Admissions 101: Acing the Student Interview

Thoughts From Jacquie & Verona…

There’s no denying it, the independent and boarding school admissions process is overwhelming. The to-do list is endless; the multitude of components is bewildering, and the number of hoops you have to jump through is exhausting. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been posting regular blogs on how to break down the school search into bite-size chunks and make it more manageable.

This Week’s Lowdown: The Student Interview

For the final installment, we invited Sarah Scoville, who is an Associate Director of Admissions at Salisbury School, CT, to provide insights on how to help your student prepare for the school admissions interview. Over to you, Sarah…

Acing Your Interview: 7 Tips from a Prep School Admissions Officer

Preparing for a school admissions interview can seem daunting. Here are seven tips to help prepare for the big moment.

1. Practice - Practicing will make you more comfortable when the time comes to interview. Sit down with a parent or friend and have them pretend to conduct an interview. Let them come up with questions to ask you on the spot. They can give you feedback on your answers, body language, etc. 

2. Do Research - You should be familiar with the school before you sit down for your interview. Be sure to take a look at the school’s website to brush up on basic facts and to get a feel for each school. You should have a good idea of why you are interested in the school, what you like most about the school and why you feel the school could be a good fit for you. 

3. What to Wear - Whether visiting a school campus in person for an interview or connecting with an admissions officer virtually from the comfort of your home, be sure to dress the part. Be sure you are looking clean and neat; you want to show you’re serious about applying and want to be considered a top candidate.  

4. Check Your Technology and Background - If you are conducting your interview virtually, there is nothing worse than having a tech glitch during an important virtual event. Before your scheduled interview time, make sure you double-check that you have the log-in or meeting information on hand and that your audio and camera are working properly. It's important to find a quiet space for your interview conversation (try to avoid a barking dog or noisy sibling in the background). And, make sure you check the backdrop behind you.  Is it too bright and as a result, we can't see you? Is it too dark? Try to place your camera at eye level and position yourself so you have a pleasant backdrop with gentle lighting.

5. Be Yourself  - Your admissions officer wants to get to know you, the real you. Talk about the things you like to study, your hobbies, your interests, your goals, and the new experiences you are looking forward to. Don't memorize prepared answers to then give to your interviewer. Having a genuine and honest conversation is the best way to learn if you and the school are a good fit for each other.

6. Ask Thoughtful Questions - It’s important that you prepare some engaging questions to ask your interviewer. You want to demonstrate that you have done your research and that you are invested in getting a strong sense of the school’s culture and community.  Don’t just ask a question as simple as “how big is your student body?”, dig deeper. 

7. Follow Up and Stay Connected - Because families may be unable to get to school campuses this fall to experience a school community in person, it is perhaps more important than ever to maintain a personal connection with a school. Be sure to send your interviewer an email after your conversation. This is a great time to ask to connect with a current student, faculty member, program director or coach. Making those personal connections with various community members will be critical as you look to learn more about each school.

The interview is a valuable piece of the boarding school application process and a great way to learn more about a school. Good luck! 

A final word from KQ …

Thanks, Sarah, we appreciate your input! As always, KQ is just a phone call or email away. Consider contacting us to prepare your student for the interview. Our specialists can also work with you to craft a compelling parent statement or with any other aspect of the admissions process. 

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Written by Sarah Scoville | Associate Director of Admissions | Salisbury School

Sarah hails from Philadelphia, PA, and graduated from Haverford College in 2009. Following her graduation, she began her career in education at New Canaan Country School (CT).  Sarah has also taught at Brookwood School (MA) and Cardigan Mountain School (NH). In 2014, Sarah joined the admissions team at Salisbury School, an all-boys boarding school in Connecticut.  In addition to her work in admissions, Sarah has served as an advisor, coach, and dorm parent. Sarah lives on campus with her husband, their two children, and two labs. Click here to connect with Sarah!

Zooming to a Great Admissions Interview!

Candidate interviews have always been a pivotal part of the independent high school, and in some cases college, application process. This year, however, schools have had to pivot to entirely virtual procedures due to the pandemic, resulting in limited campus visits, tours and shadow days. In the absence of the opportunity to meet in person, the interview is now, more than ever, a crucial component of the admission process.

As adults, we’ve all been in some situation that resembles an interview - for a job, a school, or even a date! These life experiences have equipped us with a solid base of knowledge about how to handle these encounters, but our children are just starting out and don’t have the same bank of wisdom to tap into. Nor can we hold them by the hand and be with them during the event itself. So just how do you prepare your child for the virtual interview to ensure they present their best self?

Even in ‘normal’ times, the admissions interview can evoke feelings of anxiety in a candidate as they reflect on who they are, what questions they will be asked, and their academic preparedness. Under current circumstances, candidates do not have the benefit of the usual social cues provided by the environment, body language, facial expressions, and eye contact that the in-person interview provides. Instead, they are   quite literally required to be ‘on’ at the flick of a button. This artificial situation may bring about anxiety in your child. This apprehension is 100% natural, so the best way to head off these concerns is to be prepared.  

On the good news front, we’ve all grown to appreciate the importance of technology - along with its quirks - since the pandemic started in March. Children have also become accustomed to speaking in front of a camera for classes, play dates, tutoring, family catch ups etc. In theory, this should make the virtual interview less daunting, but stage fright can still take hold, so here are some helpful tips to help you prepare for the interview with your child.

• Charge your device

• Test your internet connection

• Do an audio/video check - how does your child sound? 

• Make sure you have a good camera angle - don’t show them just a forehead!

• Do a test run - rehearse with a friend or family member who can give feedback

• Mark where the camera on device is so your child looks as if they’re speaking right at the interviewer

• Make sure your child avoids online browsing or typing during the interview

• Choose a quiet space that has a clear, simple background. It should be private with minimal distractions.

• Have everything needed at hand - pen, pencil, paper, notes, tissue, glass of water

• Dress code: Wear appropriate clothes. A virtual meeting is just as important as an in-person interview, so dress to impress!

• Posture: Make sure your child is comfortable in their chair so they don’t slouch. Remind your child not to rest their head on their hand when listening. And remind them to appear engaged at all times!

• Body language: Right up there with posture, body language tells the interviewer so much about whether the candidate is following the conversation, is interested in what they have to say, and if they are engaged in the process. It’s a lot to expect of your child, but remind them to smile when appropriate, focus on the conversation, and sit up straight (even we can hear our mothers saying that!).

• It sounds obvious, but research the school and make sure your child can answer the question: “Why Xyz School?” To do this, browse through the admissions section of the school’s website, do the online virtual campus tours, and read as many candidate resources as possible

• Have your child prepare a card with talking points on it - just a few, not a script!

• Come up with a few questions ahead of time for your child to ask the interviewer. If they’ve covered them during the interview, maybe ask one that is personal to them. The more engaged and interested your child sounds, the better!

• At the end of the interview, remind your child to take a breath, smile and give their heartfelt thanks to the interviewer for their time and the opportunity to learn more about the school

• Make sure your child sends a thank you note via email or mail

Hopefully, these pointers will help your child prepare for, and ultimately ace the admissions interview. We are available for one-on-one coaching if you feel like your child would benefit from independent, professional coaching. We are just an email away, so please click here to contact us!

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Written by Verona Keating and Jacquie Quigley | Founding Partners of Keating Quigley Educational Advisors