- Tell me about yourself. …
- What are your strengths? …
- What are your weaknesses? …
- What do you like to do for fun or in your free time? …
- What extracurricular activities interest you? …
- What is your favorite subject? …
- What subject do you find the most difficult?
College Admission: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” During Interviews or in Your Essays
8. What are your plans for the remainder of your child’s K-12 education?
Alternatively, you may want to ask “what is most important to you now when it comes to educating your child?” And “how do you see that changing as they enter elementary school, middle school, or high school?” Be sure to find out from parents whether they’re looking for a permanent school. Asking this question will also open up conversations about preparing for post-secondary education. If you’re concerned about parents enrolling their children for preschool who plan to enroll their children in public schools later, these are great questions to ask. Families who plan on leaving can hurt retention rates. Based on their answers, you can see if their vision matches what you are offering. And if you know a family will leave, you can use that data in your admissions decision.
12 of the Best Admission Interview Questions for Your Private School
To ensure you’re learning as much as possible about a candidate before you make your admission decisions, consider including these K-12 admission interview questions.
2. What are three things you’d like to improve upon?
Asking this question is useful for gauging a candidate’s level of self-awareness. While it’s never easy to admit shortcomings, students who can acknowledge their areas of opportunity are likely to dedicate energy to making necessary improvements.
4. How do you like to spend your free time?
Asking about students’ interests helps you determine whether your school can meet them, and also gives you an opportunity to discuss extracurriculars. For example, if a student loves to draw and your school has an active art club, this could be a key selling point.
7. What other schools are you considering?
Finding out what other schools’ families are considering can help you understand your competitive position. You can ask if they have met with those schools yet, and what things they liked or felt were missing. If your desire is for true relationships, you can also recommend other schools to visit based on their answers.
10. Who is someone you admire or look up to, and why?
Asking this interview question will help you discern which qualities a candidate appreciates in others. It can also show the kinds of traits they want to develop within themselves.
6. What made you choose to apply to this school?
This parent-focused question will help you learn more about what appeals to the candidate’s family, how much they already know about your school, and why they feel their child’s talents and interests align with the school.
5. What would you like to accomplish during your time in school?
It’s crucial you ask about prospective students’ goals so you can identify whether those objectives align with what your school can offer. It also gives you a chance to help the candidate make connections. For example, if a student wants to perform in a play, you could make a note to introduce them to your drama department leader later on their campus visit.
