<p>My dad thinks it would be convinient, since 6 of the 7 schools I'm applying to will be in town at the same hotel (Omni Hotel in Chicago) on the same day.</p>
<p>I just KNOW one of them is going to run long and I'll be in deep water with interviews being annoyed at ME being late. It's too late now x__x;</p>
<p>Hey.. how did you schedule all of your interviews at the Omni Hotel? Could you give me some information if this is some sort of event or something?</p>
<p>I requested for information/viewbooks to these schools, and since I live in the Chicago area vicinity they all sent me invitations via mail saying that the TSAO (ten schools admission organization) would be sending representatives from the schools (I think...Choate, Deerfield, The Hill School, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Loomis Chaffee, Andover, Exeter, SPS, and Taft)...and all of the had interviewers available. The event is in Chicago on North Michigan Avenue, which is like a 50 minute drive from my house.</p>
<p>Don't cringe, but one of my D's interview (where she is now) went 1 1/2 hours with the admissions person. Then I got another hour with her as well.</p>
<p>We drove 3 hours each way just to go there that day, so I guess they figured that they would give us our money's worth. Plus it was during winter break and the admissions person had nothing else on her schedule.</p>
<p>We are probably the exception. One of her other interviews was only 20 minutes. She was accepted there as well.</p>
<p>From everything I've heard, you are at a big disadvantage not visiting the actual schools to interview. Demonstrated interest is very important. Yield matters to these schools, and yield is far lower among non visitors. So unless you truly can't afford to visit, make sure to go to each school.</p>
<p>"Looking at your schedule, ya think your dad could have given you a few minutes to eat dinner?"</p>
<p>Ehhh he can go a LONG time without food :P But sleep is another story.</p>
<p>I think I'll be okay actually. I wonder if I can send my dad to chinatown during an interview...Pick up some snackage!</p>
<p>"From everything I've heard, you are at a big disadvantage not visiting the actual schools to interview. Demonstrated interest is very important. Yield matters to these schools, and yield is far lower among non visitors. So unless you truly can't afford to visit, make sure to go to each school."</p>
<p>Yeah my dad pretty much does NOT want to drive me there. Once I get accepted to some schools though, I will somehow visit the schools. I definitely need to get the feel of one before I spend my next four years there :P</p>
<p>I hope I can really express interest in the schools through what I actually say in the interview though. I guess I'll just have to be the most intelligent, interesting, and pleasant sounding person I can abosolutely be.</p>
<p>Now if I mix up one of the school names with another...eurgh.</p>
<p>lovelyskye, is there a phone number, website site, or email address where I could find out more information? I live about 45 minutes south of Detroit, so Chicago is only about a 4 1/2 hour drive. I'm only applying to a local day school and maybe only two or three boarding schools. (Choate, Deerfield, SPS)</p>
<p>Umm...The phone numbers listed on the papers are just the admissions office of the different schools. But to RSVP, you need to call margaret sciepura and the Hotchkiss School </p>
<p>If you can handle 7 interviews in that time, that's great! Personally, I would not subject my kids to such a scenario. I also agree with suze, please see suze #6 entry. I Will root for you and I'm interested in how this turns out for you.</p>
<p>Lovely, I know the trip can be a pain, but how serious are you about these schools and have you explained to your parents the importance of visiting? I'm sure you have great grades and credentials but keep in mind most do and 4 out of 5 of you are not getting in. Telling a school they are your first choice is important IMO, and you can't honestly do that if you haven't been there.</p>
<p>Revisit shouldn't be the first time you see a school which is probably why they call it revisit. I got a much better sense during my tour with my parents when there were not hundreds of other newbes asking questions and trying to decide.</p>
<p>"Lovely, I know the trip can be a pain, but how serious are you about these schools and have you explained to your parents the importance of visiting? I'm sure you have great grades and credentials but keep in mind most do and 4 out of 5 of you are not getting in. Telling a school they are your first choice is important IMO, and you can't honestly do that if you haven't been there."</p>
<p>Just because personal circumstances keep me from going to directly visit the school, does not mean I am not passionate about attending. I can beg and beg my dad to drive me a couple thousand miles there if I want, but if he isn't going to, I'm not going to walk, or hitchhike just to get an on campus interview. Just because he isn't as interested in the school as I am, doesn't really mean anything. We're not the same person.</p>
<p>Also, I'm sure not EVERYONE who was excepted did an on campus interview, and that is not the only way to convince a school that they are my first choice. I WILL be meeting the interviewers in person of course, so it isn't as one sided as "whoa the person didn't come to our school - REJECT!".</p>
<p>I think you need to talk to your dad about visiting some of these schools (at least the top 2 or 3) preferrably while in session, so you can make an informed decision about where you want to go before the chaos of revisit day. I'll give you a hint, all these schools tend to pick the same 2 or 3 days for revisit day which will limit your opportunities, and that day is more of a dog and pony show as they have a majority of their accepted applicants in that day. </p>
<p>Most schools will make arrangements for a shadow day of your choice if you are from far away and schedule it well in advance. You will get a better feel for a real day in the life of a school, with one of their better guides.</p>
<p>I might take these "interviews" as an opportunity to get them to sell you on the school, by asking what special thing you should ask to participate in when you can schedule a visit this winter. Make this look like a preliminary interview, which shows deeper interest.</p>
<p>My D did a shadow day at one school and got a very good feel for the rythm of the normal school day. She found it very enlightening.</p>
<p>I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I do want to help you understand. That your parent isn't as interested as you does matter. This is a family decision and schools need to know parents are supportive. Again, I can't stress the importance of yield enough. It's an obnoxious game at the top schools. Upon hearing I'd gone to Andover, my brother's SPS interviewer told him that 70% accepted at both schools choose SPS. Both my brother and mother knew they had to make clear he wasn't even applying to Andover! I like your confidence, it will serve you well, but you need to also understand the game.</p>
<p>I'm not sure lovelyskye is familiar with yield and how an admissions office works. Most parents don't either. I happen to have more access to an admissions department at a university than most and I appreciate what you say. </p>
<p>The good thing with regard to this set of interviews, is if she does get her dad to agree to go back and revisit before application deadline (and get a follow up interview as well as a shadow day) she should be able to rectify the results of her "speed interviewing" this week.</p>
<p>And that 2 or 3 school revisit thing. One should be a reach, one a safety, and one a match, if possible. Then you will avoid the SPS vs Andover. They understand your revisiting another level of school.</p>