When it comes to an admission interview, just be yourself

The school has been selected, your application is submitted and your family’s hopes are high as you wait for an acceptance letter. Then you hear the news: there will be an admission interview.

For both would-be students and their parents, the prospect of an in-person interview — one that can make or break their academic dream — can be intimidating, if not terrifying. Yet private school administrators are quick to reassure both prospective students and their parents that the admission interview is not the same as an IQ test or a thesis defence.

“What we want to try to understand in an admissions interview is whether a child has the potential to grow, learn and contribute positively to our community and beyond,” said Emily Moir, the vice principal of enrolment management at Toronto’s Upper Canada College.

“Their curiosity and motivations for learning, unique gifts they might uncover in trying new experiences, and what character values they hold that will influence the community, are all taken into consideration.”

Rhonda Daley echoes this sentiment. The executive director of community development and engagement at Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby said the admissions interview helps to determine whether a student is a good fit for the school, and whether the school is a good fit for the student.

“Yes, it provides us the opportunity to get to know each family, but it’s also the perfect time for the student to learn more about our school community and programs,” Daley said. “That’s why we encourage students to prepare their own set of questions for us.”

Acknowledging that nerves are an inevitable part of any interview process, Daley said there are ways both potential students and their parents can prepare and set themselves up for success.

“In the weeks leading up to the interview, the prospective student might want to choose a sample piece of work they’re particularly proud,” she said. “On the day of the interview, bringing something like this typically helps the student to relax and serves as a great springboard to opening natural and easy conversation while providing us insight into them as learners.”

Daley said while students can expect questions related to subjects such as academics, interests and core values, it is best for them to reflect on the topics rather than rehearse answers in advance.

“As important as it is to prepare, students are cautioned to try not to over prepare,” said Daley. “We want the interviews to flow naturally without scripted or rehearsed answers. This gives us much better insight into each student as individuals and learners.”

Elena Holeton, director of admissions for St. Clement's School in Toronto, said that some families of prospective students believe that there are right and wrong answers to every question and will coach their kids to respond in certain ways.  

“Families should know that independent school interviews are not designed to be scary and are not trying to be ‘gotcha’ experiences,” Holeton said. “Interviewers really just want to get to know the applicant a bit better and they know this will happen more easily if the child is put at ease.”

Holeton said that while parents are often concerned that their shy or reserved child might be at a disadvantage in this sort of situation, admission interviewers speak to all sorts of young people. They will understand and see beyond the nerves and timidity.

“The best advice I could give parents is to remind their child that they are the experts on themselves, and therefore have all information and preparation they need inside themselves.”

Holeton said that before an admissions interview takes place, a parent or guardian might consider role-playing the scenario with their child. She suggests keeping the back and forth light and being open to any answer the child provides. They should also be careful to not steer their child in a particular direction or tell them they’re wrong in their replies.  

“No matter how much we try to reassure them, most children find the interview nerve-wracking,” she said. “This is completely understandable. It is important that we, as adults, role model being relaxed about the interview and project confidence in our child.”

Upper Canada College’s Moir said that when that day of an admissions interview inevitably comes, and the butterflies kick in, a student might want to take a nice deep breath to evoke a sense of calm and confidence.

“Remember that you’re about to have a wonderful conversation with someone who is curious about you and who wants you to be comfortable, too,” Moir said.