Build the foundation
Prepare for interview logistics and shape meaningful answers with the video curriculum and a practical workbook.
VIDEO LESSONS + PREPARATION GUIDEK–12 PRIVATE SCHOOL INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Your story.
Your voice.
A confident conversation.
Interview coaching for families applying to K–12 private and boarding schools. We prepare parents and children ages 5 to 14 with live one-on-one mock interviews and feedback in the moment, in English or Chinese.
Parent interviews · Student interviews · Kindergarten to Grade 9 · Manhattan and online
Authentic stories✦Age-aware preparation✦Practice with feedback✦Human guidance
01 / A PATH THAT FITS
Different ages.
Different conversations.
Choose the person preparing for the interview. We’ll tailor the focus, practice questions, and preparation plan.
WHAT WE WORK ON
02 / PREPARATION WITH PURPOSE
Learn. Practice.
Make it personal.
A clear sequence connects course preparation, independent practice, and focused time with a real coach.
Practice your own words
Practice with Maccabee’s AI interview coach, built on our own proprietary materials and 11 years of experience. It asks the questions schools ask and gives feedback using the criteria private schools use to evaluate families.
BUILT ON 11 YEARS OF MACCABEE EXPERIENCEPractice live, one-on-one
A real mock interview with a Maccabee advisor. It is interactive: you answer, your advisor gives feedback on the spot, and you try again, all within the hour.
LIVE 1:1 · FEEDBACK IN THE SESSIONTHE LEARNING FRAMEWORKReady for the moment.
Ready for the moment.
Clear on the message.
01
Interview readiness
Setting, technology, listening, pacing, and comfortable communication.
02
Stories & substance
Specific examples, school research, thoughtful questions, and follow-up.
03
Reflection & refinement
Notice what felt natural, choose one improvement, and practice again.
FROM OUR MOCK INTERVIEW NOTES
What strong families
still get wrong.
These come from what our advisors see in mock interviews. The families are thoughtful and well prepared. The habits are just hard to see from the inside.
Praising the ranking
“It’s a well-known school” tells the school nothing. Name something it actually does, and connect it to your child.
Presenting instead of talking
Rehearsed answers can sound like a slide deck. Slow down, leave room, and let it become a conversation.
Telling the family’s résumé
Your family’s achievements are context. The story is your child, and how they will add to a classroom.
Offering money too early
Offer your time and care: the book fair, a parent event. Do not raise financial support before admission.
Asking what the website answers
Good questions show you did the reading. You are interviewing the school too, so ask what matters to your child.
Booking the hardest school first
Interview order matters. Warm up elsewhere, and schedule your most competitive school later when you can.
HOW WE SCORE A MOCK
21 criteria. Five things a school notices.
Every mock is scored by a senior advisor on the same 21-point form, with feedback given live during the session, including on the questions you ask the school.
- First impression4
- School preparation3
- Non-verbal presence5
- Answers and examples3
- Partnership readiness6
“The mock interview was a wake-up call. We realized how poorly we had presented ourselves the year before, when we applied alone.”
Maccabee families have been admitted to top private and boarding schools, including Riverdale, Dalton, Trinity, Horace Mann, Spence, Pingry, Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss, Groton, and Loomis Chaffee.
03 / A SMALL START
One question.
A real starting point.
Try a sample from your selected pathway. Think of a real example before you start speaking.
A WAY IN
This sample does not record audio or send your notes to us. Download them if you want to keep them.
04 / CHOOSE YOUR SUPPORT
A little structure.
The right support.
Start with self-study, add a mock interview when you want an expert read, or work with us through the whole interview season.
SELF-PACED
Foundation
$249
Everything you need to practice on your own.
- Two video lessons: on-camera technique and content coaching
- Interview question bank for your pathway, with school-fit framing
- Maccabee AI interview coach in ChatGPT, built on 11 years of our experience
- Useful-expressions guide, dress guidance, and seven-step plan
PRACTICE + FEEDBACK
Mock Interview
$850
Find out how you actually come across, before the school does.
- Everything in Foundation
- Scored on Maccabee’s 21-point interview feedback form
- Live feedback in the session, and the priorities to fix first
OUR STANDARD PROGRAM
Full Coaching
$2,850
Strategy first, then three rounds of real improvement.
- Everything in Foundation
- One 1:1 strategy session on principles, answers, and school fit
- Three live mock interviews, each with feedback in the session
- Thank-you letter guidance after the real interview
- 5 hours across 4 sessions; a mock can be swapped for coaching time
PARENT + STUDENT
Family Coaching
$4,950
One plan for when the school meets both parent and student.
- Everything in Foundation, for both pathways
- 10 live hours shared between parent and student
- Divide the time across coaching and mock interviews
- Thank-you letter guidance after the real interviews
- Saves $750 compared with two Full Coaching programs
Parent interview and student interview coaching are separate programs, and prices are per pathway; Family Coaching covers both. Families applying this season usually book mock interviews two to three weeks before the first school interview. No program guarantees admission. A ChatGPT account is required for the AI coach, and any ChatGPT plan cost is separate.
How it works
- Complete the pre-interview questionnaire
- 1:1 coaching, then mock interviews
- Reflection and thank-you note after the real interview
- Send your questionnaire and application essay at least 48 hours before your first session
Add-ons for enrolled families
- Extra 60-minute mock interview: $500
- Scheduling within 48 hours: +$100
- Upgrade anytime and pay only the difference
Rescheduling and refunds
- Free reschedule with more than 48 hours’ notice
- $100 fee for changes within 48 hours
- No refunds after the first session
- Session recordings on request, with parent consent for student sessions
A MANAGEABLE RHYTHM
Seven steps.
One at a time.
Which pathway should we choose?
Choose Families for parent interviews and kindergarten through Grade 2 preparation. Choose Students for Grade 3 and above. If the school will interview both parent and student, choose Family Coaching.
Is this about memorizing perfect answers?
No. We help applicants and parents find real examples, explain their thinking, and ask thoughtful questions. Practice should make a conversation more natural.
How does the AI coach work?
After you enroll, you receive access to Maccabee’s AI interview coach. It runs in ChatGPT and is built on our proprietary materials and 11 years of experience. It asks one question at a time and gives feedback using the criteria private schools use to evaluate families, so you can practice between live sessions. Access and instructions arrive by email after enrollment. A ChatGPT account is required.
How do enrollment and payment work?
Choose a program and send us your details. An advisor confirms your pathway, schedule, and access to materials, then sends an invoice. Nothing is charged when you submit the form.
Can we prepare in Chinese?
Yes. Switch the page to Chinese for the text, practice questions, and preparation plan. Live sessions can be held in Chinese or English; confirm your preference when you enroll.
Are our practice notes saved?
Notes on this page stay in your browser and disappear when you refresh or leave. They are not sent to Maccabee. Download a copy if you want to keep them, and leave out sensitive student information.
START WITH THE PERSON
