25 Private High School Interview Questions & Answers
June 11, 2024
I never had to answer any private school interview questions. My first real-deal interview didn’t come about until after I graduated college. Of course, I showed up way overdressed. Everyone in the office was wearing jeans, tees, and scuffed Chucks; I was rocking dress shoes, a button-down, a preppy blazer, and a chunky tie. This, I realized, is why jobseekers do thorough pre-interview research. Clearly, I hadn’t done enough. I was already nervous, and the off-kilter looks I was catching weren’t helping.
The inauspicious start carried over into the interview itself. I responded to perfunctory softballs with monologues that were Homeric in length. I mean, how could I tell my would-be manager why I’d be a good fit for the role without telling her about myself, and how could I possibly tell her about myself in a few concise sentences? It was impossible to reduce my entire being to a few bite-sized bits of language. One of Walt Whitman’s most enduring lines of poetry is: “I contain multitudes.” I wonder if he ever had to interview for an entry-level copywriting gig at an online magazine.
I got the job despite my clunky interview performance. And that illustrates an important point: the interview—whether it’s for a private high school, a college, or a job—isn’t everything. It’s important, yes, but for private school admission, so are things like GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities.
For students applying to private high schools, the accompanying interview will most likely be their first. But don’t sweat: if you’re reading this article to practice some common private school interview questions, you’re already more prepped than I was for my first interview. Keep reading for a list of common private school interview questions and tips on how best to answer them.
25 Private School Interview Questions and Answers
1) Tell me about yourself.
This is one of those private school interview questions that’s known to produce existential angst. But it’s also extremely common, so it’s definitely a good idea to have an answer ready. Pro tip: do not delve into a novel-length rendering of your life story. Instead, keep things short and sweet, and use this question to set the stage for the interview to come. Tell your interviewer what grade you’re in, what motivates or excites you, what clubs and extracurriculars you’re involved in, and why you’re applying.
2) How would you describe yourself?
This one is a variation on the “tell me about yourself” prompt. Here, though, the interviewer can start to get a sense of how you see yourself—are you confident, modest, introverted, extroverted? Careful: don’t engage in too much braggadocio, but don’t be too self-deprecating, either.
3) How would your family and friends describe you?
Self-evaluation and empathy are qualities that any school would want to see in a potential student. This question requires students to demonstrate both. Show your interviewer that you can inhabit a perspective other than your own, and that you have the ability to be a fair and balanced self-critic.
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4) What are your strengths?
The best answers to this question aren’t just strings of adjectives. Here, you should do your best to follow that classic writing workshop rule: show, don’t tell. Pick one or two of your best qualities, and then show your interviewer how those qualities manifest in concrete situations. If you’re a good problem solver, for example, describe a situation in which your problem-solving skills were at the forefront.
5) What are your weaknesses? (Private School Interview Questions)
We all have weaknesses. Any assessment of oneself requires an appraisal of one’s shortcomings. The key in an interview is to acknowledge your weaknesses without overemphasizing them. After an honest reflection, pick one or two things you want to improve on. Maybe you want to improve your time-management skills. Instead of lamenting the problem, focus on how you’re working to address it.
6) How do you like to spend your free time?
What do your interviewers want to hear in response to this question? Probably not that you spend your free binge-watching Netflix, playing video games, or falling down YouTube rabbit holes. Your hobbies and interests speak volumes. Make sure your response isn’t too bloated, but if you have lots of interests, don’t be afraid to share them! Having myriad interests and hobbies in all sorts of different realms—artistic, academic, charitable, recreational, athletic—shows your interviewers that you’re a curious person who’s engaged with the world.
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7) What are you passionate about?
It’s possible to be passionate about a lot of different things, and it’s okay to tell your interviewers that. But I’d advise a little contextual awareness here. Your interviewers are looking for you to go a little deeper into what makes you, you. What truly inspires you? What moves you to action, and how do those things inform how you want to model your life after high school and college? Spend some time reflecting on those questions and you’ll be well-prepared to confront this common private high school interview question.
8) What extracurricular activities are you involved in or interested in? (Private School Interview Questions)
This is one of those private school interview questions that you can use to connect to the school you’re applying to. Tell your interviewers about the extracurriculars you currently participate in, and then relate how you’d engage with them at the school you’re applying to. You can also do some research to help you prep for this question. Are there any extracurriculars offered at your goal school that aren’t offered at your current school? Is there something you haven’t tried out that you’d be interested in trying?
9) What is your favorite subject?
This is one of the most commonly asked private school interview questions. There’s no wrong answer to this question, but remember to stick to the “show, don’t tell” maxim. Don’t simply state that history is your favorite subject; rather, explain what it is about the subject that excites and fascinates you. Is it a particular historical period that’s especially interesting? A historian you learned to love? The way your evolving historical understanding has shaped your worldview?
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10) What is your least favorite subject, or what subject do you have the most difficulty with?
The shadow side of the “favorite subject” prompt isn’t as scary as it sounds. Be honest, but as with other questions, don’t be overly self-deprecating or hard on yourself. Other pitfalls here include blaming your lack of success in a subject on a teacher or the content. The best way to answer this question is straightforwardly. Then, tell your interviewers what you’re doing to improve your performance in the class. And if you’ve already started taking steps toward that end, be sure to mention it!
11) Are you proud of your grades? Why or why not?
This is another chance to engage in honest self-evaluation. It also gives you a chance to tell a story about your academic performance that may not come through in the raw numbers of your transcript. If there’s a slight drop off in grades from one year to next, why was that? Were you dealing with a sickness, a family issue, or some added source of stress? Don’t fall into excuse-making, but feel empowered to put your academic performance in a larger context. Alternately, if your grades improved from one year to the next, what explains that? What changes did you make?
12) What do you do when you’re having a hard time in a subject?
This question is a chance to demonstrate how you deal with adversity. Be concrete in your response, and be sure to ground your answer in your experiences. Your interviewers will appreciate hearing that you’re a proactive participant in your education. If you’ve struggled in a class, what did you do about it—speak to the teacher, reach out to a friend or parent, utilize your school’s extra help resources? Don’t shy away from the fact that you’ve struggled; lean in to your effort to improve.
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13) If you could teach a class at your school, what would it be?
This is a common private school interview question that is not only about a student’s academic interests—it’s also about their value system. In other words, your answer here will reflect what you’re interested in and what you value or deem important. Maybe you’re passionate about animal welfare, so you could teach a class on factory farming. There aren’t really any wrong answers here, so be bold.
14) How would you react if someone asked to copy your homework?
There are plenty of ways to confront this question, but for my money, here’s the best way to go about it: first, you’ll want to state unequivocally that you wouldn’t let the person plagiarize your work. Then, show that you’re interested in the well-being of your fellow students—maybe you’d ask them what they’re struggling with, or offer to help in a way that doesn’t violate academic integrity standards. You could also tell your interviewers that you’d redirect the student towards extra help resources, or even suggest a meeting with the teacher. With that kind of answer, you’re on the right track morally, and you show your interviewers that you’re interested in helping those around you.
15) What is your favorite book?
This is one of my favorite private school interview questions. While it may seem straightforward, it is possible to misstep here. Don’t say, “I don’t read,” or, “I don’t have one.” Whether you want to go into medicine, computer science, or screenwriting, reading is an integral part of every student’s intellectual and personal development. Your interviewers want to see that you recognize that. Also: avoid stating the title of a book you once read with no follow up. Be prepared to elaborate on why said book is your favorite.
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16) Who is someone you look up to?
Avoid non-sequitur answers to this question. Your answer here should resonate with the way you’re presenting yourself in the interview. If, for example, you’ve told your interviewers that you’re passionate about environmental sustainability, maybe you highlight a prominent environmental advocate that you’ve learned from. At the same time, don’t feel like you have to name a celebrity or public figure. If you look up to your mom, dad, sibling, friend, or teacher, say so—and tell your interviewers why.
17) What is something you’re really proud of?
Be honest here, but don’t be afraid to stray away from the obvious candidates like winning a tournament or award. Of course, if you have a major accomplishment in your repertoire that you’re really proud of, then by all means—go for it! But there are plenty of worthy “everyday” answers as well. Think about a time you inconvenienced yourself to help someone, repaired or improved a personal relationship, or made a tough moral decision—these are all worthy answers.
18) Tell me about your family.
You don’t need to provide a family tree or describe each member of your family in excruciating detail. This question is all about how your family has impacted you. Share a meaningful moment with your family, a cherished memory, a lesson you learned from them, a fun family tradition—anything that’s made you who you are today.
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19) What do you admire about your friends?
Your friends are your chosen family, and this is your opportunity to tell your interviewers not just about your friends, but about the social milieu you’re a part of. Are you connected with your friends because of a shared interest or a common mindset? Do your friends challenge or support you? Your answer to this question will continue to deepen your interviewers’ understanding of who you are.
20) How would you describe your social media presence? (Private School Interview Questions)
Depending on how you use it, social media can be a powerful tool or a toxic distraction. In asking this question, your interviewers are most likely looking for you to demonstrate some savvy re: social media and technology in general.
21) Why are you applying to our school?
Make sure you have an answer to this question that goes beyond, “Because it’s a good school,” or, “My brother/sister/mom/dad went here.” What is it about the school that draws you to it? The curriculum, educational approach, extracurricular opportunities? This is one of the most commonly asked private school interview questions, so have an answer ready.
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22) What’s one thing you could change about your current school?
This question requires a light touch. Your interviewers are not interested in hearing you trash your current school. But there might be something about your current school that just isn’t ideal for you. Respect state that, and move on to why the school you’re applying to would be a better fit.
23) What will you bring to our school?
Be super specific here. If you’re going to participate in a sport or club, tell your interviewers how you’ll contribute to that enterprise. Be specific about what you want to do at the school and how you’ll contribute to the school community overall.
24) How will you benefit from our school?
Don’t worry, your interviewers are not asking this question to hear you deliver a monologue about how awesome their school is. They want to be sure that their school is the right fit for your academic and personal development, too. What about your goal school makes it right for you—a particular educational approach or philosophy, the faculty, the school’s culture? Stay true to yourself in answering this question and you’re sure to nail it.
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25) Do you have any questions for us?
This is not only a chance for you to get more information about the school you’re applying to; it’s also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your legitimate interest in the school. Have a few questions ready, because it’s a mainstay of any interview.
Private School Interview Questions and Answers – Additional Resources
