<p>What do schools like Andover and Exeter ask you in an interview?</p>
<p>I want to know the same thing! :)</p>
<p>My son just had his interview at Exeter this month and he said they basically just asked him to tell them why he wanted to go there, and then just to tell the interviewer about himself. The structure was loose and he said it was more like a conversation than an interview.</p>
<p>My C’s Andover interview last year was so tightly structured with direct questions, that C felt there was no opportunity to convey who C is as a person. The questions were all very concrete - what sports are you involved in, what instrument do you play, etc. Blah. Interviews vary tremendously with the style and personality of the interviewer.</p>
<p>Do they really vary with the interviewer, or more school by school? We have spoken to two other families whose kids have had the same interview experience this fall at Exeter (but different interviewers). </p>
<p>He is not applying anywhere else, so I don’t know, but I have a hard time believing that admissions staff don’t have somewhat of an agreed-upon approach, because wouldn’t that really hinder their ability to compare applicants?</p>
<p>Hm… I’ve noticed that my Exeter interview was more of a conversation while my Andover interview was more structured. But it really depends, no one can predict what they ask, and there’s really no point in “preparing” for it.</p>
<p>I think it varies by interviewer more than by school. A lot of people have posted about their interview experiences at different schools, and maybe others think differently, but I haven’t had the sense that there are clear trends of interview style by school. If two people describe similar interview style at the same school, it could mean they had the same interviewer, and does not necessarily indicate a trend at that school.</p>
<p>I think it does make sense to prepare. You have limited time, so be sure you have all your questions, list of accomplishments, etc., on the tip of your tongue. It’s so easy to forget even important stuff, when under pressure.</p>
<p>My Andover interview was much more like a casual, fun conversation, while my Exeter one was more structured and stiff. Depends a lot on the interviewer.</p>