Better to do interviews in the summer or fall?

Prep School Admissions
1

I am debating whether I should get my interviews done before school starts or in the fall when I’ll hopefully have more accomplishments and can prove that I’ve changed since last application cycle. I’ve heard that summer interviews are not the best because AOs are least likely to remember you, but is that true?

2

I doubt that is true. My daughter did interviews in summer and fall and it seemed to have no bearing on where she was accepted and denied. She now attends the college where she had a summer interview. If anything, I imagine that because they are a little less busy, your interview might be more relaxed, and thus better.

As far as acheivements, please remember the interview is not meant for you to list accomplishments. It’s a conversation. They want to get to know you. I think you are overthinking it. Have the interview when you can. By all means, bring up an acheivement in the conversation if you can fit it in without being awkward, but remember that they are supposed to make you feel comfortable. They don’t know what your history is. You haven’t even submitted an app yet. You don’t have to prove you have changed, because they don’t know you from before.

Edit: Sorry, I just realized this is for prep school. I suspect the same principles apply though.

3

@Totorocinnamon03 , are you applying to the same schools this year and did you interview last year?

4

No. That’s why they take notes.

FWIW, all my interviews were over the summer and I did quite well in the admissions process.

I’m not sure what meaningful accomplishments will be achieved in a couple of months. Personally, I’d schedule the interviews for the times that work best for you. There is no system to be gamed with the interview calendar.

5

I was recently at a panel where AO’s from 6 schools spoke. One of them recommended not to do summer interviews and the others agreed. It was not that they wouldn’t remember you, it was that there was less to talk about because you weren’t currently in school. For incoming 9th graders, talking about 8th grade classes gave a lot of information.