My child had a couple of interviews lately and we left both of them feeling like she was certain to be offered a spot in the incoming freshman class. Is this typical? Do boarding schools all do this?
It’s more typical than not. Read nothing into it.
After reading many of the prep schools threads here, I have come to realize that a great interview does not equal an automatic acceptance.
Many applicants here often write of their phenomenal interviews to later report of being either waitlisted or rejected. There are also those who felt as though their interviews were mehh yet still managed to get in.
I’m not going to lie, after leaving my Exeter interview, I really thought I had a better-than-most chance at getting in. But now, I realize that many applicants had that same euphoric feeling I did and still got rejected…
Not always…we left one school feeling poor 8-| because of the AO asking us @ connections to the school, legacy, whom do you know here? It was not typical and we found it a valuable experience.
I think that is the hallmark of a really skilled interviewer. Their goals are twofold, get a good read on you and your child and leave you feeling like you really want to apply to that school.
Not all interviewers are that skilled though.
I asked a similar question a few weeks back and the conclusion was to take the positive feedback with a grain of salt. The perspective I have is to consider the feedback as a hint that the interview will not be a barrier to admission.
As we went to more interviews and I thought about the process more, I believe that the pool of children applying to these schools are generally so amazing that most probably interview well. However, there are not enough chairs at many of the schools to accept all the qualified students.
I cannot wait until March 9th comes to see the results.
Remember too that AOS genuinely like young people - they wouldn’t do this job if they didn’t. And they probably genuinely liked you! If you leave with this feeling, know that you have probably achieved exactly what you should have in the interview – you connected and let the interviewer understand who you are.
Yep. That’s their job. Your child can check the box for completing a good interview. Now on to other parts of the app.
There were two schools where the interview felt rushed and the AO seemed completely indifferent to our child or family. Our kid was admitted to both. I’m not sure you can read too much into the interview…
The AD at one of the schools has now gotten me in touch with 2 different current parents and offered to have a current student email my child. I’m actually hesitant to let my kid correspond with the student, as I think it would make it even harder if there is a rejection in March. Is there another way I should be looking at it?
I did, but then that is no guarantee that I will be accepted 
@ABJ8888 We had students and parents reach out to us at several points in the application process. It’s pretty common. In fact, now as a parent, I help the admissions folks by doing the same. It’s just a courtesy and making sure that you and your child have all of the information you need to make a decision. It’s fine if you have no questions or concerns. Just a polite “thank you” and “no questions at this time” if fine.
@Altras Thanks. We’re pretty sure that the school is our child’s first choice, so we don’t want to come across as unappreciative or disinterested. Just trying to manage the let down if the news is bad in March. I wonder if it would be a horrible idea for me to tell the AD that we’d prefer to have these conversations after we know the school is an actual option.
@ABJ8888 Personally, I think it would be fine to say something like you’ve mentioned. If you say something like; My child absolutely loves your school and is already imagining herself there. I know that admission is incredibly competitive. While I would absolutely love for her to talk with others about their experiences, she’s already completely sold. Would it be possible to wait until we learn her admission decision before we connect her with a current student?
@ABJ8888 If the school really is your first choice, you might want to signal that. They often ask parent and student interviewers to report back on how likely a family is to enroll. You want to make sure they understand that you are concerned about heartache at not being admitted to a first choice. If they misinterpret your signals as lack of interest, it could hurt you at admissions time.
I like the advice above. Tell them they are #1 and that you are worried about setting your kid up for heartbreak by making a connection with them that may not survive M9 but that if successful, you’d welcome it then.
We were invited to a couple of events in Feb. at the school DS ultimately attended, and for the same reason, the parents attended when appropriate, without the kid. It had all of the makings of setting up a stall in the barn for the pony Santa doesn’t bring!
While we had many positive interview experiences (with mostly, but not all positive admissions results) I can think of one school in particular that definitely didn’t feel like they wanted our daughter. She had already applied (otherwise we would have advised her not to)…we were not that surprised when she did not get in.
I had an awful interview (I won’t say which school, but it was a top one). The lady made me feel so awkward, as if everything I was saying was wrong. after I finished speaking, she would cluck her tongue and start scribbling notes, leaving awkward pauses. I would tell her about my passion for music (singing and piano) and about my reading (my favorite author is Charlotte Bronte) and she would just say “And?” I would feel the need to fill the empty spaces and would start babbling. The interview was dangerously short (we’re talking less than ten minutes). all the rest of mine were forty minutes and over, with great gushing interviewers and deep conversations. Will this ruin me?
Will it ruin you? In the long run, no. Will you get accepted by that school? Probably not. But, IMO, that’s a good thing.If the chemistry is not there from the get-go, it’s unlikely to develop over time. It’s their loss anyway.
My interview at SAS was probably the my best one (ironicly it was my first and my last interview was my worst) and I really felt like my AO knew who I was. In general, it gave me such a positive view of the school (which was complimented by a great tour guide).