I had the experience of applying to both public and private high schools as an eighth-grader, and because of the vastness of my application process, I had unique exposure to interviews. Over the course of two months, I sat down with representatives from six different schools and was evaluated for my performance. What both intrigued and perplexed me was that I could utter the same phrase at Trinity and have it be received entirely differently than at Beacon. Different schools expected different attire and levels of formality, and some schools had unspoken interview rules, like that you must write a thank you letter to your interviewer to get accepted.
By far the most important lesson I learned from paying attention to the nuanced undertones of my six interviews was this: when it comes down to it, interviews are about assessing fit, that is how well a potential student is likely to acclimate to the academic and social dynamics of a school. With this in mind, the key to a successful high school interview is tapping into what distinguishes the school at hand from all other institutions and how it matches you as an individual. Consequently, only when you leave an interview both feeling that you have represented yourself well and feeling genuinely interested in the school can you be sure that you aced it.
My current school, Bard High School Early College Queens (BHSECQ), has an interview component to its admissions process which reflects its values to a tee. When I walked into the school for my interview three years ago, I was immediately struck by the variety of clothing worn by my fellow applicants. While I wore a blazer and skirt, the other girl waiting to be interviewed had jeans and a plain long sleeve on, and the boy next to me wore a button-down. At the time, I found this unnerving, but what I’ve come to realize is that this fits with BHSECQ’s aesthetic well. There is neither a literal or figurative dress code. Students wear what makes them feel good, whether that be leggings, baggy jeans, or pajamas. The school is ideal for people with a carefree, non-judgemental outlook on style (which is not the case for all students, and that is okay).
I waited a few minutes before being called into my interview. Unlike some other schools, BHSECQ conducts interviews one-on-one, so I was alone with a teacher. The questions asked were routine: What is your favorite subject? Do you do extracurriculars? What’s your favorite book? Have you faced any significant academic challenges, and if so, how did you overcome them? What was not routine was the way my interviewer engaged with me and my answers. She addressed me with no condescension. I could have told her my favorite book was Goodnight Moon and she would only want to know why. We had a long conversation about Judaism and community, and then transitioned to soccer. Like Bard, the interview was stimulating and warm, and it centered around unpacking me as a person. I was afforded the opportunity to ask questions, which was not the case for many of the schools I interviewed for. I walked out exhilarated by the depth of the discussion and I knew that I wanted to spend more time at a place like Bard.
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Join NowThe highschool admission process is very stressful. With all of its different required parts, the essay section of the application can be really overlooked. The essays are a chance for the admission officer’s to get an insight into who the applicant really is. Numerous people can have very similar transcripts, but a creative and charismatic essay will make an application stand out.
Recommendation letters are a key aspect of high school applications and are a great way to demonstrate your character and abilities from another perspective. While not mandatory in some schools, it’s highly encouraged and should be seen as a requirement. But, who do you ask for a recommendation letter? Choosing who to ask is very important and should be someone that has seen your growth as a student. Most schools usually require at least one recommendation letter from a core teacher (Math, Science, Social Studies, etc) and one letter from either another teacher, mentor, coach, or counselor. So after making a list of potential candidates take some time to consider a very important question. “Who knows you the most?”. If you choose a candidate that barely knows you, their letter may sound disingenuous and phony. So when selecting a recommender, you should consider someone who has had a significant impact on your life and should be someone who knows you both academically and personally and can attest to your abilities, interests, achievements, and growth.
Oftentimes, one of the most difficult aspects of the high school admissions process is choosing the school you would like to attend. This makes sense, as picking a school requires a lot of critical thought and careful decision making. After all, you will have to attend the high school you end up choosing for the next four years of your life. This is why it is incredibly important to make sure that you have a fundamental understanding of what your high school offers.
As the new year begins, 7th graders may want to start thinking about high school admissions. Many students apply to Specialized High Schools, NYC’s nine public high schools for “students who excel academically/artistically” (DOE Website). You can learn more about them here. Eight of these schools admit students based solely on the SHSAT Exam, an 180 minute competitive standardized test administered in the fall.