<p>I know on the website it says there were almost 1200 applicants etc but I am sure that is total. People here so often comment on the deep pool, my daughter really likes what she has seen so far, and now is thinking of applying for grade 8 rather than waiting until grade 9 for Groton, and if she doesn't get accepted casting her wider net, before grade 9. And then applying to the other schools she thinks would work well with her personality and desires.</p>
<p>What I am wondering though, is how many applicants are normal for second form? And should we plan to interview at a second school for grade 8 just so she can practice? There is one other school on her list I think she would be happy to attend that has a grade 8 as well, but so far we are leaning toward just one application for the first year.</p>
<p>I believe that there were 1200 total applications this year and I’m not sure how many would have been for second form. It sounds like you have the right approach in applying for the second form and if that doesn’t work out then applying to more schools for 9th grade. Since each school’s interview is so different I’m not sure that it is worth the trouble to interview at a school that your child isn’t interested in attending.</p>
<p>My kid did this exactly–applied to Groton for eighth, was waitlisted and applied again to Groton and other schools in ninth. I wouldn’t worry about practicing. If I had to do it again, honestly, I’d encourage my kid to just wait until ninth to apply. So many other possibilities open up that year that the chances of finding that elusive good fit are much higher. Groton’s a wonderful place, but has a very distinctive kind of community that is not for everyone. It’s really only by visiting and interviewing at a variety of places that kids can start to get a sense of what feels right for them.</p>
<p>You may want to do a search on this forum as I remember seeing the topic discussed.
Others have said that Groton takes 25-27? 8th greaders, competition is tough as many siblings and legacies, etc and recommended to applying junior BS eg Eaglebrook? if 8th grade boarding is desired.</p>
<p>My son is currently in the 8th grade at Groton. Because most boarding schools no longer have 8th grade fewer families know about the 8th grade option and in the past there have been fewer applicants for the number of spaces than compared to the traditional 9th grade starting year. Competition however remains extremely competitive. This year there are 31 students in the 8th grade. Almost all that are accepted enroll in the school because there are simply not many other boarding options for the 8th grade. The school does not release the number of applicants per grade. There are a number of legacies, siblings and faculty children in the current 8th grade class and the school as a whole. My son did apply to a junior boarding school as a safety school and for practice, however, in hindsight the practice was not necessary. The admission offices at the top schools have been doing interviews for so long that they have it down to an art. They know what they are doing to get the information that they need from the applicants. Groton will also use the 8th grade for some students to repeat. That is, the student will apply for 9th grade and the school will accept them if they agree to repeat 8th grade. Other boarding schools do this as well with either 8th or 9th grades. The 8th grade program is great. Groton is very small compared to other schools and the 8th grade program is only about 1/3 the size of the other grades at the school so the 8th grade students really get a lot of attention and really bond as a group.</p>
<p>I have a little experience in knowing how tough Groton eighth grade really is. I was waitlisted, and it was the only school I applied to. To be honest, I know that I make a perfect candidate. I know that many second formers are faculty kids, legacies, and siblings, and I’m sure they’re all amazing kids, and there just isn’t room for all the kids that would fit. It is really tough, but I say go for it, because Groton is a truly amazing school. Good luck!</p>
<p>I applied to the 2nd form at Groton this year and was accepted. I felt like it was a wonderful school and I would definitely recommend it to future applicants. However, as classicalmama noted earlier, Groton has a very unique kind of community that is not perfect for every applicant. For that reason, I’m not going to be attending Groton next year. Instead, I’m attending another school(as a ninth grader) that I feel is the better school for me. So, my recommendation is that unless you are 100% sure that Groton is the best school for you, wait until the ninth grade to apply, consider other schools as well, and see if you don’t find another school that is a better fit.</p>
<p>Please see my message in the other thread (Applying to Groton for 8th grade…???) for more detail on this misconception, but let me say again that there are usually very few faculty children in any class, let alone the 8th grade. Last year was a rare exception, but it really seems to have shaped people’s views.</p>
<p>Legacies? Well, just like any private school, Groton has it’s share of legacies, but none are shoo-ins. In fact, I would guess that it is harder for a legacy to get into a boarding school than a day school. There is no “inside track” for legacies to go to Groton in 8th grade. Without a doubt, most students at Groton, no matter what their story or background, come in 9th grade.</p>
<p>Siblings? Siblings are liked by all private schools because it makes life easier on families, but this is a much smaller concern than the typical applications materials: scores, grades, interest, and general fit. Again, boarding schools probably take fewer siblings than day schools.</p>
<p>Kudos to Grisom123 for knowing what he wants (or doesn’t want). My advice to everyone out there is to visit all the schools that interest you, ask questions, and–if the place seems right for you–apply! And to Stargirl 3, hang in there. You seem motivated enough to be successful wherever you go to school. Good luck next year!</p>