How to Ace a Parent Interview

When parents think about secondary school interviews, they tend to focus on prepping their child for the all-important, anxiety-inducing applicant interview. The parent interview, which usually takes place during the same visit, can seem less significant, and parents often neglect to prepare for it in the same way. However, with a little planning, the parent interview can be a real asset to your student’s application. After all, you know your child better than anyone else. So, this is your chance to share your unique perspective on their character and abilities. Here are some tips for preparing for a great parent interview while avoiding the common pitfalls that can hurt your child’s admission chances.

Do prepare for the parent interview

If your child needs to be ready with a thoughtful, well-developed response to a question about their favorite class, shouldn’t you be similarly well prepared for the common questions you’ll face during the parent interview? How would you describe your child’s strengths and weaknesses? What is your child like as a member of your family? What qualities do you admire most in your child?  A good admission officer wants to learn more about the student from the parents’ perspective, so give careful thought to how you would answer these questions. If you will be attending the parent interview with a spouse, talk through these questions together ahead of time and make sure you are on the same page about how you want to present your child.

Do accentuate the positive

Parents need to strike a careful balance between honesty and optimism in the parent interview. You want to establish your child’s strengths without bragging and note a few authentic weaknesses without raising any red flags. For example, mentioning that your child is a “straight-A student” several times is off-putting and unnecessary. Noting how pleased you are with your child’s commitment to their schoolwork and engagement level in class conveys a similar message without being boastful. When asked to share some weaknesses, you should find a way to put a positive spin on them. For example, if your child struggles with organization and time management, you can mention that and then focus on how much progress they have made in overcoming those challenges. Staying positive also includes refraining from bad-mouthing your current school. If you come across as unhappy and critical during the interview, admission officers might reasonably assume that’s how you’ll behave in their community as well!

Do your homework

Parents should know enough about each school to articulate why they are excited about the possibility of their child attending that school. Parents should have a sense before the interview of two to three things about each school’s program or community that makes it a great fit for their child. And don’t skip the homework on your “backup” schools. You want to honor every school, not just the ones at the top of your list. 

Do take the opportunity to “round out” your child

If your child is a star hockey player or plays the cello in a select orchestra, you will likely be in contact with the coaches and music directors at each school. While you can give passing mention to those key interests, the parent interview is also your opportunity to highlight the other assets your child can offer to their next school community. Schools will likely know about your child's greatest passions already.  The parent interview is your chance to round out the picture and share other aspects of their character and interests. 

Don’t be high maintenance

The parent interview is not the time to grill the admissions officer about the quality of the school’s STEM program or put them on the spot about its faculty credentials. You don’t want to appear difficult or too demanding at this stage of the process. Once your child has gained admission, then you can ask more exacting questions as you weigh your options. 

Don’t be afraid to talk about financial aid

Sometimes parents are wary of bringing up financial aid too early in the process, but if it is an essential factor in the process, there’s nothing wrong with raising the topic during the parent interview. After all, if significant aid is required, it’s going to come up as part of your application. 

Do show genuine interest

Your final piece of homework is to have some good questions to ask at the end of your interview. You can tailor your questions to each school, or you may wish to have one question that you ask at every school as a means of comparison. What do you think sets your school apart from other schools? What is one thing that you believe the school needs to work on? Come up with questions that are genuine and meaningful to you rather than worrying about what you think you should ask.