Choate strongly encourages an admission interview, and it must be completed during the current application cycle. The interview is online only, one per applicant, scheduled for 45 minutes, and the first 20 to 25 minutes are one-on-one with the student. Choate says all interviews are weighed equally, regardless of the interviewer.
This guide covers how to get the interview, what the format is, how to help your student prepare, and the mistakes that trip families up most often.
Who the interview is for
Applicants to grades 9, 10, and 11 and to the postgraduate year interview through the same process. Choate conducts interviews between September and February for students applying for the following fall. Because it is strongly encouraged and must be completed in the current cycle, treat it as part of the application, not an extra. It is separate from testing: standardized testing is optional, but the interview is the school's chance to meet your student.
How to get an interview
Choate describes the sequence this way:
- Complete the Inquiry Form on Choate's admissions site. That is the first of Choate's six steps.
- Watch for the email invitation. Choate says students will be invited to sign up for an interview via email after the form is submitted.
- Sign up promptly. Choate can accommodate only one interview per applicant, so choose a time you can keep.
See the Choate application guide for the full list of six steps, and the Choate admissions timeline for how they fit on the calendar.
The format
- Online only. Choate says all interviews take place online and it does not offer in-person interviews.
- One interview. You cannot request a second one.
- 45 minutes. The appointment is scheduled for 45 minutes. The interviewer speaks one-on-one with the student for the first 20 to 25 minutes.
- Weighed equally. Choate says every interview carries the same weight, regardless of who conducts it.
Choate does not publish interview questions, and it does not say who the interviewers are or what the remaining time is used for. Do not rely on anything a website tells you about specific questions. Prepare the student to talk about themselves.
What the school says it wants to learn
Choate's admission page says it wants applicants to show up as themselves, sharing what they think about, what they care about, how they unwind, and what they want to explore. It names integrity, respect, compassion, and a steady sense of humor as values it looks for. Those are the school's words, and they describe the kind of conversation that works: specific, relaxed, and honest.
How to prepare
Know the material of the application
The student should be able to talk about their courses, activities, and reading without notes. If the Gateway application lists an activity, they should be ready to explain what they actually did.
Practice talking, not reciting
Have a parent or teacher ask open questions: What do you enjoy in school? What was a hard moment this year and what did you do? What would you want from a boarding or day community? Stop the practice when the answers become memorized.
Prepare a few questions of your own
A student who has read the school's pages can ask real questions about courses, clubs, advising, or daily life. Choate's About page lists 300+ core courses and electives in 6 academic departments, which is a good place to look for specifics.
Test the setup
Because the interview is online, check the camera, microphone, connection, and a quiet room ahead of time. Choose a plain background and join a few minutes early.
Let the student speak
Choate describes the first part of the appointment as one-on-one with the student. Help with logistics, and leave the conversation to the student.
Common mistakes
- Skipping it. Choate calls the interview strongly encouraged and says it must be completed in the current cycle.
- Waiting until February. Interviews run through February, but the school's January 15 deadline comes first, so book early.
- Over-scripting. A memorized answer sounds like one.
- Chasing a particular interviewer. Choate says all interviews are weighed equally.
- Describing only achievements. The school asks what the student thinks about and cares about, not only what they have won.
- Technical problems. A frozen connection wastes limited time.
After the interview
Choate's public pages do not describe a thank-you or follow-up process. Continue with the rest of the application: the Gateway essays, teacher recommendations, and the transcript. The guide to Choate essays and writing components covers the written work, and the how to get into Choate guide puts every piece in order.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Choate interview required?
Choate says it is strongly encouraged and must be completed during the current application cycle. Check the admissions site for how the school treats applicants without one.
Is the Choate interview in person or online?
Online only. Choate says all interviews take place online and it offers no in-person interviews.
How long is the interview?
The appointment is scheduled for 45 minutes. The interviewer speaks one-on-one with the student for the first 20 to 25 minutes.
Does the interviewer affect the outcome?
Choate says all interviews are weighed equally, regardless of the interviewer.
When can we interview?
Choate conducts interviews between September and February. The invitation comes by email after you submit the Inquiry Form.
Where EduAvenues fits
If you want structured help preparing a student for the application, see the programs page. The free diagnostic and the planner on the resources page are good places to begin.
Sources
- Choate Admission Process
- Choate Admission Frequently Asked Questions
- Choate Admission
- Choate Tuition and Financial Aid
- Choate Tuition and Financial Aid FAQ
- Choate About
- Choate Campus Tour
- What's on the Upper Level SSAT (The Enrollment Management Association)
- ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2026-27 (ERB)
ChoatePrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Choate Rosemary Hall.