What are the parent interviews really like?

[Anonymous]

What are the parent interviews really like? Are both parents expected to attend, would it count against me if only one parent shows? Is it like a job interview ? Is it a way for them to find out who would be a big donor or have the best pedigree? Should I be prepared to list off my accomplishments and education stats? I have no friends that have gone through this process so I really have no idea. What questions should I expect?

[Anonymous]

I've found its mostly about your child, not about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found its mostly about your child, not about you.

This. And in our case there a lot of listening to the sales pitch coming from the school.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school. At Potomac it was just parent and seemed to be all about parents. At a few all boys' schools, it was both parent and kid attending but all about kids. We ended up going to all boys school. Turned off by Potomac method a couple years back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've found its mostly about your child, not about you.

This. And in our case there a lot of listening to the sales pitch coming from the school.

In our case it was all about our DD and an opportunity for us to ask questions. It was a really nice way to learn about the school on a deeper level. No sales pitch, no discussion of donations, nothing like that.

[Anonymous]

Potomac this year was just kids.

[Anonymous]

Just went through a couple for our rising Ker. Mostly about him, quick chat about us as a family unit, and any questions we had about admissions or the school. Both of our interviews were great, actually.

[Anonymous]

I think it is worth trying to get in things about how you are as a family (we like to do xxx together) , but not attributes about you the parent personally (education, accomplishments etc.) I've heard that admissions offices google/ check linked in etc and presumably if they want to know about you, they will ask! good luck.

[Anonymous]

Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

Sort of.

They are also trying to assess what type of parents come along with the child.

No school wants unrealistic, overwrought, disruptive parents that will make the staff's life miserable for four years.

If you don't think there are people like this, you are dreaming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

Sort of.

They are also trying to assess what type of parents come along with the child.

No school wants unrealistic, overwrought, disruptive parents that will make the staff's life miserable for four years.

If you don't think there are people like this, you are dreaming.

I'm quite sure that many parents fit this category, as well as I'm sure that there are some very stupid, inefficient clowns masquerading as teachers at privates in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

Sort of.

They are also trying to assess what type of parents come along with the child.

No school wants unrealistic, overwrought, disruptive parents that will make the staff's life miserable for four years.

If you don't think there are people like this, you are dreaming.

I'm quite sure that many parents fit this category, as well as I'm sure that there are some very stupid, inefficient clowns masquerading as teachers at privates in this area.

Your comment about some of the teachers is,of course, true.

But screeners of parents are not the teachers but the Admissions people and other staff.

The rest of the staff and the teachers are going to look askance at the Admissions person that has inflicted them with parents who make their lives difficult. Not only must the DC be able and be willing to do the work, but the parents should not be continuing problems with demands and unrealistic expectations.

The school is looking to screen these people out whether at the interview or in conversations with staff at the previous school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

Sort of.

They are also trying to assess what type of parents come along with the child.

No school wants unrealistic, overwrought, disruptive parents that will make the staff's life miserable for four years.

If you don't think there are people like this, you are dreaming.

I'm quite sure that many parents fit this category, as well as I'm sure that there are some very stupid, inefficient clowns masquerading as teachers at privates in this area.

Your comment about some of the teachers is,of course, true.

But screeners of parents are not the teachers but the Admissions people and other staff.

The rest of the staff and the teachers are going to look askance at the Admissions person that has inflicted them with parents who make their lives difficult. Not only must the DC be able and be willing to do the work, but the parents should not be continuing problems with demands and unrealistic expectations.

The school is looking to screen these people out whether at the interview or in conversations with staff at the previous school.

Jesus, do you actually think there is anyone on this board who isn't aware of this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Essentially they are checking that the parents don't drool and walk on their fists, can string a sentence together without swearing and seem sober.

Sort of.

They are also trying to assess what type of parents come along with the child.

No school wants unrealistic, overwrought, disruptive parents that will make the staff's life miserable for four years.

If you don't think there are people like this, you are dreaming.

I'm quite sure that many parents fit this category, as well as I'm sure that there are some very stupid, inefficient clowns masquerading as teachers at privates in this area.

Your comment about some of the teachers is,of course, true.

But screeners of parents are not the teachers but the Admissions people and other staff.

The rest of the staff and the teachers are going to look askance at the Admissions person that has inflicted them with parents who make their lives difficult. Not only must the DC be able and be willing to do the work, but the parents should not be continuing problems with demands and unrealistic expectations.

The school is looking to screen these people out whether at the interview or in conversations with staff at the previous school.

The grammatically correct way to write this phrase is "has inflicted on them" or "upon". Saying "inflicted them" is meaningless

[Anonymous]

It turned out that I was an alum of the prep school attended by the daughter of the Head of School. We attended 15 years apart, but he and I chatted generally about that school for about five minutes. I explained that I wanted a similar experience for DC. The remaining time, we talked about how that could happen at the school, plus all of the additional perks offered.