<p>If you end up doing a phone interview, I expect it would be with an AdCom, not an alum. The alums are used for in-person remote interviews. If the interview is going to be conducted by telephone, then there's no need to inject an alum into the process.</p>
<p>Yes, I know. I don't need a phone interview for St. Paul's or Deerfield. Just for Lawrenceville because I live 8 hours away (driving) plus the route involves an extra hour or two of traffic (usually) I really, really like that school and would apply, but I don't think my parents want to drive that far unless I actually get admitted and go to a revisit etc.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, you live 30 mins. away from Andover. The drive to Lawrenceville would be much less than 8 hours if you really are that close to Andover. You are right about the traffic around Princeton; avoid driving during rush hour. The area around Princeton is lovely and historic, and a great place to visit if you are an Albert Einstein fan! Your parents may enjoy visiting the area. Take a look at a Princeton tourism website, and perhaps you can entice them into a visit. I think you would be a stronger applicant if you visit.</p>
<p>Set up a Saturday interview. Drive down Friday night with the parents. Check in to an inn near Princeton...do the tour and interview Saturday morning...spend the rest of the day in the area...drive back a bit more leisurely on Sunday.</p>
<p>First, you really need to see the school in person. Yes people rave about it, but you'll understand it -- and feel it -- if it's a firsthand experience.</p>
<p>Second, you'll send a message to the AdCom. You'll send a message if you don't interview on campus. You'll send a completely different one if you show up.</p>
<p>In my case, we actually did an off-campus interview and made the trip for a tour only about a month later. I don't recommend that. My S typically had a much better impression among schools where he toured first and interviewed second...usually when they were done in tandem. That said, L'ville really won him over. If he didn't do the tour -- feeling satisfied that an off-campus interview with an AdCom checked off that item on the application process -- it wouldn't be nearly as high on his list as it is. And wouldn't that be a shame...to think that he might have written it off or devalued it because he didn't learn the kind of stuff you can only learn by seeing and feeling and experiencing for yourself?</p>
<p>From Phillips Academy to Lawrenceville, the drive is 5 hour and 10 minutes according to mapquest.</p>
<p>I am applying to Lawrenceville but i couldnt go to my interview because i noticed that it was on my ssat day =[. I asked for a phone interview but the admissions office told me that they would ask their head of admissions. Nothing ever came back from them about the phone interviews...</p>
<p>I suggest using what Deerfield states clearly, that if you live within 350 miles you have to visit, as a rule for all schools. It sounds like you might have to convince your parents to let you go farther anyway, and a visit to the school could help. You have plenty of time to plan. Make sure you visit when school is in session, not a special weekend or exams. Avoid any SSAT dates you might use. Make a date early, and you can change it if you have to.</p>
<p>That's too bad. I had to reschedule my phone interview with Groton because it was 6:30 A.M. the day of my geometry final, and I have to leave the house before 7:00 to be sure I'm not late . . . I didn't want it to cut into the interview, and there was no way I was going to be late to the final. They didn't seem at all ruffled by it, though; they just moved it to the next week.</p>
<p>Yes, I mapquested the wrong address and had it on the wrong setting. It really only does take about 5 hours. </p>
<p>"It sounds like you might have to convince your parents to let you go farther anyway, and a visit to the school could help."</p>
<p>^Yes, that's what I thought but I asked my parents today and they were very indulgent. I told them it's located near Princeton, my all time favorite college that I've always wanted to visit! My dad said, "Well, if you go about this admission process once again you may want to step out of state and look for schools farther away and I'm proud you have been reseaching to find good matches for what you want and need in a school." My mom said, "We could make it a weekend trip! (looks at my little sister) Wouldn't that be fun?!! I know of a hotel in Princeton that is eligable to use for our timeshare!! We could get a hotel room for a couple nights free!" Yeah, I was pretty happy that they wanted to support me 100%. I really think I have a PASSION for this school. =]</p>
<p>I agree with D'yer Maker—whether or not you make the effort to visit the school in person sends a message to the admissions committee. We drove 1200 miles (one way—2400 round trip) to interview at one school. Extreme? Yes—but worth it.</p>
<p>I'm applying from Canada to Cheshire, Berkshire and Cushing. I did all my interviews over the phone and all the schools had no problem with it. They only took about 15- 20 minutes each and they were all with members of the AdComm. All the schools had no problem doing phone interviews they only requested that if I get in I visit them before I accept.</p>