Interview Dos and Don’ts

Before the Interview

1. Do your research.

Do: Prior to the interview, parents and students should research the school. What kind of academic programs does the school offer? How do these programs align with your goals and needs? Do they have a sports team or other extracurricular activities that interest you? 

During the interview, it’s important to talk about specific offerings that excite you. Not only will this show the school that you took the time to do your research, it will also help give them a sense for how you would fit into their community.  

Don’t: Don’t miss opportunities to interact with the school before you interview. Schools host various admissions events, including open houses, so be sure to attend as many as possible. This can be a great opportunity to meet teachers, coaches, program directors, or current students who can help you envision what the school has to offer. It’s also a good idea to go to school events, such as sports games, plays, and performances, so you can get a true sense of the school community.

2. Know what to expect.

Do: It will help ease your nerves if you know what to expect during the interview. It’s good to know how long the interview will be, how many interviewers you will be talking to, if the student and parent interview is combined or separate, and if there will be a campus tour before or after the interview.

Don’t: If information about the visit isn’t provided, don’t be afraid to reach out to the school’s admissions team to ask.

3. Practice common questions.

Do: Doing a practice interview with a trusted adult is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it can be difficult to talk about yourself, so it’s important to practice doing so aloud. Second, it’s critical to provide a reason for each answer, and this takes a bit of practice. For example, let’s say you’re asked, “What is your favorite subject in school?” It’s not a good idea to simply say, “I like math.” because it doesn’t help the interviewer get to know you. Instead, make sure to include the “because” part when you respond. “I like math because…” 

Don’t: While it’s important for parents to be involved, it’s best for students to practice with an adult who is slightly removed from the process, such as a neighbor or a teacher. The reason for this is that students tend to practice more seriously with someone who isn’t their parent.

4. Think about a few things you want to share.

Do: It’s a good idea to think about two to three specific things you’d like to make sure you share during your interview. These things should help the interviewer get to know you better. It’s likely that you will have the opportunity to share these things in your responses, but in case you don’t, the interviewer will likely ask you at the end if there’s anything else you wanted to share. 

Don’t: Don’t over-prepare because it can come across as rehearsed and inauthentic. While it can be helpful to jot down the few things you want to make sure to share, don’t prepare a word-for-word response. 

5. Come up with questions to ask.

Do: After researching the school, write down at least three questions to ask the interviewer. Be sure to think of thoughtful questions, such as “ What type of academic support is available if my child struggles?” Having good questions prepared ahead of time will show the school just how serious you are. 

Don’t: Don’t ask questions that can be easily answered on the school’s website. For example, questions like, “Do you have a football team?” or “How many students are enrolled?” are questions that can likely be answered by doing a bit of research on the school’s website. These questions indicate that you did not take the time to do your research, which signals a lack of interest to the school.