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Toward the end of a boarding school interview, students are often given the opportunity to ask the interviewer questions.
Instead of simply saying, “No, I don’t have any,” students can use this opportunity to ask about something they genuinely want to understand. Thoughtful questions can help students learn more about the school while showing genuine curiosity about whether it is a good fit for them.
This guide covers questions about academics, campus life, boarding culture, extracurricular activities, and students’ own interests.
Questions About Academics
Students can ask these questions to learn more about the curriculum, courses, majors, and academic programs each boarding school offers. They can also learn more about teacher-student relationships and how academic advising works. Some examples include:
What is the classroom experience like?
This question introduces students to classroom life in boarding school, such as class sizes, teacher-student relationships, learning materials, and student participation. It helps them assess whether the boarding school classroom environment and setup suit them.
How accessible are teachers outside class?
Teacher-student relationships in boarding school work differently than in regular schools. Because students live on campus, they may have more opportunities to interact with teachers outside the classroom. Asking about teacher availability can help students understand how accessible faculty members are for academic questions, advising, and day-to-day support.
What opportunities exist for students who want to go deeper in a particular subject?
This question can help students learn whether the school offers ways to pursue an academic interest beyond regular coursework. Some examples include independent study, research opportunities, and faculty mentorships, which build skills in independence, research, and curiosity.
How does academic advising work?
This question introduces students to the school’s academic advising and helps them see whether the system works for them. The faculty advisor may help students navigate course choices, extracurricular commitments, personal challenges, and longer-term goals.
Questions About Student Life and Boarding Experience
Students can ask these questions to show interviewers their curiosity about the boarding school experience. It gives them a glimpse of campus life and helps them decide whether a boarding school is the right fit. Some examples include:
What is a typical weekday or weekend like?
This question can give students a clearer picture of what daily life is actually like. They can learn about class schedules, study time, extracurricular activities, weekend plans, transportation, and time to socialize.
How do new students adjust to boarding life?
Adjusting to boarding life looks different for every student. Asking this can help students understand how the school supports new students as they adjust to boarding life, build friendships, participate in the community, and manage homesickness.
What traditions or community events are especially important?
Traditions and community events can give students opportunities to connect through cultural events, holiday gatherings, and other shared activities. They can help students feel more connected to the school community and give them opportunities to spend time with classmates outside the classroom.
How do dorm communities build relationships?
The school’s dorm culture shows students how to build meaningful relationships and friendships with their dormmates, such as navigating shared spaces, communicating with roommates, and handling conflicts properly.
Questions About Extracurricular Opportunities
Students can also ask about extracurricular opportunities to understand how easy it is to explore interests outside the classroom, including clubs, sports, arts, and community service. Some of these questions include:
How easy is it to try a new sport, club, or activity?
This question can help students understand how easy it is to get involved in activities they are interested in. They can learn about tryouts, schedules, seasonal activities, and how many options are available.
Can students start their own clubs or projects?
This question suggests that students want to start their own clubs or projects that improve campus or student life. This can help students understand whether they have opportunities to turn their interests into student-led clubs, projects, or initiatives.
How involved are students outside the classroom?
This question can help students understand how they spend their time outside of class and how much of campus life is student-led. They can ask about social activities, community events, student organizations, and other opportunities to connect with their peers.
Questions About School Culture and Community
Students can ask these questions to learn more about the school’s culture and community. Since the school will become their home for several years, these questions can help students decide whether its environment is a good fit. Some examples include:
What kind of student tends to thrive here?
This question can help students understand what the school community is like and what qualities tend to fit well with its environment. The interviewer may also offer useful insight into the school’s expectations, pace, and culture.
What do students like most about the school community?
This question can help students learn more about the school’s traditions, activities, and sense of community. A positive school community helps students feel valued in a nurturing and supportive environment. Some examples include the classroom setup, extracurricular activities, academic performance, teacher-student relationships, and the friends who make their experience meaningful.
How would you describe relationships between students and teachers?
This question introduces how teachers and students build relationships within the boarding school community. A positive student-teacher relationship is when the teacher listens to the student, admits mistakes, sets clear boundaries, and is approachable.
What makes this school different from other boarding schools?
This can help students hear directly from someone at the school about what makes its experience distinctive. The answer may also help students decide whether those qualities match their own interests and priorities. Some characteristics include its advanced curriculum, campus facilities, extracurricular opportunities, college counseling services, dorm activities, and more.
Questions Based on Students' Own Interests
Some questions go beyond academics, extracurricular activities, or the boarding school community. They focus on a student’s own interests, and interviewers can get to know them beyond their resumes or application essays. These questions show what a student values most and the ways they can contribute to the boarding school.
A practical approach is to prepare 4 to 5 questions, while expecting to ask only 1 to 3 depending on the time available and what has already been discussed. Some examples include:
- What research opportunities are available in the boarding school?
- What art programs are available in the boarding school?
- What specific sports teams can I try out for?
- Are there student publications I can contribute to?
- Are there entrepreneurship opportunities available in the boarding school?
- Will there be community service activities I can volunteer for?
These questions are usually stronger than generic ones you could be asked at any other school. They show that a student is genuinely interested in learning more about the boarding school and how they can hone their skills and interests. They show that the student has taken time to think about their own interests and how they might engage with the school community.
Questions to Avoid During Interview
While there are good questions for students to ask their interviewer, some questions shouldn’t be asked. Thus, it is important to:
Avoid questions easily answered on the school website
Avoid asking questions that can be answered easily on the school website or in the admissions materials. Instead, ask questions about a student’s personal experience and interests in the boarding school to learn more things that the website cannot answer.
Avoid Questions Focused Only on Rankings, College Outcomes, or Admission Chances
Rankings, college outcomes, and admission chances may matter to families, but they should not be the only focus of the conversation. Students can use the interview to learn about the school’s environment, culture, and opportunities as well.
Avoid asking too many questions
Asking too many questions can make it difficult for students to have a comfortable and natural conversation or stay within the interview time limit.
Avoid questions that sound rehearsed or designed only to impress
Ask honest questions and try to build a genuine connection with your interviewer. Remember that the goal is not to impress the interviewer with a perfectly prepared question. A genuine conversation is usually more useful for both the student and the interviewer.
How Many Questions Should You Prepare?
Now that we know which questions to ask and which ones to avoid, how many questions should your child prepare?
A good number of questions to prepare is 4 to 5 questions, but you must also consider the interview’s time limit. Some expect to ask only 2 to 3—it depends. There will be a chance that not all your questions will be answered, so you must know which questions to prioritize and which to ask if there is still extra time. During the interview, listen carefully to the interviewer to avoid asking something that was already answered or previously mentioned.
At Ivy Talent Education, we help families approach boarding school admissions with a focus on student fit, personal growth, and long-term goals. If your child is preparing for a boarding school interview and you would like guidance on how to approach the conversation, schedule a consultation with us today!
