Private school parent interviews are coming up! Are you ready for your parent interview? If you think you can wing it and just show up at the parent interview unprepared- don’t! You need to do some prep work at home and be sure to come prepared with questions to ask the private school admissions director. Here are tips on how to do well in your private school parent interviews.
What is the Private School Parent Interview Like?
In my experience, private school parent interviews are usually not structured very formally. The parent interview takes place at the private school admissions director’s office or in a room at the private school admission office. It is not structured formally like a job interview where they are asking all the questions. The parent interview will feel more like a coffee or chat with the private school admissions director. So expect a discussion with the private school admissions director rather than a formal Q&A. They want to make sure you get a chance to ask questions and learn about their school. That means you need to come prepared for a discussion about your child and why the private school is a good fit for your family.
How to Do Well in Private School Parent Interviews
Below you will find tips and advice on how to do well at your private school parent interview.
1. Know the Private School Admissions Process
Make sure you do some research before you go in for your parent interview. Call the admissions office to find out what the private school admissions process is like. You need to know and understand what to expect and what the steps are for private school admissions. Every private school is different so you should contact each school individually to find out their admission process. It’s important to know when the parent interview will take place. From my experience, the parent interview is usually conducted right after the private school tour. Make sure you know that and come prepared for the parent interview.
2. Reach Out to Other Private School Parents
Do your research before the parent interview. Reach out to parents of children in that private school. See if you can get a quick phone conversation with another private school parent. Try to get some tips and advice on the admissions process. It’s also a way for you to find out more about the private school from an insider’s perspective.
3. What to Wear to the Private School Parent Interview
You and your spouse should take the time to dress smartly for the private school parent interview. At my children’s private school, when I see prospective parents touring the school, I always love to see what they are wearing (yes, I’m that nosy mom!) More often than not, parents wear smart business casual attire for the private school parent interviews. The moms always look polished and smart- slacks with a silk blouse and a nice mid-size purse or tote. While the dads wear what they wear to work (they always look like they will go back to the office after the parent interview)- a jacket, dress shirt, tie and pants. Remember, you want to make a good impression with the private school admissions director so dress well for your parent interview.
3. Be Able to Describe Your Child
One of the main objectives of the parent interview is for the private school admissions director to get to know your child. Ultimately, they are trying to decide if your child is a good fit in their private school. And in a more granular level, they are trying to decide if your child is a good fit in that particular class that your child is applying. When you go in to your parent interview, you need to be able to describe your child well to the private school admissions director. What is your child’s personality? What are your child’s strengths? What is your child’s interest? What does your child do in his/her free time? What activities are your child involved in? What makes your child unique? What is your child like socially? You need to be able to describe your child well at the parent interview. Make sure you give examples and have anecdotes prepared for the parent interview.
4. Come Prepared with Interview Questions
At the private school admissions parent interview, you need to come prepared with interview questions. Since the parent interview will be structured more like a discussion you will have a lot of opportunities to ask questions. Use this time to find out if the private school is a good fit for your child.
Private School Parent Interview Questions Ideas
Below are some interview question ideas that you can ask at the private school parent inteview. You can personalize the questions to try to understand how your child fits into the school environment.
- How do you encourage leadership skills?
- How do you develop communication skills?
- Do you have special programs for gifted kids?
- My child is shy, how do you make sure shy kids feel safe and included in the classroom?
- What is recess like at school?
- What is lunch like at school?
- Are there after school clubs?
- How do you handle discipline?
- How can parents get involved in the school?
- Are teachers happy in your school? What is teacher retention like?
- How do you encourage well-roundedness among your students?
5. Why is Your Child a Good Fit for the Private School?
You should be able to demonstrate to the private school admission director that your child is a good fit for the school. Come prepared with reasons why you think your child is a good fit for the school. Maybe your family values are aligned with that of the private school? Maybe you have a child who is into acting and the school’s performing arts program is a big reason why you think your child will do well in that private school. Asking questions and being engaging at the parent interview are also ways to show how you and your family fits into the school community. The admissions director wants to see that you are involved parents. Will you volunteer at the PTA? Are you committed to your child’s education? You need to show the private school admissions director that you and your child are a good fit for the school.
Final Tips on How to Excel at the Parent Interview
Here are other tips on how to excel at the parent interview.
Bring a Notebook to the Parent Interview
If you think you will get nervous during your parent interview, then you should write things down. Don’t be afraid to bring a notebook to the parent interview. Jot down descriptive words to aid you when you are talking about your child with the private school admission director. Write down a few questions so you can refer to it in case you get nervous. I’ve had a private school parent interview once and the admissions director was not afraid of awkward silence- it was during that silence that I was happy to have my notebook to refer to. I was able to fill the gap with questions and steer the topic favorably.
Write a Thank You Note
Make sure you write a thank you note to the private school admissions director. You should send the thank you note immediately- same day or the next day after the parent interview. The thank you note can be an email or you can send a handwritten note. Either way, just make sure to write a thank you note to let the private school admission director know that you are very interested in attending the school.
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