Groton
W H A T
I F. . .
... there were a school that combined all the advantages of a tightly knit community with the highest standards of academic excellence?
... there were a school where relationships resembled those of an extended family, a place where self-confidence, achievement, and the spirit of discovery were instilled through the deep commitment of one to another, and of each to the whole?
... this “whole� were composed of people from all over America, and indeed the world, because the school was dedicated to offering its benefits based not on material circumstance, but on pure talent?
W H A T I F T H A T S C H O O L W E R E G R O T O N ?
Look closely. Groton is unique. Here, you will find the lasting friendships and dedicated guidance of the small school and the resources, diversity, and curricular opportunities of the larger school. The effect is powerful.
T H E
G R O T O N
C I R C L E
“The life of man is a self-evolving circle, which, from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger circles, and that without end.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Circles”
T H E
G R O T O N
C I R C L E
LIFE AT GROTON REVOLVES AROUND A CIRCLE... A VAST, GREEN EXPANSE RINGED BY DORMITORIES, CLASSROOM BUILDINGS, A CHAPEL, and a vista toward playing fields, woodlands stretching to the Nashua River, and the distant mountains of Wachusett, Watatic, and Monadnock. With its reputation for academic excellence, its heritage of service to the nation, its architecture of Georgian red brick and medieval spires, Groton is grand. And yet the school is not large. It is intimate, an ideal place to start a journey.
We move around the Groton Circle rather than across it.
A Circle is whole. Groton develops complete people,
A Circle is continuous. The circular rhythms of each
This practice transforms the surrounding walkways into
not specialists. Devoted teachers and peers of great
day are engaging, invigorating, and reinforcing. Lessons
paths of communication: an advisee tells an advisor about
promise nurture each student’s academic growth. Our
learned here lead alumni to extend their relationships
a great success on a paper, soccer coaches remind players
sense of family and our enduring traditions help instill
with the school far beyond the commencement
about a departure time, the headmaster compliments a
values. Everyone participates in the arts and athletics,
ceremony known as “Prize Day.” Alumni who return to
prefect for an effective act of leadership.
and many develop exceptional talents. Groton is not a
the Circle for reunions find that many of the traditions
spectator sport. The scale of the school allows for careful
and routines of the past are still important to Groton
attention to the development of each student’s mind,
students today. An education here continues to inspire a
body, and spirit.
life that “rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger
Here, we sense the family spirit of the school. To join this community is to join a group small enough for relationships to be built with all, and large enough to include the many faces of the world. Through his conception of
A Circle is inclusive. The Groton Circle is open. To
the Groton Circle, Frederick Law Olmsted—the great
the northwest we see a majestic long view of the world
American landscape architect who designed New York’s
beyond the school. We feel this openness every day as
Central Park, Boston’s Public Garden, and Stanford
we look to the mountains in the distance and as we see,
University—transformed the grounds of Groton School
right before us, the different faces of people on campus.
into a metaphor that shapes the quality of our experience.
Groton is a diverse community that is welcoming to all people who seek the challenge, growth, and fulfillment of life at Groton.
circles.”
F A M I LY
“To understand Groton one must understand the importance of the family idea…where family life was wholesome and happy [founding Headmaster Endicott Peabody] believed that all would be well with the church and state; where family life was false or untrue or cheap, all human institutions failed. Therefore it was the most natural thing in the world for him to think of his school as being simply a large family…there was an intimacy at the heart of things that was peculiar to the genius of the place. One can never understand Endicott Peabody’s school until he understands this.” - Peabody of Groton: A Portrait by Frank D. Ashburn ’21
F A M I LY
SINCE ITS INCEPTION UNDER ENDICOTT PEABODY, Groton has thought of itself as a family. Groton students know practically everyone on campus, and this familiarity moves relationships beyond respect and tolerance to mutual understanding. People with very different backgrounds and interests become the closest of friends at Groton.
The headmaster and his wife exude the warmth of family;
Like your own family, this community of talented peers and
they know students by name and often stop them in the
knowledgeable, caring teachers cannot help but shape you.
hallway to inquire about a recent game or project. They have
Groton students have played important roles in our nation’s
raised three boys, and they understand that good parenting
history, and many of them have attributed their success in
is part of a good boarding school.
part to the depth of relationships here. In the Groton family,
As in any family, trust is an essential ingredient at Groton; teachers know their students well, and their first instinct
we care about each other, and that does not stop after graduation. A Groton education lasts.
is to trust. The result of these close student-faculty
Daily challenges and opportunities vary for each student, but
relationships is empowerment: the children who enter
shared, predictable experiences open and close each day: the
Groton graduate as young adults who have learned to
peace and reflection found in the Chapel when the entire
collaborate with faculty, seek their advice, and talk with them
community gathers each morning and the bond and reassur-
easily. Groton’s adults help students examine their emerging
ance of the
qualities as leaders and help them realize the value of making
handshake at day’s end in the dormitory. We are a unified
decisions based on principles. These principles may be
family as the day begins and when it is done.
reinforced in a classroom, but more often they are strengthened through ongoing conversations with mentors who care.
What Is a Typical Day Like?
8:30 A.M. ROLL CALL In the distant past, Roll Call involved masters taking attendance. Today, Roll Call is run by the Sixth Form and involves announcements about coming events, special achievements, and other news. The spirit and humor of the school emerge in this relaxed daily gathering.
8:00 A.M. CHAPEL TALKS Four mornings a week, the school starts the day in St.
community. Chapel talks often are personal stories—
John’s Chapel with a service involving silent reflection,
about learning to swim, traveling to Tanzania, living
music, and readings from great spiritual traditions of the
through a hot summer in Chicago, or a Southerner’s
world. The building is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival
adaptation to January in New England—the kinds of
architecture; in such surroundings one might expect
narratives that bring a community closer. The purposeful
to hear an ecclesiastical sermon, but the focus of each
act of “slowing down” through the ritual of communal
weekday morning service is a chapel talk delivered by a
reflection on a topic beyond one’s immediate experience
Sixth Former, teacher, or another member of the Groton
provides a refreshing and grounding start to the day.
F A M I LY
Go to www.groton.org/chapeltalks to find a selection of chapel talks.
Go to www.groton.org/zebratales to meet our student bloggers.
8:45 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. THE CLASS DAY
9:45 P.M. CHECK-IN A Groton ritual for more than 125 years, check-in
10:20 A.M. CONFERENCE PERIOD
is when each dormitory pauses to discuss the day. Dormitories at Groton are named after the
LUNCH
teachers in residence, which shows how much the school values the lessons shared “in loco parentis”
3:45 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. ATHLETICS, THEATER, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
by dorm leaders. At the end of check-in, students shake hands with prefects and the supervising teacher before going to bed. Groton has seventeen
DINNER STUDY HALL
dormitories, and handshaking happens in every one, every night.
Students visit the Headmaster’s House on Thursdays for Parlor, a casual gathering that offers cookies, board games, table tennis, laughter, and a time to relax with Mr. and Mrs. Maqubela.
Temba Maqubela Headmaster
F A M I LY
In July 2013, Temba Maqubela became eighth headmaster of Groton School. A passionate spokesman for inclusion, he inspired the board of trustees to launch GRAIN (GRoton Affordability and INclusion), ensuring that no applicant will be turned away for financial reasons. He also spearheaded GRACE (GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich), a summer program that propels students into higher-level courses and helps them reach their full academic potential. Mr. Maqubela earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. After teaching at Maru-a-Pula School in Botswana and Long Island City High School in New York, he spent twenty-six years at Phillips Academy Andover, where he served as assistant head for academics and dean of faculty. Mr. and Mrs. Maqubela both teach at Groton—organic chemistry and English respectively. They have three grown sons, Kanyi, Pumi, and Tebs. Born and raised in South Africa, Mr. Maqubela was arrested in 1976—while attending his mother’s biology class—and detained for anti-apartheid activities. Later that year, he fled South Africa for Botswana and ultimately attended high school in Nigeria. Mr. Maqubela, his wife Vuyelwa, and their infant son arrived in the United States as political refugees in 1986. Among Mr. Maqubela’s many honors are a White House Distinguished Teacher Award, an MIT Inspirational Teacher Award, the Desmond Tutu Social Justice Award, the University of Kentucky’s Lyman T. Johnson Award for Excellence in Teaching, and his induction into the Northeast Section of the American Chemical Society’s Aula Laudis Society.
The entire community lined up to welcome the Maqubelas to the Groton family in October 2012.
F A M I LY
Residential Life Perhaps nowhere is the feeling of family more apparent at
By Upper School, structures and routines developed in the
Groton than in the dorm. Our dormitories are named
Second and Third Forms have become ingrained, and Fifth
after the faculty members who reside there. Assisting the
and Sixth Form students manage their own time with a great
dormitory head are faculty affiliates and Sixth Form prefects.
deal of independence, a good preparation for college.
Beyond these seniors, Second Formers live with Second Formers, and Third Formers live with Third Formers. Living together in Lower School helps each form bond as a distinct unit. Appropriate to their age, Second and Third Formers lead a more structured lifestyle, with closely supervised study halls and strictly enforced lights-out. Fourth Formers learn to handle greater freedom when they move into smaller dormitories with Fifth Formers and Sixth Form prefects. Privileges increase in the Fifth Form year, and members of the Sixth Form take active roles in running the school.
Dormitories at Groton are comparatively small, ranging in size from twelve to twenty-four residents. While the quality of academic training at the school is superb, Groton recognizes that learning to live away from home with talented peers from around the world is a significant and differentiating part of a young person’s development. The many time-honored traditions and practices of the school’s residential program provide Groton students with a home away from home.
Forms Second Form.......... Eighth Grade Third Form ............. Ninth Grade Fourth Form........... Tenth Grade Fifth Form .............. Eleventh Grade Sixth Form ............. Twelfth Grade
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OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND AT GROTON SCHOOL. Since the school’s founding, its leaders have intentionally limited the student population to ensure the character and impact of a Groton education.
Because of the school’s size, opportunities are
Groton’s early leaders modeled the school on a family,
We view adolescence as a time to explore and discover
plentiful—for scholarship, for friendship, for leadership.
with an emphasis on character and values that continues
new talents, to resist the contemporary insistence on
today. Life at Groton is characterized by a dynamic
specialization. Groton students can do it all.
Our purposeful course of study inspires great young minds. And students really get to know their teachers—that’s possible when classes average eleven students. Students know virtually all their peers too, including those in different forms—a rarity at larger schools. Groton students are bound to become close with people whose perspectives and backgrounds are quite different from their own, and they learn a great deal about themselves through these friendships.
camaraderie of inclusion. We frequently use that word—“inclusion.” In fact, we insist upon that value. It’s hard work to create a school where everyone feels included, but the effort pays off in an intimate community like Groton’s.
Groton has always been known for producing leaders—thanks in part to our size, but also to our unique “prefect year.” Every member of the Sixth Form serves as a prefect in a dormitory, and many also serve as prefects in other areas, such as Admissions, the Chapel,
Exceptional resources combined with the size of
Communications, or the Music Department. All Sixth
Groton’s student body create opportunities for growth.
Formers play a substantive role in shaping the quality
One can be an actor and an athlete, a scholar and a
and direction of life at Groton, and importantly, all of
musician. The whole person develops at Groton.
them learn about their own style of leadership.
Go to www.groton.org/students to see what everyday life is like at Groton.
“Groton is a half-step between your family and the world, a precious interlude, a gentle meritocracy. Most young people are thrown directly from their families into college; Groton cushions the blow. My Chapel Hill dormitory held more students than all of Groton; my class at Harvard Law School was three times larger, Congress is considerably larger. It is easy to lose your way in these larger institutions, and many people do. Fortunately, Groton gives each of us a moral compass that allows us to remain, as our chaplain urges us, “unspotted from the world.” In Harry Potter terms, Groton stays small because it only needs room for Gryffindor, not Slytherin.” - Congressman James Cooper ’72, P ’08, ’14, U.S. Representative, Tennessee
S C H O L A R S H I P
S C H O L A R S H I P
GROTON STUDENTS COME FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, but they share one quality—intellectual curiosity. With an average class size of eleven, each voice is heard. The early years at Groton involve a sequence of required courses that prepare students to think critically, to speak and write clearly, and to compare and reason quantitatively and spatially.
In the later years, students pursue their own interests with
In this age of increased specialization and information
a degree of intensity normally reserved for college-level
avalanche, we hope that our students will develop the power
work. As our students discuss developments in world affairs,
of discernment and the self-confidence to present their
they are developing a foundation in the cultural, social,
opinions. We hope we are still fulfilling Endicott Peabody’s
political, and religious backgrounds of ancient civilizations.
vision: a Groton education prepares people for “the active
Groton students benefit from the STEM approaches infused
work of life.”
throughout math and science curricula, yet also are expected to nourish their intellects with time-tested fundamentals, such as Latin and Greek.
S C H O L A R S H I P
THE HUMANITIES Philosophers of the ancient world and business leaders of the 21st century would agree on the benefits of study in the liberal arts. Coursework in the humanities strengthens the ability to think critically and creatively, express oneself through writing, win an oral argument, and collaborate well. Groton’s courses in literature and history require students to develop an awareness of their own cultural roots. The emphasis on writing and research in these disciplines is particularly noteworthy. Through theses and term papers, Groton students are prepared well for the sort of independent projects faced in college and in the workplace. After studying a classical and a modern language, they graduate with a facility for communication that is useful in our global society. Of greatest importance, perhaps, is the cumulative effect of study in the humanities: heightened curiosity about people and places in the world beyond the Circle.
WHY THE CLASSICS MATTER The study of a classical language is fundamentally different in its approach and goals than that of a modern language. While modern language study concentrates on developing fluency of speech and listening skills, classical language study focuses on the structure of the language itself. It encourages precision with words and offers valuable lessons for close reading and written expression in English. Classical languages also offer unique access to the cultures of Greece and Rome, which form the basis for much of our modern thinking. Go wherever you wish in literature, history, art, architecture, philosophy, government—even math and science—and you often will find that the Greeks and Romans have been there before you. They may not have answered all of your questions, but they likely have addressed them with perception. The clarity of the classicists’ approach, reflected in the language they used, trains students to pick up on their own where the great thinkers left off. To a culture like ours, so preoccupied with its own immediate present, these languages open channels not only to the classical world, but also to many cultural traditions woven through the millennia that separate us.
S C H O L A R S H I P
STEM Take a look inside our Fabrications Lab. During a free period, a Second Former is dismantling an engine, then reassembling it, piece by piece. On a Saturday night, students are using the 3D printer to make chocolate molds—then pouring in the chocolate and eating their work. Groton’s classes inspire students to continue exploration on their own. Every day, the Schoolhouse’s state-of-the-art labs and classrooms support in-depth study and investigation, and teachers purposefully infuse technology and engineering lessons into a variety of science and math courses. Lessons often integrate data analysis, modeling, and programming skills, while emphasizing experimentation and collaboration. Groton graduates leave the Circle with full command of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills—and they know how to approach problems from various angles and solve them. Groton is committed to staying on top of changing technologies and the skills needed for success beyond the Circle. This is not new: for decades, Groton has pursued innovative approaches to STEM subjects, demonstrating an early commitment to computer programming in the 1970s, developing an Applied Mathematics sequence in the ’80s, and launching an Environmental Science program in the ’90s. Groton graduates tackle some of our thorniest challenges, and the STEM skills learned today prepare our graduates to discover, invent, and contribute important work that can better our world.
You can find Groton’s academic offerings at www.groton.org/coursecatalog.
GROTON’S SCHOOLHOUSE Groton’s Schoolhouse is an architectural masterpiece and the center of life on campus. More than that, the building itself, opened in 1899 and expanded in 2015, is the perfect symbol of Groton’s commitment to both tradition and innovation. Enter the front, which looks just as it did in 1899, and walk into the McCormick Library. Original woodworking surrounds a research-oriented library, as if the school’s founding values were enveloping and encouraging its 21st-century resources. The transition from the library to the contemporary addition is seamless—the STEM facilities would have been unimaginable a few years ago, yet feel as if they’ve always been there.
Beautiful humanities classrooms are unchanged, offering intimate spaces that encourage discussion and a classical education. And while the Fabrications Lab is new, the woodshop still commands a spacious corner of the building, providing the place and focus for hands-on furniture-building. The Schoolhouse, a community crossroads, also has numerous spots for socializing and study, as well as flexible spaces that inspire learning, creativity, and collaboration. On Groton’s Circle, the Schoolhouse remains a stunning focal point. Its renovation and expansion honored the old, welcomed the new, and positioned the school to adapt nimbly. Whatever changes lie ahead, whether in curricula or technology, Groton’s Schoolhouse is ready.
S C H O L A R S H I P
Explore Groton’s global education program at www.groton.org/students/globaleducation.
GLOBAL EDUCATION A Groton education extends well beyond our campus.
The service learning, exchange of ideas, and travel
Most students participate in a school-sponsored Global
help students understand cultural, socioeconomic,
Education Opportunity (GEO), traveling to countries
and political disparities throughout the world. This
including China, the Dominican Republic, France,
understanding builds thoughtful and empathetic leaders
India, Italy, Peru, Tanzania, and Uganda. Recent music
and knowledgeable citizens. Globalism is a pillar of a
GEOs have showcased Groton talent in Argentina,
Groton education, and thanks to generous financial
Australia, Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Japan,
aid, every student can seize this opportunity, which
China, Cuba, England, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, South
participants often describe as life-changing.
Africa, South Korea, and Switzerland.
S C H O L A R S H I P
GRACE The GRACE (GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich) summer program gives all Groton students the opportunity to reach their full potential. GRACE provides a boost to students who want to use the summer after Third Form (9th grade) to accelerate their academic progress. For some, GRACE provides access to the most advanced courses; for others, it fills a preparation gap and provides the foundation for success. Participants, known as GRACE Scholars, are selected through teacher and academic department recommendations, with input from students’ advisors. GRACE propels students in math, chemistry, English, and Latin, preparing them for the rigors of Upper School (10th–12th grade) and helping them reach the highest levels possible in a subject. Taking one or two subjects at a time, GRACE Scholars make meaningful academic progress in just four weeks. The program also includes art classes and recognizes the importance of summer fun, such as swimming, whitewater rafting, group games, s’mores around a campfire, a beach day, and a trip to an amusement park.
S C H O L A R S H I P
TUTORIAL PROGRAM EIGHTH GRADE Groton is one of the few top boarding schools in the country that still offers an eighth grade program. While most students apply to enter in the Third Form or later, entering Groton in Second Form (eighth grade) has many advantages. It’s an intimate group of twenty-five to thirty, so friendships develop quickly. Upper forms have seventy to ninety students, and while they maintain a closeness too, the Second Form’s size encourages a unique bond. We give eighth graders special attention. We realize they are in a new place, making new friends, honing new study habits, and tackling a more challenging workload than seventh grade demanded. Groton offers the additional structure, support, and organization that younger students need. They are closely supervised, live together in their own dorms, and have just a taste of the independence they will earn later. The extra year at Groton uniquely prepares students for success later at the school. Many of the students who become form leaders five years later began their years at Groton in the Second Form.
An attractive feature of the Groton curriculum is the opportunity for Sixth Form students to study one-on-one with a faculty member in an area of special interest. Tutorials allow students to collaborate with faculty, exercise independence, and dive deeply into areas of interest. Recent tutorials include: 3D Printing 19th-Century Romantic Poetry Abnormal Psychology Advanced 19th-Century Novels Advanced Performance Studies Analysis of Groton School’s Carbon Footprint Balzac et La Comédie Humaine Biochemistry of Neurological Disorders Carmen Laforet's Nada Computational Ecology The Count of Monte Cristo Existentialism and Nietzsche Exploring the Groton Archives Fractals, Chaos Theory, and Complex Systems French Historical Literature Glaciers, Everest, and Climate Change Graphic Design and Photoshop Workshop Greco-Roman Mythology as Told by Ovid Groton Graduates in History Jane Austen Julio Cortázar's Rayuela Latin American Literature Molecular Biology
Music Technology Music Writing Neurobiology of Learning and Memory Nuclear Chemistry Number Theory Organic Chemistry 3 Physics in Sports Photojournalism Post World War II Literature Quantum Approaches to Consciousness Relativity Server-Based Programming with ASP.NET and MS SQL Shakespeare: Four Plays Structural Engineering The Study of Native Americans and Edward Curtis Sustainable Engineering Theater in Social Context Thomas Hutchinson and the American Revolution Vergil Video Post-Production William Faulkner’s Works: Exploring Yoknapatawpha County
Learn about Groton’s faculty at www.groton.org/faculty.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
LOWER SCHOOL Students in the Second and Third Forms (8th and 9th grades) pursue a structured academic program involving the study of mathematics; science; English; a world language such as Spanish, French, or Chinese; a classical language; music; visual arts; and an interdisciplinary course offered by the history and religion departments called Sacred Texts and Ancient Peoples. UPPER SCHOOL Students in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms (10th, 11th, and 12th grades) have a wide range of choices in determining individual courses of study. All students must fulfill the following requirements: n
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English through the Fifth Form with one term of Expository Writing in the Sixth Form Mathematics through the Fifth Form or through trigonometry, whichever comes later A classical or world language through the Fifth Form or through a level of proficiency prescribed by the department, whichever comes later
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One year of laboratory science
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World History and American History
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Three credits of arts
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One term of ethics. Students who enter the school in the Fourth Form also take two terms of Sacred Studies in the Upper School.
Students who enter Groton after the Third Form are not required to study two languages.
A R T S
GROTON'S SIZE PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM
A R T S
AND CREATE. Students who hadn’t considered themselves actors or artists when they arrived at Groton regularly showcase their newfound talents. A Second Former (eighth grader) recently starred in a musical, and Lower Schoolers play important roles in our choral and orchestral groups.
The visual and performing arts programs are unified
Groton’s hands-on approach emphasizes the value of
by the conviction that the arts provide essential
being actively engaged in a creative process. Drawing a
opportunities for self-expression and enjoyment, and
landscape, directing a play, and building a mahogany table
that they create more perceptive and disciplined students.
are as intrinsic to the artistic process as learning to critique a
Through teachers who are practicing artists and
photograph, practicing a cello sonata, evaluating a theatrical
performers, a wide assortment of course offerings
performance, or listening thoughtfully to a choral concert.
and opportunities to perform, two campus galleries,
Groton students have numerous opportunities to explore
accomplished visiting musicians, and a visiting
the arts through coursework and beyond the classroom.
artist-in-residence, the arts flourish at Groton.
Theater Groton students are actors, directors, playwrights, and choreographers. They design sets and costumes, mix sound, and master lighting. Some are accomplished when they arrive at Groton, but many discover their enthusiasm for theater while they are on the Circle. Groton’s afternoon theater program exposes students to a wide range of styles and techniques, staging classical dramas, offbeat plays (such as Black Comedy, at left), and popular musicals. Motivated students also may write and direct short plays and explore theater more deeply with faculty through one-on-one tutorials.
The Marion D. Campbell Performing Arts Center (CPAC) hosts events and student productions throughout the year in its two venues—the Asen Theater, a proscenium space that seats 466, and the McBaine Studio Theater, a black-box space that accommodates 120. Groton’s performers benefit from the professional-quality facility, which includes a fully equipped scene/paint shop, a costume shop, a trap and orchestra pit level, a sixty-five-foot fly loft, and Equity-level dressing rooms. Recent student productions have included The Miracle Worker, Hairspray, Romeo and Juliet, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Odyssey.
Some students opt to take dance for their afternoon activity.
A R T S
Music A Groton education seems to be accompanied by a musical soundtrack. Performances by the Chamber Orchestra, the Jazz Ensemble, and the vocal program’s Choir and a cappella groups are woven into the life of the school. Besides formal scheduled performances, students regularly play instruments or sing during morning Chapel postludes and hold relaxed and freewheeling open-mic nights. Groton’s music program serves all levels, from beginner to virtuoso. Twenty-two experienced teaching performers provide lessons during the academic day. They teach all orchestral and band instruments, as well as voice, piano, organ, harpsichord, banjo, bagpipes, guitar, and didgeridoo. Since music lessons are part of the daytime curriculum, Groton students need not choose between a musical interest and sports, clubs, or theatrical productions.
Studio Arts The visual arts program at Groton fosters an environment in which both creative expression and critical awareness can develop. The program is flexible enough to offer students with a broad range of backgrounds and potential both general survey coursework and specialized studies.
Go to www.groton.org/arts to discover more about Groton’s programs in drama, music, dance, and visual arts.
The Dillon Art Center houses numerous open, light-filled studios; classrooms; a photography laboratory and darkroom; and the de Menil Gallery, which hosts exhibits by accomplished artists each term. The Christopher Brodigan Gallery, located on the first level of the Dining Hall, also hosts professional exhibits each term. Both galleries help students gain artistic appreciation, as well as the pure pleasure that comes from viewing the works of those who see the world in ways we may not. A valued community resource, both galleries are open to the public.
Woodworking A fully equipped woodworking shop in the Schoolhouse inspires both beginning and experienced students to build a piece of furniture. Projects start with a simple box and, for serious woodworking students, move on to period pieces such as grandfather clocks. Woodworking, or shop, at Groton offers challenging and time-consuming work that results in a significant, personal accomplishment.
AT H L E T I C S
A T H L E T I C S
STUDENTS FIND MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL IN ATHLETICS AT GROTON. Here, talented athletes take advantage of first-rate coaching, enviable facilities, a strength and conditioning center, and, in many instances, the chance to play at the varsity level early in their careers.
The annual contests with our rival, St. Mark’s School, are surrounded by traditions worthy of schools that have been playing each other for more than a century. The challenge of playing opponents from larger schools within the Independent School League serves our athletes well. Groton alumni contribute to many college programs throughout the country. Both the athlete who aspires to play beyond secondary school and the novice who wants to learn a new sport find satisfaction and inspiration on Groton teams. As in other areas of the school, specialization is discouraged. Rather than sit out a season, Groton athletes often take on the challenge of a new sport. Approximately 20 percent of Groton’s graduates go on to play intercollegiate athletics.
A T H L E T I C S Go to www.groton.org/athletics to learn about our teams.
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turf field elevated indoor track dance studio boathouse strength & conditioning center
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football fields baseball fields batting cages hockey rinks field hockey fields swimming pools
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basketball courts
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lacrosse fields
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soccer fields
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indoor tennis courts
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outdoor tennis courts
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squash courts
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coaches
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of trails for running & hiking
...for 380 students!
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“Where else could you find, on a typical April afternoon, the captain of the varsity football team, who is also president of the Gospel Choir, playing cello on the Circle? Why is one of my closest friends a terrific squash player, guitarist, and poet from Pakistan? I’ll never forget when my field hockey team reached the New England tournament and one-half of the School showed up on Oates Field, all the boys bare-chested in the 35-degree November weather, with the letters G-R-O-T-O-N spelled out in red paint on their chests. The place is so alive with passion.” - Ann Collier ’99
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G R O T O N
WHAT DOES IT REALLY FEEL LIKE TO BE AT GROTON? Groton is challenging, engaging, and inspiring. It makes you think—about the world, about how to treat others, about how to understand yourself.
Long known for excellence in the classroom, the school
service, the self-confidence that emerges through hard
is also full of surprises, opportunities, and an attribute
work, and the awareness of the wider world that evolves
rarely associated with a great education: Groton is fun.
through friendships made on the Circle. Many of the
Groton involves such varied emotions as the exhilaration of
manners and customs valued at the school’s founding are
games on St. Mark’s Day, the quiet satisfaction of finishing
with us today, alongside the underlying principles that have
a history term paper, the poignancy of a Lessons & Carols
always shaped the spirit of Groton.
T H E
“Maybe my greatest memory of this school came the
S P I R I T
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G R O T O N
last week that I was here, when a man who had monumental influence on my life named Paul Wright, whom I still consider one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, sat me down in his classroom. Now, anyone who ever had Paul Wright’s math classes knows that on every little desk was carved, “the R-I-G-H-T way is the W-R-I-G-H-T way.” And he sat me down and he said, “Look. This is the only advice I can give you. Look down at this.” He said, “It’s reversed. The W-R-I-G-H-T way is the R-I-G-H-T way and only you know what is right.” - Peter Gammons ’63, Sportswriter Recognized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame
VALUES Groton students take pride in the components
At Groton, students develop lasting values through
of their education that are tangible—a beautiful
the graduated levels of trust and responsibility they
campus, remarkable facilities, wonderful dining
earn as they get older, the opportunities for
services, long-lasting traditions, strong performances
reflection each day during Chapel Talks, the stimulation
on national examinations, talented peers, accomplished
of a first-rate education, and the attention they receive
teachers, and successful alumni. These components are
in a small school consciously built upon the model of a
not ends in themselves, but attributes that enhance our
family. Most colleges and universities abandoned any
shared commitment of one to another and of each to
pretense of character development long ago. Secondary
the whole. The powerful sense of commitment around
school is still a place where values can be nurtured, and
the Circle helps Groton students emerge from
at Groton, they are.
adolescence with the means to lead an examined life and the conviction to better our world.
KINDNESS Kindness is important to our community and to
Just as students know each other, so do the faculty
our graduates’ success in life. We seek people who
know most of the student body. Three times a year
will treat each other well and who will further that
the entire faculty meets to examine the progress
instinct in others. The school’s size means that
of every student in the school. These meetings
students know and interact with each other.
concentrate on the character of our students as well
Everyone matters at Groton; everyone affects
as their academic progress. Besides teaching the
everyone else. The community works because
skills expected in the twenty-first-century
students learn the value of respecting one another.
workplace, Groton aims to inspire a deep
This expectation provokes a leap of understanding
transformation in which learned and admired
fundamental to adolescent development—the sense
qualities become internalized instincts. The kindness
that the good of the whole both supersedes and
and perseverance nurtured at Groton remain with
serves the good of the individual.
graduates for a lifetime.
T H E
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G R O T O N
SERVICE At Groton School, we define service as an act of leadership, a demonstration of responsible citizenship, a means of community building, and a part of one’s life-long learning and purpose. Service to others was one of Groton School’s founding principles. The school motto, cui servire est regnare, was in place by the turn of the twentieth century. Throughout its history, Groton School has inspired students to serve their communities, the nation, and the world. Some alumni have built careers as public servants and political leaders. Many who do not serve the public or nonprofit sector consider service an important part of their lives, offering their time to a variety of worthwhile causes. For many graduates, this principled outlook took root at Groton School. Here at Groton, service is not a requirement in which hours are counted, but rather a community expectation. All students serve as community leaders—as prefects—during their Sixth Form year, and many take advantage of various opportunities to serve communities near campus through our afternoon service program, Groton Community Engagement, and far from the Circle, through our global education trips.
CUI SERVIRE EST REGNARE (TO SERVE IS TO RULE) - Groton School Motto
T H E
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G R O T O N
PERSEVERANCE Success in life can be attributed in part to natural abilities, in part to hard work. But people go further if they also have developed perseverance, what we sometimes call grit. Groton students learn to persevere in the face of challenges they encounter as they pursue long-term goals. Winning a long-distance run rather than a sprint is a good analogy for success at Groton. The school insists that students learn good habits—for study, organization, prioritizing their busy lives, and enjoying their free time. These good habits are a significant outcome of a Groton education. Students emerge with an expanded capacity for success in college and in what our school founder called “the active work of life.�
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY Can there be any doubt about religion’s role in shaping today’s world? At many schools in the United States, the study of religion is impossible. At Groton, it is required. Through the perspective of an Episcopal School and with respect for other religious traditions, Groton provides its students with a valuable component of a contemporary education: religious literacy. No matter what their religion is, or how they feel about organized religion, all students can benefit from the school’s approach to the intellectual understanding of world religions. Services for many faiths, courses in comparative religion, an ethos of concern for others, and the deep bonds within the community contribute to the spiritual development of Groton students. An Episcopal service is held every Sunday. Transportation is provided to a nearby Roman Catholic mass on Sundays, Shabbat services are offered on Fridays, and a Buddhist sangha and Islamic service occur weekly.
T H E
FUN IS IT POSSIBLE? COULD A SCHOOL KNOWN FOR ITS ACADEMICS ACTUALLY BE FUN? Yes! For starters, did you know that Groton suspends classes three times a year—and keeps the dates secret? Once a term, our senior prefects announce Surprise Holiday, and when they do, the school explodes with excitement! Students climb aboard buses for a free day in Cambridge or Boston, or hang with friends on the Circle. From St. Mark’s Days to Spring Fling to nightly check-ins in the dorms, Groton would not be Groton without fun. Here are some of the ways we have fun at Groton School…
S P I R I T
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G R O T O N
T H E
A C T I V E
W O R K
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L I F E
Groton School is a diverse and intimate community devoted to inspiring lives of character, learning, leadership, and service. - Groton School Mission Statement
T H E
A C T I V E
W O R K
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L I F E
WHAT IS THE INTENDED OUTCOME of the steady rhythms, intensive study, time-honored traditions, and deep bonds formed within the Groton Circle? We seek, in our singular way, to equip talented young people with the skills and values essential for success in the twenty-first century.
We will prepare you with proficient skills in languages
the best place for you to find your most authentic self.
and technology, an ability to write and speak clearly
Groton helps you look inward to know yourself so you
and convincingly, an appreciation of the thoughts and
can reach outward to serve the world. The totality of
achievements of people from many cultures, a high
the experience, rather than the merit of a particular
regard for teamwork, and a deeply embedded respect
program, is the enduring strength of Groton School,
for the qualities of courtesy, honesty, and civility.
where a dynamic, lasting education inspires the
As a Groton student you will join talented classmates from widely divergent backgrounds. We aim to provide, not the mold for worldly success, but rather
curiosity and provides the tools for the continuing pursuit of a meaningful life.
381 STUDENTS n
n
FINANCIAL AID
Female: 181 Male: 200
n
Boarding students: 322 Day students: 59
n
Students receiving financial aid: 38 percent Financial aid budget: $6.9 million
States represented: 31
n
n
Average boarding grant: $46,491
Countries represented: 14
n
n
Average day grant: $31,355
n
Students of color: 43 percent
n
International students: 8 percent
Groton meets the full demonstrated financial need of all families. See current tuition at www.groton.org/tuition.
FACULTY
Distribution of students per form: Second (27), Third (85), Fourth (86), Fifth (97), Sixth (86) n
n
Average class size: 11 students
n
Teaching faculty: 73
n
Student-faculty ratio: 5 to 1
Faculty with advanced degree: 80 percent n
AVERAGE ACT SCORES n
n
n
Composite: 32 English: 34.5
n
n
Reading: 32 Science: 30
Math: 30.5
The composite ACT score is equivalent to an SAT score of 1470.
AVERAGE AP TEST SCORES (2013–17) n
Total AP tests taken: 2,250 (by 940 students)
n
Students with scores of 3, 4 or 5: 853 (91%)
n
Exams with scores of 3, 4 or 5: 2,188 (97%)
n
Exams with scores of 4 or 5: 1,763 (78%)
All statistics are from 2016–17 unless otherwise noted.
J O I N
U S !
ADMISSION TO GROTON GROTON SCHOOL SEEKS HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS OF GREAT PROMISE. We are especially interested in people who are inclined to be helpful to others.
Ann Gildroy Fox ’94 joined the U.S. Marines after
of people forces you to challenge your preconceived
graduating from Georgetown University. Ann served
notions and beliefs. The community at Groton
three tours of duty in Iraq; the third was voluntary, a
makes each student aware of his part in it, and
desire to serve once again after graduating from
therefore his contribution to it. Groton completely
Harvard Business School.
transformed the way I thought. It opened my mind
Ann delivered the following words at a form dinner the night before heading to Iraq. If you find these words compelling, Groton may be the school for you. “Cui servire est regnare was not simply a School motto for me. It became an underpinning of the way I tried to measure the value of my life. Groton teaches us the importance of service, and through that service, the ability to create value for yourself and your community. At Groton I began seriously to consider the impact of my actions on those around me. Living in a community where you interact constantly with the same group
and encouraged me to listen first and not to make hasty judgments.” Groton’s Admission Office seeks a student body that is racially, geographically, and socioeconomically diverse. We welcome students from all backgrounds who share our ideals of well-rounded development and service to others. Please feel free to contact us whenever you have questions about the school or the admission process. And do visit us on campus! A visit is the best way to learn about Groton.
H O W
The following steps are involved in the application process. We look forward to meeting you!
1. COMPLETE THE INQUIRY FORM 2. SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW 3. COMPLETE THE CANDIDATE PROFILE 4. REGISTER FOR A STANDARDIZED TEST 5. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION 1. COMPLETE THE INQUIRY FORM If you would like to set up an interview or simply receive information about Groton, please visit our online Inquiry Form and complete Part One—Contact Information and Part Two—Special Interests. The information you provide in Part Two will help us connect you with people at Groton who share your interests. If you are sure you will be applying to Groton, you may skip the Inquiry Form and instead complete the more detailed Candidate Profile. 2. SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW Come and see us! Groton School is open to visitors at any time, but if you would like to arrange a tour and interview, please call the Admission Office at 978-448-7510. You might find it helpful to consult the tour and interview schedule on our website www.groton.org/ Page/Admission/How-to-Apply. For tours and interviews, candidates for admission and their families typically visit our campus in the fall
or early winter. Seeing the school while it is in session gives visitors a more thorough sense of life at Groton, but we also offer tours and interviews during the summer holiday. Tours and interviews are not offered during exam periods, short holiday breaks, or in February, March, and April. If you are unable to coordinate a visit to Groton, please submit an additional recommendation in lieu of an interview. Occasionally, admission counselors may contact applicants who cannot visit campus for an interview, but video chats and off-campus interviews are not standard practices at Groton. 3. COMPLETE THE CANDIDATE PROFILE The Candidate Profile offers admission candidates a convenient way to provide biographical information to numerous schools with one form. You may access the Candidate Profile and the rest of our application online through our website or by visiting the Gateway to Prep Schools (www.gatewaytoprepschools.com), an online application system created by Groton School, Deerfield Academy, The Hotchkiss School, Phillips Academy, and St. Paul’s School. 4. REGISTER FOR A STANDARDIZED TEST The SSAT exam is preferred, though you may take the ISEE in place of the SSAT. For more information on testing dates and sites, visit www.ssat.org and www.erbtest.org. Be sure to list Groton’s code, 3598, when you register
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for the SSAT. If you are taking the ISEE, Groton’s code is 220930. We can only accept scores directly from the testing services. The November or December test dates are preferable; the January date is acceptable. If you have not been studying in an English-speaking school for the last two years, you should also take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) during the same time period. Groton’s TOEFL code is 8224.
School Report and Transcript: No application can be considered complete without the submission of grades from the fall term of the year in which an applicant is applying and the final grades for at least the preceding two years of schooling.
5. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION To complete an application you must submit all forms to the Admission Office by January 15. A complete application includes a Candidate Profile (see #3). The Candidate Profile should be submitted to initiate the application process. Do not delay sending your Candidate Profile because you are waiting to determine whether or not you can add to your list of extracurricular activities or achievements. You may supplement your list later on the Candidate Statement.
Test Score Report
Candidate Statement: Complete the Candidate Statement online. These essays and short-answer questions are unique to Groton.
Current English Teacher Recommendation Current Math Teacher Recommendation Special Recommendation and/or Personal Recommendation Parent Financial Statement: For candidates applying for financial aid only; due by January 31. Arts or Athletics Multimedia (optional): You may provide links to music, artwork, or any other supplemental information through the Candidate Profile or Candidate Statement. We do not accept original artwork, CDs, or DVDs. The school reserves the right to request additional information, including complete files from schools attended.
Parent Statement: Complete the Parent Statement online. It helps admission offices immensely if you do not wait until the deadline to submit the Candidate Statement and Parent Statement.
Go to www.groton.org/admission to learn more about our application process.
G R A I N
GROTON’S COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUSION IS MORE THAN A GOAL OR AN ETHOS: it is formal school policy endowed by a major, successful fundraising initiative. In 2014, Groton School’s Board of Trustees approved GRAIN—GRoton Affordability and INclusion. GRAIN is Groton’s top strategic priority.
GRAIN has its seeds in a question asked by our headmaster, Temba Maqubela: “How
GRAIN ensures that Groton’s superior educational experience is inclusive to all
can independent school students have a real-world experience if we omit the talent
students who qualify for admission and require financial assistance. Groton is committed
from an enormous socioeconomic group?” He was referring to children from families in
to inclusion because it is right and because it improves education. Varied perspectives,
the middle of the economic spectrum; their parents may be public servants, physicians,
backgrounds, and experiences among our students and faculty are critical components
professors, or other professionals who believe an independent school education is out of
of a Groton education and a significant reason for the success of Groton’s graduates.
reach. At Groton, because of GRAIN, it is not.
A F F O R D A B I L I T Y
GRAIN IN ACTION GRAIN began with a three-year tuition freeze that lowered Groton’s tuition ranking to thirty-seventh out of forty peer schools, while making a strong statement about the critical role of affordability in the inclusion efforts of independent schools.
The GRAIN initiative resonates widely because it addresses a nationwide problem: exceptional education has become increasingly unavailable to families. Applications rose from both financial aid and full-pay families after GRAIN was announced. GRAIN complements Groton’s longstanding commitment to financial aid: for many years, low-income families have received generous aid at Groton, and they continue to. Aid often includes books, Global Education Opportunities (GEOs), music lessons, and living expenses. At Groton, inclusion means that every student has the same opportunities. Because of GRAIN, Groton can make a simple but powerful statement: Groton School will accept all qualified applicants without regard to the family’s ability to pay tuition. Groton recognizes that finances can be tight for families who are paying other tuition bills or saving for college. If you think you won’t qualify for aid, think again. At Groton, you may qualify, and we encourage you to inquire. 2017–18 FAMILY CONTRIBUTION TOWARD TUITION AT GROTON SCHOOL 2017–18 FA RECIPIENTS
FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (FC) TOWARD TUITION – HOW MUCH IS A FAMILY PAYING TOWARD GROTON SCHOOL
BASED ON 2016 REPORTED INCOME
FC = 0-5,000*
FC = 5,001 FC = 10,001 to 10,000* to 15,000*
FC = 15,001 to 20,000*
FC = 20,001 to 30,000*
FC = 30,000+
TOTAL # WHO RECEIVE AID
Total income: 0-80,000
27
0
0
0
0
0
27
Total income: 80,001-120,000
15
0
3
0
0
0
18
Total income: 120,001-160,000
19
5
3
2
1
7
37
Total income: 160,001-200,000
2
8
3
0
2
0
15
Total income: 200,001-300,000
3
5
5
6
4
8
31
Total income: 300,001+
0
0
4
3
2
8
17
The purpose of this chart is to provide families with a rough idea of how much they may be expected to contribute toward a Groton education. Factors such as additional assets, tuition expenses for other children, and the size of a family are also considered, but income is the primary means of developing an expected family contribution. FA = Financial Aid
FC = Expected Family Contribution (Figures are in U.S. Dollars)
NUMBER OF FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS 2017–18
INCOME
Since 2008, Groton has waived tuition, room, and board for students from families with incomes below $75,000, and has provided significant financial aid to others who apply and qualify. In many cases, our grants make Groton more affordable than schools with lower tuition.
C O L L E G E
C O U N S E L I N G
THE OFFICE OF COLLEGE COUNSELING REPRESENTS ANOTHER COMPONENT in the educational life of a Groton student. We believe that the process serves as an opportunity for personal growth, self-reflection, and self-discovery, as students begin to think about leaving the Groton School community, entering adulthood, and choosing a college where they will continue their education.
At Groton School, we are aware of both the excitement and challenges at this critical juncture in our students’ lives, and we seek to provide the necessary tools so that our students can navigate the many pathways of college admissions. While outcomes are important, the College Counseling Office believes that the college admissions process is about discovering good matches between students and colleges.
This is the student’s personal journey, and the role of the college counselor is therefore to support, guide, and educate our students and their families as they explore the changing world of college admissions. Groton’s College Counseling program is comprehensive and student-centered. We begin working with Fourth Formers, guiding them to build an academic foundation from which they
can best move forward. Group meetings focus on standardized testing, making the most of college visits, college interviews, and completing applications, while multiple one-on-one meetings help students create their own unique paths toward achieving their future aspirations. With a low college counselor-to-student ratio, Groton provides personal care and service to our families and students.
Since 2013, three or more Groton graduates have matriculated to the following colleges and universities: Harvard University .................................................................23 Georgetown University.......................................................... 22 Brown University .....................................................................16 Bowdoin College ..................................................................... 15 University of Chicago .............................................................. 15 University of Virginia ..............................................................14 Dartmouth College ................................................................. 13 New York University ..............................................................12 Princeton University ...............................................................12 Yale University ..........................................................................12 Columbia University .................................................................8 Boston College ...........................................................................7 Hamilton College ......................................................................7 Tufts University...........................................................................7 Williams College.........................................................................7 Northeastern University ..........................................................6
Northwestern University .........................................................6 Stanford University ....................................................................6 Colby College ............................................................................. 5 Duke University .......................................................................... 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology ............................... 5 Middlebury College .................................................................. 5 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ........... 5 Scripps College ............................................................................ 5 University of St. Andrews ........................................................ 5 Trinity College............................................................................. 5 College of William and Mary ................................................. 5 Villanova University .................................................................. 5 Babson College ...........................................................................4 Boston University ......................................................................4 University of California, Berkeley .........................................4 Elon University ..........................................................................4
Hobart and William Smith Colleges ...................................4 Washington University in St. Louis .......................................4 Barnard College .......................................................................... 3 Bucknell University ................................................................... 3 University of Connecticut........................................................ 3 Cornell University ...................................................................... 3 College of the Holy Cross ....................................................... 3 University of Miami ................................................................... 3 University of Pennsylvania ....................................................... 3 Pomona College .......................................................................... 3 University of Richmond ........................................................... 3 Skidmore College ....................................................................... 3 Vanderbilt University ................................................................ 3 Wake Forest University............................................................. 3 Washington and Lee University ............................................. 3
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