New Vericant Interview Rules! Why a 2-Minute Selfie Video Might Be More Powerful Than 10 Interview Questions
For international students planning to apply to US boarding schools, Vericant is already a familiar name. As a widely adopted third-party interview provider for independent schools, Vericant serves a dual purpose: demonstrating English language proficiency and acting as an initial screening tool. It is often considered the stepping stone—and the very first major hurdle—in a student’s entire admissions journey.
For 2026, Vericant has unveiled a series of new features and service updates:
Show and Tell: A brand-new feature designed to evaluate a student's organizational ability, expressive communication, and unique personal traits.
Upgraded Rush Delivery: Added a 2-business-day expedited option for students who need their interview results urgently.
Upgraded SEED Report: A diagnostic pre-interview evaluation service designed to help students analyze their strengths and areas for improvement across the five SEE dimensions (Vocabulary Range, Accuracy, Fluency, Interaction, and Coherence) and four writing categories.
Heart & Super Heart Tools: A preference-marking tool within Vericant's delivery system. Students can designate up to three target institutions as a "Heart" school, with one selected as a "Super Heart" school to signal clear admissions intent. Families are advised to assign these designations once their school lists are finalized, reserving them for best-fit institutions rather than marking them randomly.
Among these updates, Show and Tell has drawn the most attention. To help families navigate these changes smoothly, we have compiled a comprehensive breakdown below. We highly recommend bookmarking this guide for reference!
What Is Show and Tell?
Show and Tell is an add-on feature currently available only to students who have booked an official Vericant K-12 or summer school interview. Simply put, it is a self-recorded English video (up to 2 minutes long) where students can showcase their interests, talents, extracurricular projects, competition experiences, or personal stories.
Unlike the formal interview, Show and Tell does not involve an interviewer. Students can record the video using a phone or computer within their Vericant account in their most comfortable, representative environment. However, pre-recorded video uploads are not allowed—the recording must be captured live inside the Vericant platform.
Why Did Vericant Launch Show and Tell?
1. Overcoming the Time Limits of Formal Interviews
Every interview is an opportunity to share your story. However, answering two or three standard questions during a short session rarely allows applicants to fully convey their individuality. The Show and Tell feature bridges this gap, giving applicants a dedicated platform to present meaningful details that they didn't have time to mention during the main interview.
2. Making a Lasting Impression on Admissions Officers
Admissions officers review thousands of applications each year, many with similar academic records, test scores, and extracurricular lists. A thoughtful Show and Tell video helps admissions officers remember the vibrant individual behind the paperwork.
As the Director of Admissions at Kimball Union Academy noted: "Show and Tell provides students with a direct line of communication to admissions officers, helping them stand out among a competitive applicant pool. As an admissions leader, I pay special attention to Show and Tell when making enrollment decisions, and I strongly encourage students to submit one to their top-choice schools."
3. Seeing Is Believing
Certain achievements leave a far stronger impression when visually demonstrated rather than described on paper. Showing a finished painting is more memorable than writing "I can paint"; sharing a piano performance is more compelling than stating "I play the piano"; and demonstrating a robotics project in motion makes your technical skills far easier for admissions officers to appreciate.
What Can You Feature in Your Show and Tell?
Applicants have complete freedom to choose what admissions officers see. Popular topics include:
Artwork, engineering projects, or scientific research
Talents in music, athletics, or performing arts
Meaningful community service or volunteer experiences
A personal passion, hobby, or long-term pursuit
Important stories or details that didn't naturally come up during the formal interview
Whether your passion lies in music, sports, science, art, community service, or a completely unique niche, Show and Tell offers an expansive stage to bring your story to life.
Important Note: Since most school application deadlines fall on January 15th, we strongly advise families to complete and submit their Show and Tell videos to school admissions offices before this date. Please plan your recording and submission schedule early to avoid last-minute delays!
Vericant's Show and Tell feature offers applicants a valuable opportunity to go beyond traditional interviews and present a multidimensional view of who they are. In an increasingly competitive K-12 admissions landscape, leveraging these new tools effectively can make all the difference in leaving an irreplaceable impression on admissions officers at your dream school.
Comments