<p>Hey guys! I'm going on an interview with one of my biggest reach schools tomorrow and I have a major question! Unfortunately, school is canceled tomorrow due to weather so I can't ask my GC. Any advice you have would be excellent!</p>
<p>So, as I said, it's one of my biggest reaches. I didn't visit for that very reason, this one's more on the "Pipe Dream" side than anything else. I'm afraid, however, that my interviewer will bring this up, even casually, and I don't know how to respond. I live within a doable driving distance of the school, so that's out of the question. Any hints on a tactful way to say no but that I'm still interested and knowledgeable?</p>
<p>This may seem morally wrong...but you can say that you passingly saw the school, although you didn't really have the chance to take a formal tour and have your name recorded.</p>
<p>Say the architecture was pretty or something :D</p>
<p>If the school's website offers virtual tours, or if there is a way for you to view different parts of the university online, do that tonight. Then if you are asked whether you visited, you can say that you spent some time on the campus or that you are familiar with the campus, and then talk a bit about some of the things you saw online. That's probably what I would do in your situation...</p>
<p>Whatever you say, don't give an excuse for not having visited, because, as you said, you were within driving distance of the school.</p>
<p>Unless demonstrated interest is part of the school's admission factors, then the fact that you didn't visit won't matter. You can find out whether demonstrated interest is considered by checking out the school through U.S. News premium college website (costs $15 for full access) or checking the college's common dataset.</p>
<p>Otherewise, you'd be better off looking at the college's web site and coming up with things to emphasize about yourself in the interview that show what you have to offer the college.</p>
<p>Just tell the truth; I do alumni interviews and I don't think I would even mention lack of visit in the report as long as the applicant was articulate about why he/she wanted to go to the school.</p>
<p>Be honest...don't say you've "seen the campus" if you've just looked at pictures, and don't say you were "too busy". Tell them something truthful, just say you "haven't gotten a chance to visit the campus" or something. I think it's more important to be truthful than to "demonstrate interest" or whatever.</p>
<p>Wait for the interviewer to bring up this question. They may not. If they do-stick with the truth-easier to remember. You may wish to simply say you have not yet had a chance to visit, but plan to in the next week or so. Then go visit-you may find it will improve your chances-or at the very least support your decision to attend or not attend.G'Luck!</p>
<p>You really should visit. Can you line up something for a holiday in February or March? If so, go to the college's website and make a reservation (especially if you are planning on a busy day like President's day.) You should also look into attending a class in your area of interest, and go through the necessary steps for that. Then you can honestly say you are planning a visit, give the interviewer the date, and ask about his or her favorite place on campus.</p>