The Interview

 Congratulations!  You have done  well on the exam and  now you  are ready for the next  phase of admission; the  interview. Give yourself a round of applause. Up to this point you have made it further along than nearly 2/3 of the best and brightest applicants in Bergen County, but only about 1 in 2 will make it past the interview to become a Bergen County Academies student so, to use a sports analogy, stay on your game. I will  break the interview into its most basic steps. You understand why you deserve to go to Bergen Academies and your only job is to convince your interviewer. This article will give you the tools to be prepared for many questions and impress your interviewer.

The first portion of the interview will include basic questions about yourself and your school. For example, the interviewer will ask, “How do you think you can handle a long school day,” or “What is your favorite book?” Similar to the picture above, it is not uncommon to see two interviewers for every one student. Many students will feel intimidated and outnumbered especially if the questions become more difficult. Relax while answering questions and wait a second or two before answering to collect your thoughts. It may help to remember you are not alone. Every student being interviewed will face the same situation.

The second portion of the interview will ask questions pertinent to your academy. The interviewer may ask, “Why did you choose this academy,” or, “What experience do you have in this academy?” Again, you know why you want to join your specific academy, but you must convey your ideas, and convince the interviewer you are the right fit for Bergen Academies. Also, write down a list of questions that are significant to your academy and rehearse them. Now is the moment to let your enthusiasm shine through.

When the interview is over, you may be asked if you have any questions about the school. Make sure you are prepared to ask a good question about the school. I cannot stress this enough! Additionally, if the interviewer does not ask this question, bring up the topic yourself. Interviews can be nerve-racking, but they should be a two-way street. The interview is as much an opportunity for you to evaluate the school as it is for the school to evaluate your application. You will want to take every chance you can to make sure BCA is the right fit for you.

If you have additional questions or wish to get more thoughts from previous interviewees please do not hesitate to Contact Us.