School application tips

It is no secret that the UK has the best schools in the world. Some parents are looking for academic hot houses such as Winchester, Brighton, St Pauls. Others prefer the well-rounded approach of schools such as Wycombe Abbey, Eton College, Charterhouse and Wellington. Still more parents are focused on schools that offer a heavily extra-curricular setting at schools like Millfield, Clifton, or Radley. No matter what you are looking for there is a school for you.

With this reputation comes competition. Whilst the exams differ widely between schools the interview is an ever-present tactic used by registrars. Normally students are interviewed by house masters or headmasters (or mistresses!). I’m going to share my experience and top tips.

My Eton Interview

I applied for Eton via the 6th Form Scholar route. It required me to sit 5 separate interviews over a three-day period. This was intense but a great experience. As much as anything else it gave me a chance to view the school in it’s true light – I was assessing the school as much as it was assessing me (maybe not quite as much!).

I focused on talking about my own experiences and achievements and relating it to what I witnessed in the school during my three days there. This meant that I could show I engaged with the school experience whilst, at the same time, I could provide evidence for what I had already achieved myself.

School Interview Today

These days, most students will sit one interview that will typically by done by a house master or mistress. This interview will be very general in nature and it is easy to overprepare for it. Students need to remain natural and relaxed. So, here are my 5 top tips for doing well in an interview.

1. List all of your top achievements and work them into the interview.

2. Research the school and make sure you know what the value.

3. Don’t rely on one facet of your skills – try and work them all into the interview.

4. Record yourself answering questions – you’ll be able to see what you do well when you practice.

5. Enjoy it – this is your first chance to experience the school.