<p>Are parents interviewed at the time of campus visit? Would having one or both parents present to demonstrate support for the student applicant possibly help or hurt chances of admission?</p>
<p>Yes, the interviewer talks to the parents after the student interview. It’s generally pretty low key. If you can provide some insight into the student that’s not otherwise covered in the application or recommendations, that might help the application, but it’s not necessary. </p>
<p>The school will understand if only one parent can make it. I volunteer in the admissions office at my kids’ school; the only cases I’ve seen where no parents attend the interview is when the family lives far away and another close relative who lives in the area brings the student to the interview.</p>
<p>If possible, I’d recommend at least one parent make it…as a show of support for the process. I’ve seen plenty of “how to convince my parents to allow me to go to boarding school” posts in my time on the forum, and I think that sort of disconnect between parent and child is not a good omen.</p>
<p>That said, I agree with that photodad says above. If the parents truly cannot make it (especially for work/financial/childcare reasons) it would not necessarily be held against applicant.</p>
<p>In terms of parent interviews hurting chances, I think if parents come off as either the main drivers of the process (kid has no interest, parents are “making” him/her go through process) or if they seem too helicopter/high maintenance that could be a deal breaker.</p>
<p>I never even considered having both my husband and I go to the interviews. I don’t think it was an issue as DS heads for Groton in a few days. We are a local-ish family and have other children and that might have been difficult with child care issues. I’m glad I didn’t worry about this at the time!</p>
<p>For us, it is really inconvenient because we have an 11 year old who requires some attention and I need to work so that I can pay for the very high tuition in these schools. So, my wife will be making the connecticut trip with my son and I will stay behind with our daughter. Hopefully the AOs will understand and not count it against my son in his effort to find the right school.</p>
<p>During my son’s application process last year, I was the only parent who attended the interviews. My wife works, so she could not attend. The AOs generally understood this, one parent should be enough.</p>
<p>They just want to make sure you are not going to be one of those crazy helicopter parents. It will be low-key</p>