<p>Does interviewing with a local alumni versus going to the school hurt your chances?
My family is so busy, I think it will be very diffucult to visit the schools for an interview.</p>
<p>I’m not sure, but I’m going to have to interview with an alumni as well. I wouldn’t think so, though. There are people from all over the world, and I’m sure not all of them interview at the school.</p>
<p>If you are close to the school (two to three hour drive), I would try to interview at the school. On some level, it shows your commitment and desire to attend. If you are farther away, many people have alumni interviews, and it is unlikely to make a difference.</p>
<p>We flew out from California and visited seven schools in five days. It was well worth the trip. My daughter was accepted to two of the schools we visited - but she was also accepted to the only school that we weren’t able to get to. She had a telephone interview with someone from admissions at that school. So, it’s very hard to tell if the on site interviews are important, but visiting the schools was very worthwhile regardless.</p>
<p>Are alumni interviews in person or phone?</p>
<p>My son does much better face to face, but given H in new job & my job, time off is hard to come by</p>
<p>It’s harder to show genuine interest and articulate particular aspects of the school that you are interested in, when you have not visited. I would say it’s a disadvantage not to make the trip, unless you are truly not in a position to make the trip, because you may send the message (rightly or wrongly) that you are not terribly interested. .</p>
<p>Our experience with alumni interviews was that they were in person, with an alum in your local area. Some students also have interviews by phone with the Admissions staff of the schools.</p>
<p>For our D, one interview was at the alum’s home, and it proved a bit intimidating as they seemed quite well off (result = waitlist). Another was with a university grad student at his school’s Commons, and it went very well (result = accepted and attending). </p>
<p>I do think, based on our many waitlists, that if you live nearby and don’t visit the school and interview only with an alum, some schools may perceive you as having less genuine interest. </p>
<p>True, I only have observations, not pure cause and effect data, but that is all most of us can provide here ;)</p>
<p>Go to the school. My roommate at my school had an interview at a Starbucks where his interviewer was more concerned with the score of the football game than his interview. Alumni interviewers have little, if no training…bear that in mind.</p>
<p>I live in North Carolina, and all the schools I’m applying to are way up in New Hampshire or Massachusetts. There’s no way my parents will pay for plane tickets to the Northeast for interviews only - does that give a bad impression to the schools? It’s either alumni interviews or nothing for me. :/</p>
<p>Alumni interviews will be fine. If you lived within a couple of hours drive, that would be another thing, but the reason they do alumni interviews is for people like you!</p>
<p>No worries, alumni interviews will be fine. They have them just for situations like yours.</p>
<p>Ah, darn. I’m stuck with phone interviews… For some reason, basically all the alumnae are sticking to Toronto or Quebec. Whatever happened to diversity??</p>
<p>Oh gosh, I’m so nervous. I’m not very good on the phone…</p>
<p>Yeah phone interviews are a LOT harder than regular interviews.</p>
<p>If your school(s) is/are part of the Ten Schools organization, it might be possible to schedule an interview for when they come to a nearby city for one of their receptions. In that case, you’d likely interview with an admissions officer which might be a better option than interviewing with an alumnus.</p>
<p>Don’t hesitate to call the schools and ask them about it. If I recall correctly, they were in Atlanta last December.</p>
<p>Good Advice! It seems that the first week in October is the time for Boarding School Fairs in North Carolina. They may come again later, but I found this this morning. </p>
<p>From Boarding School Review:</p>
<p>Tue., October 06, 2009 - NC (Charlotte)</p>
<p>Boarding School Fair
Mercersburg Academy
750 East 9th Street, Charlotte, NC, 28216, USA
6:00pm - 8:00pm</p>
<p>RSVP needed: No
Further information: Mercersburg Office of Admission, 717-328-6173, <a href=“mailto:admission@mercersburg.edu”>admission@mercersburg.edu</a></p>
<p>Mercersburg Academy will participate in Trinity Episcopal School’s seventh annual Boarding School Fair on Tuesday, October 6th from 6-8pm. The fair will be held at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, North Carolina. We hope to see you there!</p>
<p>Wed., October 07, 2009 - NC (Durham)</p>
<p>Boarding School Fair
Mercersburg Academy
3716 Old Erwin Drive, Durham, NC, 27705, USA
7:00pm - 9:00pm</p>
<p>RSVP needed: No
Further information: Mercersburg Office of Admission, 717-328-6173, <a href=“mailto:admission@mercersburg.edu”>admission@mercersburg.edu</a></p>
<p>Mercersburg Academy will participate in the Duke School annual high school fair on Wednesday, October 7th from 7-9pm. The event will be held in the gymnasium at the Duke School. (see address above) We hope to see you there!</p>
<p>Thu., October 08, 2009 - NC (Winston-Salem)</p>
<p>Boarding School Fair
Mercersburg Academy
2100 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
6:30pm - 8:30pm</p>
<p>RSVP needed: No
Further information: Mercersburg Office of Admission, 717-328-6173, <a href=“mailto:admission@mercersburg.edu”>admission@mercersburg.edu</a></p>
<p>Mercersburg Academy will participate in the upcoming Boarding School Fair at Summit School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The event will be held on Thursday, October 8 from 6:30-8:30pm in the school’s new Athletic Center. We hope to meet you there!</p>
<p>From Groton’s Website:</p>
<p>NORTH CAROLINA</p>
<p>October 4, 2009 • Charlotte • Groton School Admission Reception
October 6, 2009 • Charlotte• Trinity Episcopal School
October 6, 2009 •Raleigh • St. Timothy’s School Fair
October 8, 2009 • Winston-Salem • Summit School Fair</p>