AND...PSP Semifinalist!

eml2505
Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:44:24 +0000

As I said, I’m not a PS, but my son is, and I went through the selection process with him last year.

The only advice I can give is to “be yourself”!

Seriously - there’s nothing you really can prepare, I think. You’ll have your (local) interviews either late Dec or early Jan, I believe, and that defines if you’ll make it to the ‘finalist’-level (together with the additional teacher rec).

How would you prepare for an interview? One thing I can assure you of: the interviewers are all quite skilled in their job and most certainly would see right through you if you tried to fake something. Therefore, just be yourself, talk about what you like to do, what motivates you, about your dreams. Show some spark & excitement, if you can.

Of course, if you have done already some research that’s a good topic to start the discussion. My son didn’t have any research projects at that time, and still became a finalist.
The interviewers know that the candidates are only 16/17, and that they are ‘kids’ yet, so don’t try to appear more mature than you are. Keep in mind, that all the candidates are as bright as you are, so I wouldn’t talk about your grades or academic successes - what they are looking for is probably more a well-balanced person than a ‘specialist’.