<p>Hi, I am a current student at Groton. Please ask me any questions you have about life at Groton or applying.</p>
<p>Do you ever wish you had started in 8th grade?</p>
<p>@nerdgeekdork,
Hi, and I’m applying to Groton for the Third Form. Groton is definitely one of my top choices and I have a couple of questions about the place.</p>
<p>1) Does bullying occur at Groton? I know that the kid who killed himself was expelled for bullying.</p>
<p>2) How flexible is Groton’s schedule? Can a student take more than 5 academic classes? Or, can a student take 5 academic classes and still have time to take an art class?</p>
<p>3) If you are a Second or Third Former, what’s it like living in a dorm without any walls?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Please, please, please, be careful what you write about this obviously troubling incident. The student in question was facing disciplinary proceedings, but had not been expelled and there was, so far as I know, no finding with regard to his guilt or innocence of any allegations against him.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom: Understood, but what I continue to be curious about is how life on campus has been affected by the tragedy. I have gotten ZERO feedback/input on this topic from anyone (on the forum or in real life) I have asked… </p>
<p>Also, are students satisfied with the way the admin handled/is handling everything?</p>
<p>I think it’s a good question. I can tell you that my child has been concerned about the dangers to free expression of the anti-bullying law in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>@kraodrawoh,
I definitely agree with you child. I think the anti-bullying law in my home state (MA) is ridiculous. </p>
<p>@dogersmom,
I am interested in this incident b/c I like SevenDad have heard nothing about it. Sure, there was a post about it on CC, but it wasn’t that revealing. So, if anyone goes to Groton could inform us about the incident, that would be great!</p>
<p>@neatoburrito, The students here who were in 8th grade have a tighter bond. Also, they are more familiar with the way of life at Groton, so sometimes it seems like it would be nicer now if I had started in second form. It’s not a pressing issue for me, though, and I haven’t thought about it since you asked(:</p>
<p>@ifax, regarding the student who committed suicide, I think it’s better for everyone if we respect his and his family’s privacy. However, I can assure you that bullying does NOT happen at Groton. Since we are a very small community, we are a lot like a family. Don’t worry, everyone is very nice!
As a third former, I’m not completely sure about how flexible the schedule is. Third formers all take 6 classes - Math, English, Sacred Texts, a modern language, a classic language, Biology or AP Environmental Science, and an art (there are a few options for this). There is a visual arts requirement, but I’m pretty sure that you aren’t required to take an art class every term in upper school. You should probably call the deans’ office to make sure, though.
I’m in third form. It’s great! Previous students write things on the top of the walls, and it’s really cool to read stuff that they’ve written about their lives. It’s very convenient when you want to talk to the person next to you, you don’t have to leave your room. you can just shout over the walls. Sometimes we throw things over the wall (that might not have been the best idea, haha). The downside is that you don’t have a lot of privacy, and that everyone can hear everything you say.</p>
<p>Hi, nerdgeekdork! First of all, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. :)</p>
<p>I have one: what part of your application to Groton do you feel determined the most that you would be accepted? Which part seemed most important?</p>
<p>And, do you know about what is the average SSAT score of a Groton student?</p>
<p>@YellowUbi I was the most confident about my interview. It was the best interview that I had, but the main thing was that I actually enjoyed myself, and I felt like I really expressed myself. That was also what boosted Groton to the top of my list. I think that essays and teacher recommendations are most important, though.
Actually, I don’t know the average SSAT scores, I’m really sorry. I got a 99%, but I know some people who got 80 something or 70 something percent… it doesn’t matter that much. It’s mainly just to make sure you weren’t lying about your grades.</p>
<p>AP environmental science, for 9th graders?! are you taking this class? it sounds pretty cool, can you give a brief like, course summary ? thank you :)</p>
<p>@DiveAlive,
I’ve talked to some of my older sibling’s friends and they AP Environmental Science is a joke. They say it’s the easiest AP, and that their AP Environmental Science teacher gets WAY to political with them. So, when I found that out, my interest in taking AP Environmental Science down.</p>
<p>@nerdgeekdork,
“However, I can assure you that bullying does NOT happen at Groton.” It wouldn’t surprise me that there would be bullying anywhere. Teens are teens after all. Human nature isn’t suspended at any schools that I’m aware of. It makes the school’s handling of the matter look worse to say that there’s no bullying, because the reaction then appears knee-jerk and stridently PC. I personally have great respect for Groton and its leadership, but you can see why others might be concerned in light of the present climate in MA and elsewhere. Why go to school in MA and risk being charged with a hate-crime for causing offense to someone who may just be thin-skinned? Food for thought.</p>
<p>@DiveAlive, AP enviro at Groton isn’t the same as it is in other schools. I talked to my friends who have also taken the course and we’re not learning the same things. AP enviro is probably one of the most challenging courses I’ve ever taken. We do a lot of labs and analyses. We learned about ecosystems and biomes the first term, then this term we’re learning about human demographics and pollution/control. It’s a great class, and it’s really opened my eyes to the world.</p>
<p>@kraordrawoh, life is more complicated than that, you know.</p>
<p>@nerdgeekdork: That was my point exactly 
[Unintended</a> consequences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Unintended_Consequences]Unintended”>Unintended consequences - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>can you please stop ■■■■■■■■? thanks(:</p>
<p>Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to revisit and share your insights. During the application process, you mentioned you had a nice interview, did the tour go well? Did that influence you as well to choose Groton? Also what kind of school did you attend before Groton.</p>
<p>@GladToBeHere, my tour was amazing. My tour guide was really, really nice, and not only that, she really expressed her love for the school. I don’t think the tour really matters; the tour guides don’t write anything unless it was really good or really bad - and don’t worry, you don’t need them to say it’s really good. Before Groton, I attended my local public school. I’m with “blueRaven1” and we both agree. p.s. she types with one had and it gets on my nerves.</p>
<p>What are the kids like?</p>
<p>@GladToBeHere The kids here are all very ambitious and driven, although often in different areas. They’re intelligent, and to me, easier to talk to than a lot of kids at my old school. </p>
<p>Alright. I know what youre thinking. Quit with the viewbook crap, right? Okay, here’s the truth: kids really ARE ambitious. I went to a public school, and most kids didn’t care about anything. However, because people care so much, there’s more pressure to be better. It’s a really good thing in the long run, but I can feel a little uncomfortable at times. As far as friendships go, we’re all so close to one another. There’s something about being only half awake and surround by your friends every morning – they become family, you know? It’s amazing. Sometimes we pretend to be mean to each other, but when anything happens, we’re there for each other. It’s great. I love Groton.</p>