<p>Hello, everybody!
This year, I will not be able to visit any schools (sadly), although I would really love to.
I had three off-campus interviews so far and most of them went great. I was just wondering if having off-campus interviews can affect admissions to boarding schools, since I realize that visiting the campus is a SIGNIFICANT experience. I already have my views of each school set, due to second-hand experience, yet, I feel insecure. I hope it doesn't hurt my chances, because I fervently hope to get in. </p>
<p>Thanks and any comment would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Yes, I think that off-campus interviews hurt, based upon my son’s exposure to the BS app process during 2008-09. He applied to 10 schools. He had interviews on campus at 3 of them. He got into all of these schools. He had off-campus interviews for the other 7 schools; he was WL’ed at 5, rejected at 1 and accepted at only 1. Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it. Showing up on campus for an interview shows commitment to that campus. Make the commitment, if at all possible.</p>
<p>I think if depends more on where you are located and your fa situation. My d applied to two schools and interviewed in Chicago, she was accepted at both schools. We are on large FA. We did tour 7 schools in 4 days, (that was tough but the only way we could do it). Of the other 5 we applied, visited them all, 3 accepted, 1 wait-listed and 1-not selected.</p>
<p>I also think it has to do with the strength of the student and what the school is looking for.</p>
<p>Oh! Is that so… it would be really hard to travel all the way across the country although I would really love to see the school. I guess my best chance is to give them my truest colors and make sure they are evaluating me as a person.
I really hope for a good future but I dont want an off-campus interview to hurt it.</p>
<p>In addition, I need a lot of FA as well :)</p>
<p>I’m afraid that some schools just don’t care how far away you live. If you are willing to travel across the country to go to school, many schools think (so I think) that you should be willing to travel across the country to visit the school and have your interview at the school. Also, it you interview at the school, you will most probably be interviewed by an admissions officer who will be in the intercircle of folks deciding your fate at that school. You will need a champion in this intercircle to carry your banner. If no one in that circle has ever seen you face to face, talked to you in person or shaken your hand, the harder it will be for folks in that circle to let you in their school.</p>
<p>thanks toombs61, but would it still matter if the person you had an off-campus interview with was an admission officer? I mean, I certainly see that traveling across the country to visit the school shows committment and dedication.</p>
<p>Would it still make a SIGNIFICAnt difference if I met with an admissions officer but not on campus?? Please excuse my weird wording. Thanks a lot~</p>
<p>I’m also having an off-campus interview here in Thailand soon >< for Choate. I think it doesn’t hurt and they’d understand you.</p>
<p>Failing to have an on-campus interview because you live in Thailand is one thing; failing to have such interview because you live far away in the US is another.</p>
<p>On-campus interviews matter, IMHO.</p>
<p>make the effort- and if you’re applying to other schools in the area, take that time to go and visit them too. Get it all done in one visit.</p>
<p>thanks! I will do my best to visit~</p>
<p>My daughter got in to a very good school with only a phone interview. Pls don’t sweat it if you find traveling to the school impossible. They are interested in <em>you</em>, not your frequent flyer miles. If you want to explain why it is difficult for you to go, pls do so if you think the answer is interesting and shows something about yourself. Otherwise, let it go. Admissions isn’t going to reject you from b.s. because of that.</p>
<p>Colleges, however, do keep careful track of whether you visit the school. But as a younger student without much autonomy, the b.s. admissions people understand.</p>
<p>I’m kicking this up because I feel the answers you got before were unnecessarily pessimistic.</p>
<p>Ah, thank you Novelisto. That makes me feel better. CC really got me nervous when i read a gazillion posts of very capable and accomplished students who were anxious of their chances. But I understand how an interview can make a big difference. The only similarity is showing your true colors, whether it is by person or by phone.</p>
<p>I don’t think it hurts much. There are a lot of factors in the process.</p>
<p>I think on campus interview deffinitely improves your chances, but an off campus interview doesn’t necessarily hurt. The stronger you’re interview, the better your chances of getting in, and an on campus interview is deffinitely stronger than an off campus interview</p>
<p>If you can get an interview with an AO who is visiting your area, I think that will serve you better than having your interview with an alum. When it gets down to decision time, an AO who is right there in the office, will be a much better advocate/champion for you than an alum who’s in another state.</p>