School interviews are primarily to assess if you are a good fit for the school; it’s also your chance to evaluate if the school is a good fit for you. It is hard to get to know a student based on their application and transcripts alone, so these interviews are to get a better sense of who you are. This goes beyond what you put on the application and will be a little more in-depth. Some interviews will be with your parents, and some will be one-on-one with the interviewer, so it’s best to be prepared for either. We have examples of the types of questions that schools may ask below, but it’s best to be honest and relaxed versus sounding rehearsed.
The questions can be based on academics, behavior, ethics and values, your commitment to study, sports, and extra-curricular activities.
Schools also want to ensure that they can cater to each student’s needs and provide any required learning support. So, if you have any special requirements or learning differences, this is an excellent time to ask questions about how they can support you.
Here are the types of questions a school could ask. Remember, these are prompts to try to get to know you. Try to answer in complete sentences rather than just yes or no; if you answer yes or no, answer properly, not yeah, uh-huh, etc. It is normal to feel nervous, but since these questions are about getting to know you, there are no wrong answers.
- Tell us about your family.
- What is your favorite subject?
- What have you been praised for?
- Have you thought about what you want to do for a career?
- Where do you think you have room for improvement?
- What is your least favorite subject and why?
- What is your biggest challenge at school?
- What do you like to do outside of school?
- How would your current teachers describe you?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- How do you deal with conflicts that arise at school?
- What is your favorite book?
- What do you like best about our school, and what makes it a good fit for you?
Tips:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Eat a good breakfast, preferably with protein.
- Dress appropriately; casual is fine but make sure it’s polished and not sloppy. If the school has a dress code, try to dress as close to that as possible.
- This is the time to bring out your best manners, please, thank you, etc.
- Be honest.
- Don’t use your phone, and make sure it is silenced or off.
- Good eye contact and a firm handshake go a long way.
Parents:
- Make sure you are on-time.
- Let your child answer the questions for themselves as much as possible.
