Tips On Getting Ready For The Private School Interview
When you enroll your child in a private school, one of the standard elements of the admission process is for you, your spouse, and your child to meet with school administrators for an interview. You might be feeling a little anxious about seeing this date approaching on your schedule, given its importance. It's important to be as calm as possible; your nervousness can make your child feel nervous, which could make the interview more difficult than it needs to be. Additionally, it's helpful to be prepared. Here are some tips for getting ready for the private school interview.
Talk To Your Child About The Likely Questions
A private school interview will cover a wide range of topics, from the child's current academic interests to his or her future career plans to his or her life outside of the school. Everyone will feel more confident going into the interview if your child feels prepared to answer some of the questions. Many families have practice interviews — they ask their child a handful of questions so that the process of answering the questions during the actual interview will feel more comfortable. You shouldn't tell your child how to answer, but you can feel free to ask follow-up questions to help him or her develop polished answers.
Learn About The School
In today's digital age, you'll be able to learn a wealth of information about the school in advance of the interview. Of course, you'll have a good idea about the school if you're enrolling your child, but sitting with your child and reading about it will make you both feel calmer during the interview. Knowledge is power, and when the school administrators share facts that you've already learned, it can help improve your confidence. Read the school's website, look for independent articles about the school and browse the school's social media accounts to learn a wide range of details.
Make A List Of Questions You Want Answered
Although much of the focus during the interview will be on your child, you should also have a list of questions that you can pose to the administrators. Have your child contribute some questions, too. Questions can focus on the curriculum, academics, on-site accommodations if your child will be boarding at the school, and other related topics about student life. You'll feel more confident knowing that you're prepared in this manner, as there will likely be a time during the interview for you to ask questions, and you don't want to realize that you don't have anything appropriate to ask.