My theory on interviews

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Here's my theory about interviews. I'd love some feedback, especially from those of you with more experience. This is what I think the staff wants to find out.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>what is the kid's attitude towards this school in particular and BS in general? How impressed was he/she with the tour and what is the interest level. I don't think it's a coincidence that the interview is immediately following the tour.</p></li>
<li><p>whether the kid is interesting or not, i.e. Does this kid have a personality?</p></li>
<li><p>if the kid is capable of having a meaningful conversation with adults. So many of the classes are discussion based, that this seems like a really important element.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My son was asked why he wanted to go to BS, why the particular school, what other schools he had looked at and whether he would miss his friends or not. </p>

<p>I know everyone says that the interview is really important and I do believe that it is. But my theory is that the interview is a means of making the first cut, so to speak. I don't believe for a minute that a kid can be admitted on the basis of the interview alone; but it wouldn't surprise me at all if a bad impression keeps a child from being admitted. I really think that, at the most competitive schools anyway, almost all of the applicants are academically qualified. I think it comes down to personality in the end. Is this a person we want around for the next four years and how will his/her background contribute to our community? </p>

<p>Probably the best response from an interview is, "Wow, I like this kid. Let's see how the rest of his application stacks up." The worst is probably something like, "Boy, no personality. It was like pulling teeth to get this kid to speak up."</p>

<p>I'm glad we didn't "coach" our son or anything. I hope the interviewer didn't think we did. Son comes up with some doozies all on his own! According to his interviewer, he did "very well," but I have no idea what that means. He didn't try to sell us on the school or anything. He just made it clear that our son would be with kids who were like him.</p>

2

<p>"- what is the kid's attitude towards this school in particular and BS in general?"</p>

<p>I agree with this, more so from the standpoint of the child's attitude of BS in general, less so of the school in particular. I think they realize many/most kids will play up their interest in the school</p>

<p>"How impressed was he/she with the tour and what is the interest level."</p>

<p>Disagree with this, generally tours are usually given by students, while some feedback may be sought from the tour guides it will not be given much weight unless there is a huge red flag.</p>

<p>"- if the kid is capable of having a meaningful conversation with adults. So many of the classes are discussion based, that this seems like a really important element."</p>

<p>I think it speaks well of the child if they can have a meaningful conversation with the interviewer, but I think you are projecting too much when you try to connect it to how they can perform in class.</p>

<p>"My son was asked why he wanted to go to BS, why the particular school, what other schools he had looked at and whether he would miss his friends or not."</p>

<p>Very important question/s. Does the child want to be there or is it being driven by the parents, are they truly interested in BS.</p>

<p>"I don't believe for a minute that a kid can be admitted on the basis of the interview alone; but it wouldn't surprise me at all if a bad impression keeps a child from being admitted."</p>

<p>Any one part of the application process can sink a child's chances of admittance. I think that the interview is one of the most important aspects of the process; if not the most important. It is the one time the school can get a look at your child "unfiltered". </p>

<p>"I think it comes down to personality in the end. Is this a person we want around for the next four years and how will his/her background contribute to our community?"</p>

<p>Exactly, that is why the interview is so important, it is the best way to examine the personality of the child.</p>

<p>"According to his interviewer, he did "very well," but I have no idea what that means."</p>

<p>Honestly, I don't think it means anything.</p>

3

<p>Well... Each and every interviewer is different. My dad always told me that each interview has their style of what really grabs them, but they judge based on what they have seen. So you can get in without adapting and reading what they want... But you can really wow them if you can adapt to what they view as important.</p>

<p>The description "Very well" is misleading... would the interviewer ever tell the parent, "Your son's interview just kept him from being accepted".</p>

<p>NOT TRYING TO BASH ON YOUR SON.</p>

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<p>HA! Oh, I know! That's what's funny. What else would they say? My guess is that it means they got more than two word answers out of him and he didn't make a complete fool of himself. Or, it could mean, "He did very well, (in showing us that he is exactly NOT what we're looking for)."</p>

5

<p>During the parent's interview, we were told "Your son did very well" or some variation of it at every interview. You cannot read anything into it. Some interviewers will go so far as to cite certain qualities and state, "That's just what we are looking for." You cannot read too much into that either. </p>

<p>Decades ago, I'm told by veterans that sometimes an interviewer would tell prospective parents that they were looking at the wrong kind of school. Now that everything is so numbers driven, they want applicants, suitable or not, to drive up the numbers. Someone said on another thread that they just want the application fee. Fees are not the numbers I'm referring to. I think the fee does not even come close to covering Admission expenses. They want to increase the number of applications.</p>

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<p>I can tell you the one school where we all KNEW that it was not a good fit during the tour - and thus I'm SURE my son's interview also showed that - the interviewer said nice things about him - how mature he was, how he asked great questions, how he seems to really know what he wants, things like that - he never said "he'd do well here" or "he'd fit in well here." Nearly every other school said those things. One even told us what classes they thought he'd be taking this year (it's the one he's at actually). </p>

<p>I would say my son's interview got him on a wait list at a reach school when he, without the interview, would have been rejected outright. I would also say it wasn't enough to push him from the wait list to acceptance at a match-low reach school that had very few 10th grade openings. </p>

<p>I think one of the most important things is to do your research. He interviewed at 3 all boys schools. He read the materials, he knew the benefits. When the interviewers asked him why he wanted to attend their school, he went ahead and told them all about the benefits of all-boys schools. They all told us that they usually have to tell the boys those things, that he did their jobs for them - they were very impressed.</p>

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<p>Bringing this thread back because I happened upon it just now & thought it was a good one. Thanks, Neato & the others for the thoughtful posts. </p>

<p>Anyone else? How is the feedback from this year’s interviews coming along? Does it fit with what has been observed above?</p>

<p>I do wish that schools would not be so numbers driven that they would have the courage & honesty to indicate if they were not necessarily the best school for the kid. I have heard from one parent on CC where that happened.</p>

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<p>I think another objective of the interview is for the school to find out whether or not the student is genuinely a nice kid or is a Bulls**t artist. These schools want nice kids.</p>

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<p>Keep in mind they are also listening to what you say in the parent interview. We told our interviewers that any outcome would be a “win win”; we’d get to keep her at home or she would be at school. Not sure we came off as pro bs.</p>

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<p>For me too, any outcome is a win-win. Should I mention that at my last interview or not ? I sort of mentioned it in the other ones, but is it something to be avoided ?</p>

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<p>i would say an interview can make or break your chances of getting into a prep school but some of the stuff neato said only relates to exeter and people who live in new england who are able to visit the schools…</p>

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<p>Wow! A blast from the past. I started this thread 2 years ago, after my son’s interview at Groton when he was in 7th and applying for 8th. Now, after over 20 interviews with two kids, the only thing I would add is that it may also function to see if the parents are nut jobs or not.</p>

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<p>My d had a summer interview and was told that “we would love to have her here, she would be a great asset to our community, but I dont think this is the best fit that you could find for your d.” The AO then proceeded to make a list for me of schools that she felt would match my d’s academic needs. She admitted that she would be at the top of their academic ladder, and seeing that this was a situation that we were trying to leave, other schools would better suit her.</p>

<p>I was extremely impressed and I thank this AO constantly. My d would have been a catch at this school for many reasons but this woman who spent 2 hours with us on a warm summers day was just open, honest and was a caring professional and human being.</p>

<p>The AO at the school my d attends, asked us what qualities we were looking for in a bs and where else we were looking. She expressed her happiness that we were looking at a variety of schools for various reasons. She gave us the impression that this school met our criteria and to just look closely into not just what schools say but how they accomplish their goal. She not once made any negative comment on any schools. We even shared with her some schools that we interviewed with and then took of our list do to “non-fit”.</p>

<p>Another interviewer, asked us why we were even there? He said he didnt think that it was a good fit for our d, and then gave a written list of schools he felt would better serve my d. </p>

<p>For those that gave such great suggestions, I emailed and thank them, after our meeting and later to thank them again and share our decision.</p>

<p>Coming back to the topic, I think the interview is extremely important. There are a lot of academically admissible students, more students than available seats. I think, especially in the top schools they are looking for kids that will fit in and work as part of the community. An interview can give tons of information. I think the parent portion is almost as important and the students’. It was clear that I felt bs was a viable option for my d but it was up to her. </p>

<p>As a teacher of 17+ years, I can talk to a student and know if they read the chapter or just trying to bs me. Experience makes a difference. The majority of AO’s know what they are doing and that is somewhat reflected in their yield.</p>

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<p>Also, I think the interview is a great time for the schools to see if the kids are being dragged through the admissions process by their “helicopter” moms if you catch my drift…</p>

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<p>Any comments/experience with off-campus interviews? Are they inherently a disadvantage? Anyone out there who had an off-campus interview, and was accepted?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>(My son has two off-campus interviews, for two GLADCHEMMS schools, next week.)</p>

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<p>Mountainhiker–my d had 3off campus interviews in our city. One was due to on our visit dates, they had no interviewing time. I think it was a positive that my d had “home-court” advantage. The other two interviews were due to the inability to visit the campus, one in NJ. The NJ school interview was tough. My d felt that the interviewer was really not interested in her. It was the shortest of all interviews. When I spoke with the AO, she also gave me the intitial feeling of "bordem. I was to find out later that the AO had been on the road for about 5 days, we were the last city and she was just plain exhausted. </p>

<p>Seeing how you live in Colorado, we are in Chicago, I beleive many schools realize that not all families can visit. That is the reality of life.</p>

<p>I was happy that we did get to visit some schools and see the process from the campus side. The visits got us a feeling the campus and the students. After being accepted in at the NJ school, we did the revisit day. I loved the school/campus etc. My d didnt. But keep in mind that at that point my d was accepted in her first choice school, thus bias. If she didnt get her first choice that school would hve been a great posibility.</p>

<p>We didnt apply anywhere that my d would not have loved to attend. </p>

<p>Hope this helps, Good Luck!!</p>

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<p>Thanks, AleczMom!</p>

<p>My son had the first of his 2 off-campus interviews yesterday, in a city about an hour away from where we live. It was an extremely positive experience.</p>

<p>He emailed the interviewer after the interview was set up to confirm the details. The interviewer sent a nice reply, and stressed “casual conversation, casual dress.” That put his mind at ease right away, because in the Colorado mountains, no one EVER wears a tie - even to a funeral! (I still advised him not to wear jeans, but at least he knew he wasn’t expected to wear a tie!)</p>

<p>It was a great meeting, my son felt like he learned a lot, and my meeting with the alumni interviewer after my son’s was very informative, too.</p>

<p>I would hope that the interview “counted” as much as one on-campus. It certainly met our needs, and I hope it met the schools needs, too.</p>

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<p>Neato, looking at your list from two years ago, I wanted to add something. Then I saw you added two years later. It is about family. Parents, who pay the bill, are important too! </p>

<p>My friend who is a single mom even asked her boy friend to come with them for her daughter’s interviews, because she didn’t want to leave the image of single parent family.</p>

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<p>Wait hold on, so is there supposed 2 b a parent interview 4 Exeter?? Does any1 no?</p>

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<p>Fay, I am a divorced mom and would not have thought to take a “boyfriend” with me unless he was a major part of our life. FA knows it is just me taking care of my d.</p>

<p>But…I did take my mom, recent widow at the time and major support for both of us. She asked questions and answered questions. I think it was good for us to show that we are a family committed to bs.</p>