A marathon run of student interviews
A marathon run of student interviews
Monday, 6 April 2009
I have just finished my annual period of interviewing Hong Kong students who have been short-listed to enter United World Colleges in September this year. Most of my daylight hours during the last two and a half weeks have been spent interviewing students in panel interviews, each of which comprised myself plus two other members of the eight-person team of interviewers appointed by the Home Affairs Bureau. The interviews were conducted in my office at the College, and the image above gives some idea of the view seen by the students as they say in the chair for the interview.
More than 500 Hong Kong students applied for places in United World Colleges this year, of whom just over 100 were short-listed for panel interviews following an extensive screening of application forms, assessment on Challenge day and the aptitude testing. The process concluded last Friday when all the members of the Selection Panel met and considered the offers of places that will be made. A list was compiled, and students receiving offers for overseas UWCs should hear by the end of April, while those being offered places at LPCUWC will learn the outcome in about the second week of June.
As always, the quality of the students being interviewed was sensational, and it was a humbling experience to have the privilege of interacting with such outstanding young people. The fortnight of interviews might be exhausting, not least because I have to spend late nights and weekends catching up all the other tasks I would normally be doing during the day, but the interviews are incredibly stimulating and exhilarating - well worth the time spent.
Unfortunately, the time available to catch my breath has been quite limited, as I am now travelling to conduct some late staff recruitment interviews. Recruiting top staff is probably the most important task any Principal ever undertakes, so the time and effort taken is an important investment. Fortunately, I am still high on the adrenaline of the student interviews, so despite tiredness, I am really looking forward to the stimulation of speaking to some of the world’s outstanding teachers about the possibility of joining our team in Hong Kong next year.