Visiting a private school can seem intimidating, but going into your visit or interview with the right mindset can make a huge difference to your overall experience. While it’s important to make a good impression, also make sure to consider what you think of the school and whether the environment is a good fit for your personal and academic needs. Your visit should be a day of information gathering, forming connections, and, importantly, envisioning a future for yourself on campus.
Here are a few handy private school interview tips to help ease the navigation process. These five steps will ensure that you get off on the right foot and make the most out of your visit.
While you still want to dress professionally, it’s important to remember that you will be walking around campus and interacting with new people all day. Don’t wear anything outside of your comfort zone or shoes that will pinch your feet on a tour! Keeping style elements of who you are will also put you at ease, allowing you to feel more at home and project your personality.
Remember: Your school visit should ideally be a two-way exchange where the admissions office and faculty can learn more about who you are as a person, and you can find out about the school as a community. Don’t shy away from your true self.
Nothing demonstrates interest in a school more than a thoughtful question, and your tour guide or admissions officer will take notice. While you may be looking at several schools, take the time to browse the school website or social media platforms the night before your visit. This will help keep important questions or recent events fresh in your mind and demonstrate that you are following the school closely.
Note any signature programs that the school offers. Is traveling and world culture your thing? Ask about the humanities components at Bancroft School. Are you into basketball or other sports? Comment on any athletic victories recently accomplished by the varsity teams. Into physics? Inquire about a class project you saw on the school’s Instagram page.
You may feel tired and anxious on the day of your visit, but your body language often dictates the way you are perceived in a new environment. Try to maintain eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and keep a strong posture when interacting with new people on campus.
A look of boredom or slouched shoulders can suggest that you are being dragged along—which may feel true in the moment, but you might actually like the school! Approach every visit with a fresh mindset and positive attitude. Take the time to answer questions using more than one-word (yes or no) answers to help the natural flow of conversation.
As you tour the campus, this is your chance to truly envision yourself as a new student. Strolling past the soccer field, imagine yourself running onto the turf with a friend after school. Entering the dining hall, imagine the lunches you’ll have or using the salad bar each afternoon.
If possible, arrange ahead of time with the admissions office to actually sit in on a class—this will be your best chance at engaging with the students and really getting a feel for how you fit into the student culture. At Bancroft School, you may be interested in signing up to sit in on a specific subject or even checking out one of the performing arts programs.
Following your visit, be sure to send an email or card thanking your tour guides and faculty for showing you around and answering questions. Admissions counselors meet hundreds of students in a given semester, but a personal follow-up note will stick out in their minds—and it is also likely to end up in your application file as "demonstrated interest."
Taking the time to follow up or ask clarifying questions demonstrates your continued interest in the school. If you wish to learn more from a student perspective, ask your admissions counselor for a current student contact! They will be happy to connect you with one of their student ambassadors.
We think these private school interview tips will help you find out more about who you are, your likes and dislikes, and the future you envision for yourself. If you have a visit coming up, check out our free printable checklist for private school visits!