Why the Interview is Important (And Why It’s Important to Prepare!)
It’s no surprise that the interview is one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process to independent and private schools. It can be intimidating to talk about yourself under such a big spotlight!
But the interview is arguably one of the most important aspects of the admissions process—for both the family and the school—so you’ll want to make sure that you are prepared.
Why the Interview Is So Important
Paints a Complete Picture
The interview allows admission officers to gain a holistic view of the applicant. While academic records and test scores provide a quantitative snapshot of a student’s capabilities and achievements, the interview offers a qualitative perspective, revealing deeper insights into the student’s personality, interests, and potential fit within the school community.
Many students have talents and passions that are not reflected in their academic records. The interview can uncover these hidden strengths, whether they lie in the arts, sports, leadership, or other areas. Recognizing these attributes allows schools to build a diverse and dynamic student body.
Through conversations, students can express their passions, interests, and unique perspectives, offering a more complete picture than what written essays and letters of recommendations can provide.
Gauge for Academic Success
Interviews also allow admissions teams to assess a student’s ability to articulate thoughts clearly, listen actively, and engage in meaningful conversation. These skills are essential not only for academic success but also for participating in classroom discussions, group projects, and extracurricular activities.
Character Assessment
Character development is a cornerstone of many independent schools. Interviews provide a window into a student’s character, including their integrity, empathy, leadership potential, and resilience. These qualities are considered when determining how a student might contribute to the school community and benefit from the educational experience provided.
Self-Reflection
The interview process encourages students to reflect on their own experiences, goals, and aspirations. It pushes them to think about why they are interested in the particular school, what they hope to achieve, and how they plan to contribute. This self-reflection is valuable not only for the admissions process but also for the student’s personal growth. After all, this is the first time in their lives that they are taking responsibility for the direction of their learning!
Personal Connection
Interviews establish a personal connection between the applicant and the admissions team. This connection can be vital for students who may feel more comfortable and confident knowing that the school recognizes and values them as individuals, not just as numbers or statistics.
Parent/Guardian Participation
Finally, interviews often include a component where parents/guardians are involved. This helps the school understand the family’s educational values and expectations. It also provides parents/guardians an opportunity to ask questions and better understand the school’s philosophy and community.
Why It’s Important to Practice for the Interview
Calm Your Nerves
Even the most outgoing people find interviews nerve-wracking. The best way to calm your nerves is to practice. Make sure to practice your answers out loud, so that you can get comfortable with the way you deliver your response.
Learn How to Provide Details
During an interview, it’s not enough to just answer the question. You want to make sure that you provide a reason for your answer, and this requires some practice. For example, if you’re asked, “What is your favorite subject in school?” it’s not a good idea to simply say, “I like science.” because it doesn’t help the interviewer get to know you. So make sure to include “because” whenever you respond. “I like science because…”
Get Comfortable Talking About Yourself
While it’s important to be humble, the interview is your opportunity to shine, so don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments! If you don’t practice talking about yourself, it can be easy to downplay your achievements and skills. You want to make sure the interviewer gets a true picture of who you are, and that requires you to talk about yourself.
Cover Important Points
It’s a good idea to think about a few things that you want to make sure you cover during the interview. These could be things that aren’t in your application or things that you want to expand on. It’s likely that you’ll have the chance to talk about these points in your responses, but in case you don’t, the interviewer will ask you at the end if there’s anything else you want to share. It’s helpful to practice talking about these important points, so that when the opportunity presents itself, you’ll be ready.
Demonstrate Interest
Coming prepared for your interviews signals to the school that you are a serious and engaged candidate. Make sure to research the school beforehand, so that you can talk about specific offerings at the school that interest you. After researching the school, come up with a few questions that you’d like to ask. Remember that the interview is also your chance to get to know the school better.
The interview is a critical element of the independent school admissions process, serving as a bridge between the applicant’s documented achievements and their personal story. It ensures that schools select students who are not only academically capable but also a good fit for their unique environment.
Preparing for the interview will ensure that you are able to put your best foot forward and show the school who you truly are, and it will give you the opportunity to make sure that the school is a good fit for you.
