Parent Interview

[Anonymous]

Single parent here, I had no worries about the interview. I am not what most would call attractive; I am over weight and do not wear expensive clothes. I went in confident, spoke intelligently and smiled a lot. My DS got in with no problems and is doing quite well at our "Big 3" school. It is more about the kid than you after a certain grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure you can speak strongly about why this school's mission appeals to you.

It is rumored that if you can't speak about why progressive education is important to you then you won't get in to Green Acres.

But I think it is just as important to smile and relax. And remember it is all a crap shoot.

It is and it isn't all a crap shoot.

Look, the numbers are stacked against everyone. The kids are all 99 percenters, and apart from 1 or 2 uber-wealthy or uber-powerful families, everyone else looks alike. So how to start distinguishing between these masses - the parent interview helps the AD. Not so much as a positive, but as a negative. In other words I doubt seriously you could be so charming at such an interview as to move the application ball forward. Most of us are on our best behaviour and can mask our crazy for a half hour or so. It's really a negative - if you say something odd, as pp's DH apparently did, or look odd, or just stand out in a negative way, that's one less application the AD really has to think about.

Good luck. As you can tell, I hated the entire process and was stressed out throughout.

[Anonymous]

I once asked on an admissions tour for Pre-K whether the school spanks misbehaving children, or instead has other more effective methods now.

Waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once asked on an admissions tour for Pre-K whether the school spanks misbehaving children, or instead has other more effective methods now.

Waitlisted.

This seems made up to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once asked on an admissions tour for Pre-K whether the school spanks misbehaving children, or instead has other more effective methods now.

Waitlisted.

This seems made up to me.

Not made up at all. I asked it in a tongue-in-cheek way, but the tour person didn't seem to take it that way. It was my first tour/interview, so I was sort of naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once asked on an admissions tour for Pre-K whether the school spanks misbehaving children, or instead has other more effective methods now.

Waitlisted.

This seems made up to me.

Not made up at all. I asked it in a tongue-in-cheek way, but the tour person didn't seem to take it that way. It was my first tour/interview, so I was sort of naive.

It may have had no bearing on the decision, no? Your child may not have been admitted right off anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may have had no bearing on the decision, no? Your child may not have been admitted right off anyway.

True enough. Likely had no bearing at all for the school, and was a much bigger deal in my own mind than in theirs. The same could probably be said about lots of things people are worrying about here -- your weight, what you wear, whether your DH shows, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It may have had no bearing on the decision, no? Your child may not have been admitted right off anyway.

True enough. Likely had no bearing at all for the school, and was a much bigger deal in my own mind than in theirs. The same could probably be said about lots of things people are worrying about here -- your weight, what you wear, whether your DH shows, etc.

Not the PP, but yes: the parent interview is unlikely to do anything for the child's placement into the school, except for extenuating circumstances (the AD learns of some reason during the interview why the child would be a great match, that they would not learn otherwise). If the parent interview was that important, it would be mandatory. It, for the vast majority of schools, is not (many don't even have one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH did his weird, free association ADD random impulsive comment thing and next thing you know was saying stuff about how much I like to drink wine and beer. DC didn't get in, needless to say. I do like to drink wine and beer, btw, but it was so so awkward with his jolly "you should see my wife put it away!" comment. I just sort of gave up at that moment. Went home and had a drink. kidding.

He did better at another school and we got in there.

My husband chattered nervously, and nonstop, about how much we loved the school and how much DC would love it. I couldn't get a word in edgewise. I wanted to kick him under the table, but he was sitting too far away. On and on he went. I managed to get one or two remarks in before the AD ushered us out. I have no idea whether we'll get in or not.