<p>My mother is very on the edge about boarding school-
"Let's see if you get in first" kind of mentality.
She would let me go if a) I got in b) I got financial aid and c) Well, that's about it.
But her argument is that "I want to be involved in my child's school and life, and I'm apprehensive about having her leave so young".
It's understandable and makes us both feel incredibly selfish, as she realizes that boarding school (even just the application process) is an amazing opportunity and I realize that she is my MOTHER, and I want her involved too.</p>
<p>The real question is (sorry for the tl;dr) if my mom reveals her anxieties and "apprehension" while still saying that she does understand this is an opportunity, will that VERY negatively affect my application?</p>
<p>We started planning school visits today, that's why I ask... Because I know parent interviews are often included, and if the only thing schools take out of my mom is "She won't let her kid go if we accept her" (which ISN'T the case, but sounds like it, right?) then I'll lose the acceptance!!</p>
<p>I had the same situation with my mother. What I did though was just ask my dad to do it. He was more calm and put together because he actually wanted me to go and he understood it would be a great experience for me.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much. Talk to your mom before the interview and ask her to make it clear that she does want this opportunity for you. I had the same problem with my mom, but my interviews (both my own and my parents') all went extremely well, so hopefully things will work out for you too.</p>
<p>I do think that a good boarding school tries to admit a family, not just a child. By my way of thinking, and I may be way off base, the admission's team will ask themselves: </p>
<p>Are the parents committed to supporting the child's boarding school experience?</p>
<p>Will the parents happily and willingly participate in the life of the school to the extent they can? (Geography and finances permitting etc)</p>
<p>Do the parents interact with the child in a way that evidences a healthy, loving relationship (despite the usual adolescent bumps and pings which are almost always present)?</p>
<p>Do the parents seem high maintenance or will they let the School do its magic?</p>
<p>Of course, these questions/concerns are secondary to the School's assessment of the child's academic and social potential, his/her willingness and ability to make a positive impact on campus. </p>
<p>If your Mom won't interview well, but your Dad will, then plan to visit with just him. Your anxiety that your Mom will convey the wrong tone may come across during your own interview. The most important thing you can do to have a great interview is to be yourself, to think of questions that you may be asked and how you would candidly answer them (not some reply that you think someone wants to hear) and to have fun!! Honesty, enthusiasm, a wide smile, genuine interest - these make an interview memorable and refreshing for the interviewer.</p>
<p>Lastly, no parent wants to be excluded from such an important process. This is a tough call. I'm sure that lots of folks would disagree with my opinion. I hope that other parents will chime in with different advice that you can consider.</p>
<p>My mom is the only parent who can do an interview- she has custody, as my parents and divorced. But thanks for all the replies and reassurances- A month til interview! (If we schedule it... Hehe) So hopefully I'll just keeping talking to my mom.</p>
<p>As a parent who has been interviewed - the schools all ask the parents how they feel about sending their kid to boarding school. It is an important question for your mother to think about how she will answer. They understand the mixed emotions parents have to face. My answers were in the realm of - I'll miss her a lot, but I'm so excited for her to have this opportunity. Probably what everyone says. I also said that I think she is ready for it and that she is very social and will make friends with everyone on campus in about 5 minutes. Which is true :)</p>
<p>It is important that your mother express confidence in your ability to thrive in a boarding school environment. You are right to talk to her, and make sure she has an answer like PhotoOp suggested prepared. Admitting that she has doubts will not get you automatically rejected, but they do tend to think about it. I recall it being concerned when I interviewed for reasons of wanting to go to boarding school. One of the major reasons was that my childhood was very difficult and my parents did certain things and made certain decisions that had very negative effects on my life and created somewhat of an unhealthy environment. So I spent a lot of time contemplating how to portray that in my essays and interviews. You should consider this similarly.
Also, just saying, neither of my parents (joint custody) interviewed at a single school. I did, but they didn't. And that didn't seem to have a great effect.</p>
<p>I think your parent's job is partly to interview the school with the assumption that you will be accepted. We "rejected" several schools (and d agreed with all but 1) on our interview.</p>
<p>All of the interviewers wrote us back hoping "they made a good impression". The schools that d wait listed at all said they were worried about her age (she started a year early to school) and that she missed all of 7th grade with migraines and we interviewed early in 8th (after migraines Rxed at Cleveland Clinic))</p>