@people applying to groton... Did anybody else have an awkward interview at Groton?

I feel like Groton’s interview questions were just a tad bit unusual, and my interviewer wasn’t really trying to engage into the convo even though I was. The interview wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t outstanding either. I would say it was on the better side, but a VERY average one. Did anyone else experience this?

Yes. That was the one place where we walked away with the impression, whether correct or not, that our boy was not getting admitted.

I feel like they have one or two engaging interviewers and the rest are just average.

I had a pretty good interview, my interviewer was the admissions director though

Our take on it was that the class is already a third full with 8th graders. After they fill their spots for legacies, athletes, and URMs, there are few spaces left in such a small school. It also would have been less awkward if the interviewer has bothered to look at our son’s file before the interview.

@Dogmatix I’ve heard they don’t do that as to avoid bias. If anything, they look at super basic stuff. They want to see what you have to say.

It was one of our two favorite interviews. There are others on CC who did not love their interview here. I definitely think the specific AO makes a huge difference and some people just click better.

Examples of the strange questions?

@emmaxiang - don’t take it personally…it is what it is…and if you do get in…do take stock in the vibe of the school, not just the AO - chances are you won’t meet that person again once you are a student. FWIW GolfKiddo ended going to the BS where the AO asked the toughest and most “out there” questions (eg “What would your position be on nuclear disarmament if you were the Chinese member of the UN Security Council”)…Glad kiddo downed that Red Bull before the interview!

The point being is this - just don’t obsess about it and move on to enjoying the calm of the next 5.5 weeks. Again, you will most likely never see that AO again (unless he/her/they greet you on Revisit and then probably don’t even remember you). If that AO happens to also be a faculty member at your school. then don’t take a class with him/her. That old saying you often read on CC, “Love that school that loves you” is very true! :bz

Tough question. If you don’t mind, what school was that at? and how did he respond?

Thanks - responded well I think because the follow-up 6 weeks later was an acceptance. My point in sharing is that sometimes the toughest situations bring out your best.