What questions do they ask at 6th form interviews?

[slickrick]

DS having a major panic attack, please help.

[Theas18]

I assume a chat re them as a person- what do they enjoy etc, moving onto why the A level choices, what the career plan is ( don't be afraid to say I don't know but I love studying history because X y z and I'll see where it takes me). Also probably " why this 6th form" - have a think about that as they want o know what it offers you over and above other local providers eg the rugby is good, you are the only one offering board X etc.

It isn't a job interview, they know you are only 15/16.

A bit of prep re the place and the courses and a parental chat as to how " not to be a teenager" just for 15mins and he'll be fine- by that I mean answer questions with more than a grunt, give eye contact, sit up (open body language not slumped and arms folded) look interested and pleasant and you'll be fine.

I'm sure your DS doesn't do that anyway but a chat about the " caricature" will help.

[Theas18]

Remember, as with all interviews you need to know they are right for you as well as them " wanting " you for the place.

Good luck!

[Talkinpeace]

don't know - DD sent her form in yesterday so will have had the interview within a few weeks hopefully

[monikar]

slickrick My DD went for two interviews at different sixth forms and both required that a parent accompanied them. Both started with a general chat about her hobbies/interests beginning with information she had written on the form - this was only a couple of minutes. Then they went on to discuss the subjects she had chosen and indicated what grade at GCSE she would need to achieve in each one in order to be offered a place. They both asked her what she was considering to do beyond A level.

They were both quite relaxed occasions as it turned out - more of a general chat. DD had got very worried about the first one too, but honestly both were fine. I think at this age, the tutors know that the students might be attending their first ever interview and so do make allowances.

It might be an idea for your DS to have a question or two prepared for the end as this shows that he is interested in studying there.

Good luck - hope it goes well.

[LittleSiouxieSue]

Similar questions to Monikar. We also explored extra curricular opportunities as these were vital to DD and would have been a deal breaker had they not been up to scratch! We also had a discussion about which fourth subject as DD was undecided. You are at a disadvantage as you do not know the teachers and this can make such a difference. We were there with her but it is definitely a good tip to have a couple of questions up your sleeve. Ask about a particular syllabus, trips to enhance studying and help with selecting a further course/university maybe.

[Talkinpeace]

we've already been to two open evenings and met many of the teachers and seen the facilities
and as DD is doing courses that are not normally oversubscribed I'll be interested to see what they cover

[LittleSiouxieSue]

I meant that you do not know if they are good teachers or not. Meeting people is not the same as being taught by them and the pupils already at the school have the inside track on that. You can only really judge by results and if they seem ok.

[Talkinpeace]

Littlesioux
I have friends who teach there and because the college is the main feeder one for round here DD has lots and lots of friends already there
the results are pretty nifty and the facilities are corking
as there are several colleges round here that we can choose from, the jungle drums work pretty well.
Yes, I know how lucky we are in this part of Hampshire!

[TheWave]

I wouldn't expect just a chat necessarily. If it is with teachers relating to his proposed A Levels then expect more detailed subject-specific questions, e.g. maths to solve, poem to analyse. What sort of school is it? How selective do you expect them to be?

[circular]

Interesting if you are talking snout state schools here. We went to 6 or 7 open evenings last year, across 4 different LAs. All said they were not allowed to use interviewing as selection. Alk bar one of those that did interview called it a 'subject choice discussion' or similar. The one that blatantly interviewees definitely using it to check if their face fitted, AND insisted on NOT bringing a parent.
Her own school insisted on a parent being present, as did one if the itherws but when we got there was optional if I went in with her.

DD attended 4 'interviews' mainly asked about subject
syllabus, careers support, extra CA and EPQ.

[LittleSiouxieSue]

Talkinpeace. If you have friends who work at the college I am surprised you needed to ask the question in the first place because your friends would have known the answer! For people joining a 6th form where they know nothing in detail about the school it is incredibly difficult to ascertain the quality of teaching in the subjects your DC wants. That goes for independent schools as well as state. Most state 6th forms just want suitable GCSE results and you seem to already know what the college wants so what was the point of the original post because it hardly seems you have to compete to get into any of the colleges as you have such a wide choice.

[slickrick]

Wow, thank you. I knew I could rely on MN.

DS is applying to a very academic private school. He is super bright but not as confident as he could be. He has his own business but does not do much in the way of EC activities so we lied a little on the form.
He also doesn't know what he wants to do after Uni or indeed what course to do at Uni so we need to find something that could be a possible route for him later before the interview.

[lainiekazan]

Ds has not decided on A Levels yet and the form is due in! He is being a complete ostrich. Given the numbers that apply to the sixth form college in question (TalkinPeace's actually) I wonder who they actually send to do the interviews. Are prospective students interviewed by a teacher in one of the subjects they hope to do? Or some random (sorry!) admin person?

[Talkinpeace]

lainie some of DDs friends have already had their dates - I think the interviews are done by faculty of one of the subjects .... no harm in phoning to check I guess

can he choose two subjects so that the form goes in on time and then adjust later

slickrick impressed that your DS has his own business already!

[slickrick]

He had to out of necessity really, we refuse to give him any money whatsoever. Its starting to backfire on us as he is making quite a bit now, he is questioning whether Uni is the way forward.

[TellNoOneOK]

Dear SR,

When choosing subjects it is important to consider GCSE grades, interests, business activities, income requirements, health, stamina, creativity, sociability, practicality and interest in travel. These days I would advise not to do a subject if DD has no A*/A, unless DD shows total determination to do so. It is vital that the college has the right atmosphere and ethos and DD fits in.

On open days over subscribed courses can pull tricks like giving a presentation to show what topic options there might be and then asking students to put their name on a piece of paper with their desired topics to aid the selection process. Our DD, who professed a strong desire to do history, had to ask me what the topics were. I said that I hadn't been listening and didn't have a clue - but that he did sound like he was a really good history teacher.

In a good reference library there are really good directories that describe practically every career that you can think of. They give a detailed breakdown of the work, and the background of the people that do it. If DD can plough through that - it is an indicator in itself.