<p>Quick Questions- When is the best time to interview? Also, How does the interview work? Do they have your application,test scores, teacher refs, grades etc? What is the main reason for this interview? Also, if you have an area of special interest or talent would you get to meet and interview with the person heading that department? How long are most interviews and who are the people conducting the interviews i. e what is their purpose at the school other than interviews. Anyway, ALL INFO would be extremely helpful.</p>
<p>here's what i know, having never been in an interview but knowing enough about it from CC
unless they request you have an interview after you send in your apps, they don't really know much about you I'm guessing. Probably all the info you put in an inquiry form is what they'll know and the reason for the interview is to get to know you: are you stuck up or are you honest and mature? etc. they say interviews vary, some of them are only 20 minutes long and others tick up to about an hour, but I think 30 min is a safe assumption. </p>
<p>hehe but don't take this too seriously, my first interview's not for quite a few months.</p>
<p>I recently had six interviews at six different schools. Generally you tour and then interview. The interview is an hour - they interview you for half an hour and then you leave and they talk to your parents for half an hour. At some schools you fill out questionnaires, essentially mini-apps right before you go in. They look over it and then ask questions based on what you wrote. Even if they don't have a questionnaire, you still basically end up saying everything you said in your real app. The people conducting the interviews are usually deans/directors of admissions. That is their sole purpose. Some of them also are dorm advisors or sports coaches.
Often you do get to briefly meet with somebody from a special interest department. In my case, I didn't get to but I received calls and emails from the heads (or others) shortly after.
Interviews are pretty easy if you're relaxed. As cliched as it sounds, be yourself. While it is important to sell yourself, you may begin to notice the interviewer trying to sell the school to you (if they like you.)</p>
<p>To answer your first question - best time to interview - most take place in the fall and early winter. We did ours between Columbus Day and early January. Early January was kind of late because the application for that school was due a few days later and until the interview/tour we hadn't really decided if my son would apply there and it made for a last minute crunch on the application. So, I would try to have them all done by Christmas if possible.<br>
You can request when you call to schedule, to meet with someone in your area of interest. We generally met with the lacrosse coach and sometimes with the ski coach as well. But, it needs to be set up in advance. </p>
<p>I think the main purpose of the interview is to get to know the student (and the parents) and to see if they are ready for boarding school, to see how they handle themselves, etc. We (including my son I think) really enjoyed the process (although we interviewed at 12 schools which is way too many).</p>
<p>Since my daughter interviewed at three schools in the fall, what we found was most helpful was calling early so she could tour/interview on teacher in-service days at her present school, so she wouldn't have to take too many days off. </p>
<p>It can be hard be a full time student with lots of extra activities and fitting in a huge schedule of school application writing, interviewing etc.</p>
<p>You may want to visit early fall open-houses at schools before deciding whether you want to interview/apply. They are often scheduled on the weekends and are more low key.</p>
<p>id6116: I saw that you daughter is interested in St. Paul's. You might want to go to their website and look at the proposed Timeline (<a href="http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=5672)%5B/url%5D">http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=5672)</a>. I suspect most of your questions have been already answered. The interviews are 15-30 minutes, they will meet with your daughter first and then with you. Following that a student tour guide will bring the two of you around the campus and show you classrooms, dorms, dining halls and whatever you have an interest in. </p>
<p>The admissions people are just that and only that (they may coach or advise a student activity). They tour the country, interview, read applications and try to put together a great plend of people, backgrounds and interests. If she has a specific area of interest, tell the school in advance and SPS (and most schools) will try to set something up for her. The dance program at SPS is truly World Class and yes of course there is latin. In fact they even have a special classics program for people with an intense interest. Don't get scared too early by the statistics. Interview at several, take the SSAT's and tell your daughter to just be herself. </p>
<p>I went to SPS, two nephews went and my son is currently there (in fact his room is the one they show boys on tours!). You should encourage her to look at several schools. The 'personalities' differ and some have a particular strength. Try to get comfortable. If it helps, ask for a parent you can talk to, or a recent alum.</p>
<p>I thought my interveiw time was good because i interveiwed right in the begining of Janruary,
and this allowed me to hand submit my applications to the admissions people which was kind of nice....</p>
<p>A word of advice--pay close attention to schools that have a rigorous dress code and follow that dress code in the interview. Overall appearance is really important for some schools and you want to make the best impression possible.</p>
<p>Last year I made the mistake of wearing a hoodie and jeans at an interview for a school that had a very strict dress code. (I was totally clueless, being an international and all.) Luckily, the admissions director still seemed to like me and I wasn't seriously considering applying for schools that year in the first place.</p>