What schools are looking for at interviews

[VanillaCafe]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences!

I wonder if the schools don't have a scientific way of identifying a child's potential, and they are looking for children being in the developmental norm for their age (which by definition is the majority of children), the final decision is a bit like a random draw. Then why would they spend so much time and resources, not to mention wasting all the time and energy of parents and children, to implement such a process? If most of the decision IS random, it would make everyone feel a lot less stressed if they do make it clear (say having a lottery system after initial elimination of children who don't meet developmental norm or families who don't share same education philosophy). Currently, they make it sound like it's the child's failure, that somehow the child has failed to perform up to their standard.

Worse, some schools may use the interview process as an excuse to hide all the other admission critera that are not suitable to be public knowledge. With the interview process at least the admission appears to be fair. And there's always a reason to give to the parents if they don't have space for a child - your child failed the interview. I do know for sure, as I was told by more than one local Hong Konger, that if the family has connections with school administration their child will not fail the interview.

Sometimes I wonder the reason for such a ridiculous system to prevail is precisely because too many people think "there's not much point in fighting the system."

 

[Tikus]

Hi there everyone. I agree that we can't beat the system and I'm one parent who has decided to join it.

Following from that, I have a question following on from Elise's statement that "The more exclusive schools will take students from their favourite kindergartens".

If one would like one's child to be enrolled in the Diocesan Boys' School Primary Division/ St. Pauls, for example, does it follow that the child has a better chance if he went to an Anglican kindergarten? If so, does one know if the affiliated with DBS Primary Division is stronger with some of these kindergartens than others?

Will be very grateful for everyone's insights!

 

[Koan]

My son has an 'interview' next month for the 2s class in 2010. He will be 21mnths old at the time of the interview.

I have no idea what they expect of him but I doubt they'll ask him to distinguish between cars, taxis, trucks, buses and minibuses, his latest talent LOL. I 'm going to call them this week and ask about the process. It's all a bit ridiculous really...

 

[aussiegal]

Sometimes I wonder if it's not a race thing too? You know, they want to get whatever racial mix they want into the class and until they see the kid sometimes it's hard to know their ethnicity. They do it for buildings here so why wouldn't they do something similar for schools? not that I agree with it but I do think it happens.

 

[HK2008]

I'm yet another very frustrated mum and also have decided to accept the system(otherwise we have to leave ey?). My son will get an interview in Dec when he's just 2 years old. Right now I'm trying to make him remember some flashcards and intend to take them with us during the interview, to show the interviewers that he...does know a thing or two.

As to my 4 year old K2 daughter, I'm making her work very hard and trying to get her to write A-Z and write 1-100, after being told by the teacher that if she doesn't improve, she'd have to be sent back to K1...Crazy crazy crazy...this is all I can say.

 

[pixelelf]

after reading this thread im really panicking. what?!? we have to get interviews secured for kindy now? my son is 20mths and i havent done any of such scouting yet! i must be missing something! what kindys are u all looking at? im realli stumped. i asked woodland preschool, and there's no mention of any interview. singapore international school has no interview till 2011. what am i missing out?

 

[carang]

many, if not all kindergartens have interviews.

my son's kindergarten's interview was very fast and simple. I didn't even know he'd had it. my husband took him in one day and they were finished in about 5 minutes.

my son goes to a local kindergarten and we are EXTREMELY happy with it.

 

[reei]

when you apply for kindergartens, how many kindergartens did u apply for?

 

[carang]

me? one. the one he attends.

 

[reei]

good, that u apply one and he got in , carang.
hmm.. i am not so confident, so i'll apply for 4.. hopefully , she gets in at least one.