Private School Interview Practice for Youth: 50 Common Questions and Tips

Oct 22, 2024

Introduction

Private school interviews are a key part of the admissions process. They allow schools to get to know the real you—beyond your grades and test scores. While interviews can feel intimidating, they are an excellent chance to showcase your personality, interests, and why you would be a great fit for the school.

Preparing for a private school interview can help calm your nerves and boost your confidence. In this guide, we’ll explore common interview questions, provide example answers, and offer tips on how to put your best foot forward.

Tips For Common Private School Interview Questions for Students

Here are some typical questions that private schools may ask in an interview and tips on how to answer them.

1. Tell me about yourself

Why it’s asked: Interviewers want to see how you express yourself and learn what makes you unique. They are looking for insight into your personality, hobbies, and interests.

How to answer: This is your chance to talk about your favorite activities, things that make you excited, and any personal strengths you want to highlight. Be yourself and focus on what makes you interesting as a person.

Example answer:

“I’m a 7th grader who loves reading adventure novels, especially ones about explorers or magical worlds. I also play basketball and recently started learning how to code simple video games. My favourite part of school is science because I love doing experiments, we once experimented about (...), that was so much fun. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking with my family and helping my younger brother with his homework.”

This answer is specific, enthusiastic, and gives the interviewer a broad picture of who you are.

2. Why do you want to attend this school?

Why it’s asked: Schools want to know why you're interested in them specifically. This shows whether you’ve done your homework and if the school’s values and programs align with your goals.

How to answer: Highlight specific programs, facilities, or values that attracted you to the school. Avoid generic answers like “It’s a good school.” Make it clear that you understand what makes the school unique.

Example answer:

“I’m really interested in your math and science programs. I heard that your school has a coding club, and I’d love to join it to improve my coding skills. I’m also excited about the small class sizes because I enjoy working closely with teachers. I think I could grow a lot here both academically and personally.”

This answer shows enthusiasm and research, making it clear the student has a genuine interest in what the school offers.

3. What subjects do you enjoy and why?

Why it’s asked: This question helps interviewers learn about your academic strengths and your passion for learning.

How to answer: Focus on the subjects you enjoy the most, but also explain why you like them. Avoid simply listing subjects; instead, provide details about how you engage with the material.

Example answer:

“My favorite subject is history because I love learning about how people lived in the past and how their decisions shaped the world we live in today. I find it fascinating to study ancient civilizations like Egypt and Rome. I also enjoy solving problems in math because it feels like putting together a puzzle.”

This response highlights not just enjoyment but a deeper engagement with the subject matter, which interviewers will appreciate.

4. What do you like to do outside of school?

Why it’s asked: Private schools often seek well-rounded students who engage in extracurricular activities and hobbies beyond academics.

How to answer: Talk about your extracurricular activities, hobbies, and interests. Make sure to mention any clubs, sports, or volunteer work that shows initiative or leadership.

Example answer:

“I’m part of my school’s soccer team, and I also play the piano. I recently started volunteering at my local animal shelter, where I help take care of the dogs and cats. I love being outdoors, so in my free time, I go hiking with my family and take nature photographs.”

This answer demonstrates a balance between school, sports, music, and community involvement, showing a well-rounded personality.

5. Tell me about a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.

Why it’s asked: This question helps interviewers assess your resilience, problem-solving skills, and how you handle difficult situations.

How to answer: Describe a specific situation, what made it challenging, and the steps you took to overcome it. Focus on the learning experience and personal growth.

Example answer:

“Last year, I struggled with public speaking. I had to give a presentation in front of my class, and I was really nervous. To prepare, my parents got me a speech trainer named Devin Bisanz, he was totally amazing and he gave me the tools to rock any speech on any stage!”

This response highlights the student’s self-awareness, preparation, and ability to overcome a personal obstacle.

6. What is your favorite book or movie and why?

Why it’s asked: This question helps interviewers understand your interests, values, and critical thinking skills.

How to answer: Choose a book or movie that you genuinely enjoyed and explain why it resonated with you. Avoid just summarizing the plot; focus on the impact it had on you.

Example answer:

“My favourite book is ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ because I love mythology and the way Percy uses cleverness to solve problems. The book also teaches about friendship and courage, which I think are really important in life. It inspired me to learn more about Greek mythology and even start writing my own short stories.”

This answer demonstrates critical thinking and creativity, which are valuable traits.

7. How do you handle homework and schoolwork?

Why it’s asked: Schools want to know if you can manage your time and responsibilities effectively.

How to answer: Explain your approach to managing your workload, highlighting organization and responsibility. If you have specific strategies (e.g., using a planner), mention them.

Example answer:

“I always start my homework as soon as I get home from school. I like to break it up into small sections, and I usually start with the hardest subject first. I also use a planner to keep track of assignments, and if I ever get stuck, I ask my teachers or parents for help.”

This response shows responsibility and organization—qualities that private schools appreciate in students.

8. How would your friends describe you?

Why it’s asked: This question gauges your self-awareness and social skills.

How to answer: Think about positive traits your friends might mention, such as kindness, reliability, or humor, and provide examples.

Example answer:

“My friends would say that I’m a good listener and always try to make them laugh. They know they can rely on me when they need help, whether it’s with homework or just cheering them up when they’re having a bad day.”

This response provides insight into the student’s social skills and positive character traits.

9. What do you hope to achieve during your time at this school?

Why it’s asked: Interviewers want to see if you have goals and a vision for your future at the school.

How to answer: Talk about specific academic, personal, or extracurricular goals you hope to accomplish during your time at the school.

Example answer:

“I hope to join the robotics team and improve my coding skills because I want to study engineering in the future. I’d also like to improve my public speaking and leadership skills by joining the student council.”

This shows ambition and a clear vision for how the student plans to grow during their time at the school.

10. Do you have any questions for us?

Why it’s asked: This question helps interviewers see if you’re genuinely curious and engaged in the school.

How to answer: Prepare thoughtful questions about the school’s programs, culture, or opportunities that interest you.

Example answer:

“I’d love to know more about the school’s drama club. Do students get involved in producing the plays, or is it mainly the teachers? Also, what kind of leadership opportunities do students have in the extracurricular clubs?”

This answer shows curiosity and engagement, while also demonstrating that the student has done their research.

Interview Tips for Students

Practice with a parent or friend: Or hire Devin Bisanz by booking a consultation in his calendar here: https://calendly.com/bisanzy/15min
Go over common questions and practice answering them aloud. This will help you get comfortable speaking about yourself.
Be yourself: Don’t try to give answers you think the school wants to hear. Be genuine and show your personality.
Take your time: It’s okay to pause and think before answering a question. If you don’t know something, it’s better to be honest and say you’ll give it some thought.
Be polite and respectful: Shake hands, smile, and say thank you. These small gestures leave a positive impression.
Dress appropriately: Wear something neat and comfortable. You don’t need to be overly formal, but make sure you look presentable.

General and Personality Questions:

Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How would your friends describe you?
What do you like to do for fun?
What activities or hobbies are you passionate about?
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
How do you handle stress or pressure, like during exams or deadlines?
Tell me about a time you helped someone.
What is one thing you would like to change about yourself, and why?
If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be and why?

School-Specific and Aspirational Questions:

Why do you want to attend this school?
What do you know about our school’s values and programs?
How do you see yourself contributing to our school community?
What excites you the most about coming to this school?
What is your favorite part of school and why?
What do you think makes this school different from others?
If you could start a club or activity at our school, what would it be?
What do you hope to achieve during your time at this school?
How would you feel if you didn’t get into this school? What’s your backup plan?
How do you think you would fit into the culture of this school?

Academic Questions:

What is your favorite subject and why?
What subject do you find the most challenging, and how do you handle it?
Tell me about a time when you struggled in a subject. How did you improve?
How do you stay organized and manage your homework?
What academic skills do you think you need to improve the most?
If you could design your perfect school day, what would it look like?
How do you balance schoolwork with your extracurricular activities?
How do you handle a situation where you don’t understand the material in class?
Describe your ideal teacher. What qualities do they have?
What’s a recent project or assignment you’re particularly proud of?

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Questions:

If you could solve one major world problem, what would it be and why?
Imagine you are stranded on a desert island. What three items would you want with you and why?
If you were the principal of your current school for a day, what would you change and why?
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did you come to that decision?
What would you do if you saw someone being bullied at school?
If a friend asked you to cheat on a test, what would you do?
How would you handle a group project where one person isn’t doing their share of the work?
Imagine a friend is upset because they didn't make the sports team. How would you support them?
What would you do if you had an important soccer game and a big test to study for the same night?
If you discovered a classmate was stealing from others, how would you handle the situation?

Scenario and Leadership Questions:

Tell me about a time when you were a leader. What did you learn from the experience?
Describe a situation where you faced a problem as part of a team. How did you resolve it?
What would you do if you disagreed with a teacher’s decision or policy?
Imagine you’re working on a group project and your ideas aren’t being heard. What would you do?
If your sports team was losing badly, how would you motivate your teammates to keep going?
You’re asked to organize a school event. How would you plan and manage the project?
What would you do if you had two big commitments (e.g., a game and a study session) at the same time?
Imagine you’re in a new school where you don’t know anyone. How would you make friends and settle in?
What would you do if you saw a classmate breaking a school rule that could hurt others?
If your best friend wanted to quit an extracurricular activity because they were struggling, how would you advise them?

Conclusion

Interviews are a great opportunity to let schools know who you are beyond your grades. By preparing in advance, practicing your answers, and going in with a positive attitude, you can feel confident and ready for your private school interview. Remember, it’s normal to feel nervous, but with the right preparation, you’ll do great!

Check out our tips for parent interviews: https://blog.devinbisanz.com/post/parent-interview-questions-and-answers-for-school-admission

Book a free Consultation with Devin: https://calendly.com/bisanzy/15min