<p>I live in Ohio, and I'm applying to schools in Massachusetts. I'm running out of time before the January 15th deadline for interviews, so unless I can cram in a quick trip to interview at schools, I'm going to have to interview off-campus.</p>
<p>This would mean that I'd do a phone interview for Brooks, and an off-campus interview for Andover.</p>
<p>Exactly how much of a disadvantage is a phone/off-campus interview? Depending on how much it will affect my chances for admission, my family will decide if it's really essential for us to make a trip. Unless it's going to be a huge negative point in my application, we're not going to go through the hassle of a busy long weekend visit. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>When I was preparing for my interviews, this topic also came up in my family. But we decided to do off-campus interviews because all of the schools we asked said it doesn’t make a difference if you live more than approx. 3 hours away.</p>
<p>IMHO, on campus interviews are critical. They show commitment by you, and they give you a chance to woo and charm face-to-face a champion inside the citadel for your cause. For what it is worth, every school at which my son had an on campus interview, he received an offer; of the schools where he had off campus interviews, only one accepted him.</p>
<p>Hm. Well, I’ll talk it out with my parents and see how it goes. I definitely think I’m going to try and arrange for us to go up for on-campus interviews, though.</p>
<p>Why don`t you look at schools closer to you?</p>
<p>There’s essentially nothing nearby. I mean, there’s Columbus Academy, but it’s not really any more academically challenging than the school I go to now. Also, my Dad is being considered for a job in Boston, so there’s a good chance we’re moving.</p>
<p>Could you get an interview with an alum near where you live?</p>
<p>@markalex1 how was that for you? less stressful, maybe? what was your interviewer like?</p>