<p>From what I read on this forum, I don't think my daughter is presenting herself at her interviews as well as most of the other kids. She's a very genuine 13-year old girl, perfectly comfortable "chatting" with an adult, but is not articulating her strengths or her interests with any depth. She has resisted our efforts to "prep" her -- coming from a public school, she has no conception of how competitive the admissions process is. We've been reluctant to heap on the pressure -- but maybe we should have? </p>
<p>Is it ever possible to do a second interview, in the hopes that after the first round, she will be more familiar with dynamic and better able to come across as a strong candidate?</p>
<p>actually, dont apply to the school (you dont want to pay the fee), just call them up and set up an interview. say you’ll send in the app, but instead dont.</p>
<p>I considered requesting a second interview when my daughter decided that her “practice” interview was at a school she really liked. She had not researched the school and was really nervous. Afterwards I did not think she had made a strong impression. We thought it would be awkward to request a second interview. Instead of asking for a second interview we asked for a second tour of the school and asked to attend a class. After the second tour she sent a note explaining why she liked the school and wanted to attend. </p>
<p>But you never know what impression your child is making. When I called to request the second tour, I spoke with her original interviewer who immediately remembered my daughter. I was surprised and thought maybe she had done better than I thought.</p>
<p>Just as a general matter, I think that the interviewers try to make the kids comfortable and get them talking, not exactly like a job interview that you or I might go to or have been to. I am not so sure that a child really has to “sell” him or her self as if it was for a corporate position. I think the interviewers try to see how interested the child is, for example, in attending boarding school (eg not forced by parents), or in being more independent than at a day school.</p>
<p>I preface this story with all caveats. I read last season of one child poster who wanted badly to go to a certain school, and was waitlisted, but then ultimately accepted, and then left before the end of the year. The public stats of this kid were great, and the posts written by the kid really gave this kid a nice personality. I would have thought the kid would have made it the first go round. Then I wondered whether there was something in the interview that lead the interviewers to think that maybe the kid wasn’t ready or something like that. </p>
<p>I really don’t know if the interviewers have some special insight based on experience with lots of kids that you or I as non professionals do, but I think they probably do have this. I think there are a lot of great kids, and they have great scores and grades, and that the interview adds some piece to the picture. However, I can’t believe that all the kids that are accepted go in there with guns blazing as to how great they are etc. A group like that would end up butting heads all the time over who is the best. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Great post, anothermom2! I try to remind myself that the admissions officers are very good at their jobs and if they don’t accept you, it’s because they don’t think you would do well there - for whatever reason. The recs and grades and scores can give them a good idea if they will be successful academically, but the interview, essay and personal rec give them a glimpse into who the kid is and whether he/she will FIT into their community well. They don’t want a kid there who will end up being miserable because doesn’t fit the culture of the school.</p>