Boarding School Interview

Prep School Admissions
1

Hello, I’m a student applying to a few boarding schools in the 22-23 year!

I’m currently preparing for the interview, subtly mapping out my answers for questions like, “why do you want to attend this school?”

I’m quite afraid that I may appear as someone with just basic/surface-level knowledge on the schools I’m interviewing with – I don’t know if mentioning the house system of the Lawrenceville School would evidently prove that I have done my research. I have poured over multiple schools’ websites over the last few days, and I wonder if providing more generic answers will make my knowledge seem too basic.

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If you don’t know why you are applying, why then are you applying?

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Hi there,

  1. There is quite a bit you can learn from a school’s Instagram and YouTube channels.

  2. You may want to read reviews of schools that are posted in Boarding School Review and Niche.

  3. Try the Search function here on CC Prep for old posts/threads, it can be really helpful.

  4. You can always post questions here regarding specific schools.

Best of luck.

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I personally don’t think you need to be an expert on every school before the interview. The interview is not a place to show off everything you know; it’s a conversation between you and the school to figure out if you want to apply.

My kids only applied to half of the schools they interviewed at. Through the interview and tour they realized they didn’t like three of the six.

I’d have a few general reasons for going to bs/private school. Like: I want more math opportunities than I’ve had in the past, I want the small class size personal instruction experience I’ve come to love in middle school and my public highschool is huge, I want an institution where inclusion is an actual priority and not a talking point as it is in my public highschool. Those were my kids’ basic reasons. More than that wasn’t needed at all.

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5

Relax. Most AO’s are really nice. Just prepare a list of questions and responses to questions such as “Why do you want to go to _____?”
Treat it like a conversation. The AO wants to get to know you.
Relax.

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  • Do research about each school
  • Do write down (for yourself) the reasons you want to go to BS, then formulate answers that are to the point and lead up to your unique strengths.
  • Talk about the school’s strong sense of community
  • If you are applying to an all boys or all girls school, formulate specific answers about what is appealing about that type of environment.
  • Be prepared for questions that might include “What do your parents think about your going away to BS?” (Kiddo got this one).
  • Present yourself as a student who is not toe-dipping with the idea of BS, but has already decided that this is the right path for personal growth.

:star_struck:

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I do know why I am applying, the schools I have chosen appeared attractive in all sorts of aspects, such as the curriculum and the unique traditions. What I am concerned about, is how I should craft my answers…

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Thank you for the advice!!

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If you are confident with your content, answers should not need to be “crafted” in any certain way. You want to come across as authentic.

  • Present yourself as a happy and interested student (I can’t tell you how many times we have heard about kids who look uninterested or bored).

  • Be on the look out for entrapment questions like the following!
    (Yes, Kiddo had all 3)

“What other schools are you applying to”
“ What are your top 3 choices of schools”
“ Where do we stand on your list?”

  • If you are applying to an all girls or all boys school - be careful not to mention co-ed schools after you have explained to the AO that you really like their school because of the close community of an all-girls/all-boys school. Hope you know what I mean.

  • You might want to think of your answers as also ways to tell the AO/interviewer what/how you would contribute to their school.

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Hi! Thank you for the suggestions :slight_smile:

I just have a few quick questions, what do you mean by entrapment questions, and as for mentioning how I would contribute to the school, are the AO’s referring to character traits or other areas, like extra-curriculars?

Thank you!

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I meant “entrapment” it in a tongue-in-cheek way :laughing:
These are questions that can be “traps” for a student. One example is when the AO or interviewer asks “Where else are you applying?” Or “What are your top 3 schools you are applying to?” (Taft guy asked my kiddo that question). So, think. How would you answer that if you are sitting there and you don’t yet know. Do you lie and say “Yes, Mr AO, your school is my top choice :kissing_heart:? Do you say, “I am still considering all my options?” Do you say, “I won’t know that until March”?

Forgot to address your last question: I would talk about both your qualities (also experiences - maybe you have travelled, lived in a different culture, worked with diverse groups of people, etc) and the EC’s/clubs/sports/arts you have been involved in at school.

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12

Think of the interview as a conversation. The AO really wants you to be yourself at at your best.

In response to liking the house system at L’ville, think a little more about WHY you like it and convey that. You want what a big school offers but really want some part of the community to feel like family? You like the idea of being “forced” to get to know kids whose paths might not otherwise cross with yours? You are coming from a tight community and like that and recognize the value of continuing from year to year? You love competition in all forms and inter-house competition appeals to you? None of these answers are wrong, btw – you just want one that let’s the AO see who you are.

You aren’t trying to wow them and they aren’t trying to find reasons to not admit you! Just enjoy it.

Sure, it helps to think through questions that might come up, things you want to convey or ask, etc. But most good conversations aren’t rehearsed!

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