Over the next two months, many families will be called into a private school for an interview or assessment. As one of the most important parts of the application process the interview is the school’s opportunity to really get to know the family. As you prepare your family for the interview, make sure to avoid these common mistakes:

1. Only Talking About the Best

When I used to be an interviewer at St. George’s School, I would ask students and parents why they chose to apply to St. George’s. The typical answers I would get from Asian families included words like “the best,” “number one,” or “famous.” My first response to them would be, “So why is that important?” Private schools don’t want to hear that your family is attracted solely by their reputation, brand name, or rank. Rather, they want to know whether or not your family is the right fit and if you share their educational philosophy or not.
 

2. Making the Wrong Impression

Remember, the admissions professionals at many of these schools are Western-raised and educated (and mostly Caucasian). How then do you think it looks to them if you and your family don’t follow Western cultural norms and etiquette and don’t make the effort to speak English but rather bring a translator? Many families treat the interview as such a formal occasion that they act serious, nervous, anxious, and cold. Again, I would ask you, what impression does it make on the interviewer when the family doesn’t smile or make jokes? Another important thing that the interviewer will be observing is your child’s behaviour. Is he or she polite and can he or she follow instructions? The best interviews are the ones where the family has made a positive, warm impression on the interviewer.
 

3. Not Doing Your Homework

Another mistake that many families make is not knowing the history, facts, and programs, and educational philosophy of the school. Imagine how poorly it looks when parents and students don’t know the school’s motto or the headmaster’s name or anything else about the school other than it is “the best.” Both your child and you have a responsibility to learn as much about the school as possible. You and your child should have a clear understanding of why you want to go to that particular school and be able to articulate why your family and the school are right for each other.

I wish you luck as you stand out from the other families and make the best and most memorable impression during your interview!

Bryan Ide is one of Canada’s most qualified and experienced admissions experts. He graduated from St. George’s School and holds a BA from Cornell University and an MA from Columbia University. While at St. George’s, Bryan served as an admissions and scholarship interviewer. Also, he is the past chair of Cornell's alumni admissions committee for British Columbia. Email: bryan@keyadmissions.com.

KEY | Admissions Strategy & Learning Enrichment, founded by all St. George’s School graduates, is Vancouver’s only admissions strategy company with the qualifications, experience, and insider knowledge to help families applying to top-tier private schools and universities. KEY has established Vancouver’s first afterschool enrichment program designed to give students the advantage with their applications to private schools and universities. Website: www.keyadmissions.com.