Banneker interviews

[Anonymous]

I received a notice on Friday for a Wednesday interview.

[Anonymous]

Same

[Anonymous]

I got one and wonder what the family interview component is. Does family need to impress? Or will BBAHS be informing family of things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got one and wonder what the family interview component is. Does family need to impress? Or will BBAHS be informing family of things?

In my experience it was mostly the school informing on policies, and giving an opportunity to ask questions. It did not feel like an interview of the parent.

[Anonymous]

I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

It’s an amazing school. My kid is in 11th grade and I’m continually impressed with the school. I even like the Principal, who gets some shade here. She is actually very nice, friendly and fair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

It’s an amazing school. My kid is in 11th grade and I’m continually impressed with the school. I even like the Principal, who gets some shade here. She is actually very nice, friendly and fair!

NP. I love her! She was the health teacher and track coach back when I went there. She could've gone anywhere, but she's chosen to stay at Banneker this long. I saw her at our 40th anniversary program, and she hasn't changed a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

When was your interview? Ours didn't have student tour guides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

When was your interview? Ours didn't have student tour guides.

we didn't have what I would really call tour guides last year -- they were students who were answering Qs about their experiences and then escorted my student to the essay section, and then to the interview. Some were chattier than others and answering questions as they walked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

They really do interviews right. My younger kid interviewed last month and my older kid back when the interviews were on Zoom, and both times, DC came away feeling like they were interested in what they had to say. And I loved getting so much opportunity with the current students to ask questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

When was your interview? Ours didn't have student tour guides.

Today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the thoughtful interview process. I think Banneker is fantastic and I hope my child is accepted. The student tour guides stayed with parents to answer our questions honestly. The teachers that interviewed my child were kind and thoughtful. They spent time with us and answered our questions. The homework load seems extensive (a junior mentioned 3-4 hours of homework each night) but you can’t really mess with their outcomes!

We had a very similar experience. I was very impressed with the student tour guides and how well organized the whole process was. It was all much smoother than I expected and made a very positive impression. The questions asked to my kid (as they recounted to me) seemed appropriate and fair.

On the other hand, the interviewers revealed that 700 children were interviewed on that day alone (which I wonder is logistically possible) and that they expect to only admit 200 students next year (a reduction from this year’s freshman class). The odds therefore don’t seem great.

The teachers seemed intent on selling the academic rigor. We also were given the spiel about 3 hours of homework a night starting freshman year. The pre-IB program sounds like a real pressure cooker given that they only take in 20 kids into the final two years.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what type of homework is given in those 3 hours? Is it like reading a book and answering questions for a couple of hours, busy math worksheets, or creative projects where the students use their imagination to build something new?

Just wondering what this 3 hours of homework looks like?

[Anonymous]

The homework looks like what teachers want it to. As a general rule, the tougher the class and the more able and experienced the educator, the livelier and more thoughtful the homework. Kids need to choose classes carefully from the get go, aiming for rigor, interests that align, inspiration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The homework looks like what teachers want it to. As a general rule, the tougher the class and the more able and experienced the educator, the livelier and more thoughtful the homework. Kids need to choose classes carefully from the get go, aiming for rigor, interests that align, inspiration.

This sounds like generic advice that isn’t all that applicable to Banneker. Students don’t choose very many classes at Banneker, and few classes are offered at more than one level of rigor. It’s a prescribed curriculum.