Interviews

Interview Requirement

All applicants to Achva programs must have an interview with an Achva staff person prior to attending the program. This is our way of assuring as best as possible that all participants are appropriate for our programs. We try to make the interview process as easy and convenient for you as possible. Prior Achva participants are generally exempt from this rule.

The purpose of the interview is for you to:

  • Learn about Achva and its rules, policies, and expectations.
  • Ask any questions you may have about Achva programs.
  • Help us determine that the program is right for you.

While we occasionally decide not to accept someone following an interview, that decision is almost never made based on the interview alone. Rather it is made based on a participant's references, overall background or history on similar programs. There is no reason to be nervous about your Achva interview.

You can lead a donkey to water...The interview is casual and no advanced preparation is necessary unless you want to prepare any questions you may wish to ask. Understand that interviews will probably need to be limited to about 20 minutes. Parents are not expected to attend but certainly may do so if they wish.

Achva Interview Sessions

Interview Sessions are conducted at local schools and shuls, probably near you, including some communities outside the greater New York-New Jersey area. These are designed to make it more convenient for you to interview with us.

Here are the sessions we currently have scheduled. Please email our office to set up a specific time slot. Slots are available on a first-come first-served basis and only by confirmed appointment. Please do not show up without emailing or calling first as we may not be able to accommodate. You must receive a confirmation from us to assure your appointment time. We have mulitple interviewers and can accommodate about 4-5 people per slot.

Here is the first few we have scheduled so far:

  • Young Israel of Scarsdale, 1313 Weaver Street, Scarsdale, NY - March 15 at 6:45, 7:15, 7:45, 8:15PM
  • Private Home (Call or Email for address), West Orange, NJ - March 17 at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30PM
  • Young Israel of Great Neck, 236 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY - March 23 at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00PM
  • The Frisch School, Paramus, NJ - March 24 at 5:15, 5:45, 6:15, 6:45 and 7:15PM
  • Private Home (Call or Email for address), Upper East Side, NY - April 13, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00PM

There are lots more sessions about to be announced soon so if these are not convenient, please wait until we post some more. We expect that to happen in the next few days so check back then.

For those who are unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, an interview may be conducted at the Achva offices or other venue, or we try to work out alternative arrangements. An interview, however, will still be required.  
 

Interview Sessions Last Year

Here is a partial list of past interview sessions. It is just meant to give you a rough idea of where we may have more interview sessions in the future.

  • HAFTR High School, Cedarhurst, NY - March 10, 2010
  • SAR High School, Riverdale, NY - March 9, 2010
  • Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, Boca Raton, FL - February 11, 2009
  • Congregation Ramat Orah, 550 West 110th, New York, NY - February 23, 2009
  • Young Israel of Great Neck - March 3, 2009
  • Young Israel of Scarsdale - March 11, 2009
  • Congregation AABJD, West Orange, NJ - March 15, 2009