<p>@grx567: Thank you for your feedback. Holderness and Proctor recently surfaced as possibilities we are considering. I am also worried that cramming too many schools into a seven day period might backfire, especially because it means a lot of pressure interviewing in a short period of time for our son. Skyping would help space them out for sure.</p>
<p>In terms of driving, many of these schools do not allow students to ride in car with other students. It may be because weather makes roads icy and want to avoid tragedy where several students lost in same car. I think is is good policy. I was surprised that with parental permission this practice was allowed at other schools. Many states restrict how many unrelated passengers can be in car with teenage driver. </p>
<p>@MadagascarMom: Do you have any preliminary list of where your son is applying?</p>
<p>@MadagascarMom: If so, where is he applying?</p>
<p>Skype and phone interviews are allowed for anyone who needs them. It’s strongly encouraged that you come and visit, but there are alumni, phone, and Skype interviews, as well as when the school travels. These are to ensure no one is put off by having to interview at the school. International students are typically the ones who most widely pick up on this offer, but there are plenty of domestic applicants who do, and it’s not a reflection on your effort.</p>
<p>To improve your chance of admission, VISIT the school. You will be regarded as a more serious candidate (i.e. a better yield risk) if you make the effort to go. </p>
<p>If you can afford the school fullpay, it will not reflect as well on u that u are not willing to invest the money to visit in person to get to know the school. Remember that you are competing w potentially HUNDREDS of candidates. When we were touring w S2, the waiting rooms were full of kids from other countries. The competition at the popular schools is FIERCE.</p>
<p>If you are asking for FA, then u also should be there in person to be making your case enthusiastically why that school needs u.</p>
<p>Yes, there are plenty of kids who do get admitted w a Skype interview. But why not try to give yourself every advantage.</p>
<p>Think of it this way: if u were making a decision about 2 similar kids to be your date for the prom, who would u be more likely to pick: the kid you met from Skype interview, or the kid you met in person.</p>
<p>Unfortunately we will not be able to visit and interview in person at every school. I will try to make our situation and its constraints clear to each admissions officer, so that they understand as fully as possible.</p>
<p>@mathman1201: Our list currently includes a wide range: Exeter, Milton, Middlesex, Choate, Concord, Taft, Loomis, Governor’s, Tabor, Brooks, Holderness, and Proctor. I would like to get this down to 8 or so. I currently have interviews scheduled at four of them.</p>
<p>See if you can get two visits scheduled in the same day (that’s mentioned somewhere on this thread). It’ll help you to get to as many schools as possible in person.</p>
<p>Yeah, especially if you have never visited you should try to do an on campus interview.</p>
<p>There are definitely ways to do a two- or maybe three-school a day trip. You can even get (maybe not from Madagascar) an interview in the day of your flight. Schedule early-morning and late-afternoon interviews and plan your trip according to distance and major airports. Maybe you could fly into Dulles, drive a bit and interview, and then do a four or five day double-interview trip leading to Boston or Hartford? Just an idea. </p>
<p>Interviewing at two schools a day is totally doable by scheduling the first at 8 or 9 am and the second 1or 2 pm. Expect to spend about two hours at each school.
We interviewed at 9 schools in one week with Sunday to rest. We ended up driving over 1400 miles (> 2300 km) visiting 7 states in 7 days (preceded by 7000 mile flight by the student.) Your list of schools covers “only” 4 states, so involves less driving. It’s certainly not for every one. The driver (moi) was willing and the student was cooperative. I wouldn’t do that again though.</p>
<p>@prepschoolwannab ad @payn4ward: Thanks to the advice and suggestions I’ve received on this board, I pushed to have our flights changed so as to add four additional days to our visit. That gives us 10 days, including one Saturday. I think we are golden now!</p>
<p>No problem! Sounds like a great plan! @MadagascarMom 
</p>
<p>@payn4ward Wow, your family is hardcore!</p>
<p>We won’t be able to do revisit days (assuming the boy gets accepted somewhere!), so these visits are our only chance to size up the schools and get our “feel.” Scary.</p>
<p>MadagascarMom, I once saw 45 houses in three days, and then bought one without being able to return for a second look, so I sort of know how you feel!<br>
My advice is take notes – lots of detailed notes – and take photos, because all your choices will start to blend together in your mind after you leave. After you get acceptances you can dig deep into school websites, ask to Skype current students, and ask more questions. </p>
<p>Great advice @Brdngschlmom! Thank you!</p>