Principles of interview Educational Communication SZ6612 EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATION SZ6638 EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATION What is interview? Group work – student presentation What is a school interview? Group work – student presentation Principles Questions are based: - purpose of interview - relations between participants - age of participants - disponible time for interview - environment where interview are released - degree of privacy Common School Interview Questions 1 Tell me about yourself. ... What are your strengths? ... What are your weaknesses? ... What do you like to do for fun or in your free time? ... What extracurricular activities interest you? ... What is your favorite subject? ... What subject do you find the most difficult? Common School Interview Questions 2 Tell me about yourself. This a common introductory question because it seems simple but is actually somewhat difficult! Where do you even begin? A good answer to this question is clear and concise. Say what grade you’re in, what you enjoy about school, two or three major extracurricular activities, and why you’re excited about this school. Then, stop! What do you like to do for fun or in your free time? Another question that seems easy but has a few traps! When answering this question, think about what they want to hear: that you’re a good citizen, that you spend time with your friends, that you pursue your hobbies in a creative way. Stay away from TV and video games; focus on ways you have fun with others or on more intellectual or creative activities that you pursue beyond the classroom. Common School Interview Questions 3 What extracurricular activities interest you? This question actually has two parts: what extracurricular activities do you know well, and how will you continue them at our school? Make sure you discuss things that your intended new high school offers, whether it’s sports or clubs. Do your research ahead of time. For instance, if they don’t have a debate team or a robotics team, don’t mention that! What is your favorite subject? Why do you like it? There is a near-100% chance you will get this question in your admissions interview. After all, this interview is about your desired high school experience! There’s no wrong answer; just be prepared to explain why a subject is your favorite. What do you find so interesting about it? What’s an assignment you especially enjoyed doing? Again, use specific examples as much as you can. Common School Interview Questions 4 What subject do you find the most difficult? Approach this question the same way you did the one about your overall weaknesses. You should be honest, but don’t be negative about your abilities or use words like “hate” or “suck at” when describing a class. Acknowledge that you need to work harder in this subject, but also highlight that you are learning to do better and finding ways to enjoy it more. What do you do when you’re having a hard time in a class? This question offers a chance to show off your skills in problem solving. We all encounter adversity; your high school interviewer wants to know how you handle it. A specific example is probably your best approach here. Think of a time that you were struggling with an assignment or topic. Remember to talk about your own skills (rather than, say, working with a tutor). Common School Interview Questions 5 What are your strengths? To answer this question, think about what your teachers and coaches might say about you. Are you a good communicator? A thoughtful problem solver? An effective leader? Then, whichever description you decide on, back it up with specific examples. What are some instances of your leadership or communication skills? Practice a “show, don’t tell” approach as much as you can. What are your weaknesses? This is actually a common job interview question, and it’s a challenging one! How do you answer honestly without reflecting negatively on yourself? The best way to approach this question is to discuss a real thing upon which you’d like to improve and point to specific ways you’ve already started to work toward that goal. Maybe it’s your note-taking skills, your willingness to participate in class, or your slapshot. Then, pivot toward discussing how you’ve worked on this challenge. Common School Interview Questions 6 If there were one thing you could change about your current school, what would it be? Again, don’t be negative, but try to think of something that your prospective new high school has that your current school doesn’t. Be sure to acknowledge that not having this thing doesn’t mean your current school is bad or that the teachers don’t do a good job. What do you like to read? What is your favorite book? This is a question people often overthink—from high school interviews all the way to job interviews! If you have a favorite book that you can speak passionately about, that’s great, but you don’t need to find a book that perfectly encapsulates everything about you. Talking about your favorite book that you read recently shows that you’re an engaged learner. Common School Interview Questions 7 What did you do last summer? For this question, the best thing to be is thorough! You don’t need to give them a day-by-day summary, but it’s important to show that you were busy with a few different things over your summer. Be sure to mention any summer camps you attended, athletics in which you participated, and (especially) community service that you did. Which of your friends do you admire the most and why? Talking about our friends’ good qualities is often easier than talking about our own, so this is a great question to get! Remember, though, that your interviewer is asking to get to know you, not your friend. So make sure you talk about the qualities in your friend you admire and how you’ve tried to incorporate some of those traits into your own life. Common School Interview Questions 8 Tell me a bit about your family. Your interviewer isn’t asking you to describe every family member in your household. They want to know how your family has impacted you. Describe some things you do with your family that you enjoy and how your parents and siblings have shaped you. Remember to think about your extended family, too, and any important celebrations or traditions you share. How do you deal with conflict? This is another question where having a specific example in mind can be extremely helpful. Of course, you want to discuss a time when you resolved a conflict, not get bogged down in the details of the issue. Was there a time you helped your peers resolve a fight? Or a time you upset someone but then made things right with them? Be specific and thoughtful. Resources https://www.sparkadmissions.com/blog/high-school-interview-questions/