments on the arts programs there? Also, what is the “pressure” like there? Is it hard having to take 6 subjects (Latin as well) instead of the typical 5? I absolutely LOVED Groton. My other top three are Hotchkiss, Taft, and Choate. I know this may be a lot to ask, but is there any way you could kind of compare it with those schools? If not, I understand.
It also says a lot about the school that a current student was so willing to help! Thank you SO MUCH!</p>
<p>I’m currently in the 8th grade (2nd Form) at Groton, so next year I’ll be in the 9th grade (3rd Form) at Groton. I think that the size is just right, it’s small enough so everyone has a voice and gets recognized but it’s big enough so you don’t feel like “big brother” is always watching you. Rather than outgrow it, Groton nourishes you and continues to let you strive and grow inside its exclusive community. The course load isn’t as hard as its made out to be, its challenging but its definitely not overwhelming (at least in Lower School [8th grade/2nd form, 9th grade/3rd form]); don’t stress it.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can’t compare Groton to the other schools, last school year I was in the 7th grade and Groton was the only school I applied to.</p>
<p>My daughter will be 8th grade next year. Was your 8th grade positive? She is so excited. What do you wish you had known as an incoming 8th grader. Things to bring? And do you go home every long week end or do some kids stay on campus?
Thanks for making yourself available for questions</p>
<p>I loved the 8th grade. It’s really fun and relaxed, sports are chill and school is interesting. </p>
<p>If I were more familiar with the school’s traditions and even daily routines my transition would be much smoother.</p>
<p>I fly home every break, but some of my friends stay on campus or leave with friends. It’s really up to the parents to decide if they want to see their child or leave him/her at school.</p>
<p>List of Essentials for Groton School:</p>
<p>Wall Decor - Mirrors, white boards, flags, pictures, and posters.</p>
<p>Desk Lamp - The room’s light can be dim at times.</p>
<p>Clothes - Of course.</p>
<p>Bins - To store under beds.</p>
<p>Cell Phones - The school’s phones are local-calling only.</p>
<p>Athletic Equipment - Sports are required, so I’d bring trainers, athletic socks, Under Armour, mouth guards, cleats/skates, and equipment for your particular sport.</p>
<p>Hangers - You will NEED these.</p>
<p>School Supplies - Notebooks, paper, binders, backpacks, pens/pencils, rulers, and a calculator.</p>
<p>Lock Box - Just to store large amounts of cash and credit cards.</p>
<p>Pictures - I wish I had something to remind me of home.</p>
<p>Books - Pleasure reads for your free time.</p>
<p>Games - Board games, card games, video games, or something that you can enjoy with your dorm-mates.</p>
<p>Snow Clothes - It snows A LOT there! Bring boots, jackets, gloves, scarves, long johns, goggles, and coats. You don’t wanna be freezin’ while you’re out in the snow.</p>
<p>Bed Linen - Comforter, sheets, cover, extra pillow, and pillow cases.</p>
<p>Formal Clothes - You will need to dress formally often.</p>
<p>Casual clothes - Jeans, khakis, shirts, tennis shoes.</p>
<p>Snacks - Sometimes you’ll just get hungry.</p>
<p>Flashlight - The power has went out once this school year.</p>
<p>Toiletries - Towels, flippers, soap, body wash, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste.</p>
<p>Hair Care - Hair spray, combs, and brushes.</p>
<p>Movies - A fun dorm activity.</p>
<p>Swimwear - We have open-swims at the pool.</p>
<p>Glasses- Contacts, Rx glasses, sunglasses.</p>
<p>Attitude - No one likes a Debbie Downer, be prepared to be positive, fun, snd ready to work!</p>
<p>-I may add some things as they come to me.</p>
<p>I got accepted into third form. C: So I guess I’ll be in the same grade as you if I go.</p>
<p>I’m asking everyone this just to get a sort of a whole idea… what do you think of the food?</p>
<p>Thanks Grotonsmart. Will use your list as a reference. Do you fly UM? Does a Groton rep take responsibility for you or do you fudge your age? My D has no connections and is quite happy to fly alone but technically she is supposed to fly as an UM for the entire 2nd form. Tempted to say she is 14 even though she is only 13</p>
<p>@YellowUbi The food is excellent, it is restaurant quality. Some of it is better than parent’s cooking. I guarantee you it’ll be 100 times better than your current school’s food.</p>
<p>@MDMomofTwo I was in a similar situation as your daughter. Since it would be difficult for me to catch a flight on most airlines I had no choice but to fly through Southwest Airlines. I guess I could bump myself up a year and say I’m 14 even though I’m 13, but the repercussions would probably be high if I were to be caught. I’m assuming you live in Maryland which would probably allow your daughter to fly to BWI. Southwest flies through there and is pretty cheap too.</p>
<p>How do you measure how many times the food is better? I only know qualitative ways like fast food, gourmet etc.</p>
<p>@pulsar: I don’t know about “100 times better”, but my entire family thought that the food at Groton was outstanding. Much better than your average cafeteria. I think they had some great grilled salmon for an entree, with pumpkin mousse for dessert. And this was just a regular day we visited in the Fall, not some special meal trotted out for revisits.</p>
<p>Ah, the ol’ quantitative, qualitative trick. I microscopically measure each food’s calories, serving size, grams of fat, grams of sodium, etc. and then I hand out a survey to over 100 thousand certified epicures and have them rate the food on a 100 point scale.</p>
<p>Then you get a scatter plot like the stock market. Umm… Groton went under my radar but sounds like my kind of place. Good food and pulsar go hand in hand as long as pulsar doesn’t cook it. :D</p>
<p>No we live I’m Florida. MD is what I am. So does Groton take responsibility for signing you on and off the plane? Otherwise how dus you fly?</p>
<p>Oh… I see, sorry for the misunderstanding. Groton does provide students with people to get them in and out of the gate. They will cost you, some of my friends have faculty take them over and depending on the person, it can be from $0 to $100. Now that I think about it, you probably could bump up your D’s age one or two years. One year isn’t enough of a difference for most people to find out if your “fudging” your age.</p>
<p>@SevenDad That was just a hyperbole, I didn’t mean for anyone to take it literally. I agree with you, the food may not be “100 times better,” but it’s better than your average school food.</p>
<p>@GS: I know, I know. I just wanted Pulsar to know that you were on the right track regarding the food at Groton…</p>
<p>Hi GrotonSmart, thank you for your kind offer for us to understand Groton more. My son got accepted for 9th grade. We know you have 27 kids from the current 8th grade will move up to the 9th grade in the fall. Could you tell us more about how the transition process for the new 9th graders to Groton? </p>
<p>Another question is for the long weekend. For kids from other countries or west coast, it is very hard for them to fly back home in such short days. Is school Cafe still open or they have to find the place to eat? Normally what percentage of kids will stay in campus? Are they feel lonely or leftout?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>