The Interview

The Personal Project interviews are conducted by small interview panels (usually three interviewers per panel). The panels are made up of school administrators and MYP teachers (ACS Managing Director, the principals, the Head of School, Academic Dean, IB coordinators, Personal Project Coordinator, Admissions staff etc).

Preparing for your interview

1. Prepare a brief verbal summary (2 - 3 minutes) in which you explain the premise of your Personal Project – your topic, Global Context, product or outcome, product criteria, investigation of sources and the progress you have made so far.

• Prepare your summary and rehearse it in front of family members or friends
• Write your summary on notecards, not on an A4 sheet of paper (this looks quite scrappy and very unprofessional)

2. Bring evidence of your product or outcome. This could be the product itself (if it is not too large or cumbersome), photographs, a slide show, PowerPoint presentation, sketches, a video – it really depends on what your product/outcome is and what you want to show your interviewers. If you need a laptop in order to display your evidence, make sure you bring yours with you and make sure it is charged!

3. ‘Dress to impress’ – dress appropriately as for a professional job interview. If in doubt, ask your parents or the Personal Project Coordinator about appropriate interview clothing.

On the day

1. Turn up at least five minutes before your scheduled interview time. Wait outside the interview room until you are invited in. Being on time is very important. Make sure you have your notecards and the evidence of your product/outcome with you.

2. When you enter the room, introduce yourself and shake hands with each interviewer. You may know one, two, all or none of your interviewers, so it is a good idea to let them know who you are. When you have sat down, you will be asked to begin your summary.

3. You are speaking to a small audience, not to the ceiling, your notecards, or your computer screen. Try to make eye contact with each of your interviewers, slowly and clearly.

4. During your interview, try not to fidget or look distracted, as this will be very obvious to your interviewers. Maintain your energy in order to make a good impression.

5. If there is anything you really need to read out during the interview – part of your story, a quotation, statistics or something difficult – write it on a separate card, read it out, put the card down, then look at the audience again.

6. During the interview, you may be asked some of the following questions:

• Your strengths and weaknesses throughout the Personal Project process
• The skills you have gained
• Why you think your project is a success
• Your accomplishments during the project
• Problems you have experienced and how you have dealt with these
• Your Global Context and inquiry question, and how your product/outcome relates to these

7. Ensure that you have knowledge of the Personal Project summative assessment criteria (Appendix B), as you may be asked to analyse your Personal Project against some of the criteria.

8. Thank each of your interviewers at the end of your interview.