Traveling to Interviews - Solo or With Someone?

[rileyroo]

I can't decide if I want to travel to my interview alone or not. My mom offered to go with me and I know she would really enjoy visiting the campus and the social events planned. However, I can't decide if this is a situation where I'd like to be alone to stress out freely or have someone there for comfort to keep me calm when I get REALLY nervous before the interview.

Just wanted to know your opinions and experience. Did you go alone or take someone with you? Maybe some of the things mentioned will help me decide!

[lalzi22]

I did my Ohio interview alone and my Kansas one with my mom, so I actually have seen both of these. Having my mom there to say 'you are being stupid' when I got nervous was great, but I also enjoyed not having her there so I could freely talk to other people without her getting bored. I know thats totally unhelpful and you just want someone to say 'yes' or 'no', but it depends on how you think your mother will act. Will she bug the hell out of you? will you feel reassured because of her? If it helps, at both interviews about half the people had parents, so you def wouldn't be alone either way. I did like that my mom could give her input to the schools she is seeing because I trust her input a lot.

[Bearby]

I haven't had any interviews but if I ever do, my mom is coming. She wants to come just because she likes to travel and go new places, she couldn't care less about the reason I'm going lol! Anyway, as lalzi said, I think that having a parent there could make it more difficult to be comfortable talking to new people because you don't want your mom to get bored. My mom has already told me that she just wants to come to come. She'd like to see the school, but she doesn't want to follow me around all day. I guess the best advice is to do whatever will make you feel most comfortable before and during the interview. If talking to your mom beforehand will relax you a bit, bring her with you. If she will stress you out more, either leave her at home or tell her you'd like to go by yourself and meet up with her after the interview. That's why my dad will never come with me to an interview, he would add to the pressure.

[OliveOyl]

Last year I had 2 interviews. One of them I had my parents go with me and the other one I took my best friend. The one that I took my parents to, I was IS so there was not a social activity. They just stayed in the vehicle while I went in to interview. I don't know how your parents are, but if they are like mine, they seem to stress me out more b/c they want to know what questions were asked, do I think I did good, do I think I got in. And they want to know these things right when the interview is over and that is not what I want to talk about right after an interview and not with my parents. I can't make them understand that just b/c I think I did good, that means I will get in.

The one that my best friend went with me I was OOS and there was a social activity the night before. I felt that having her there during the social activity was nice b/c I finally got to show a non-vet person what it was like to see the school, hear the stats, etc. I also enjoyed having her there b/c we got a chance to drive around and look at houses for sale, etc. just to see what the area was like. It was nice having someone to help kinda ease my nerves about the interview. My friend seemed to know when I was done with the interview that I just needed to unwind, but not talk about it. She went through nursing school, so had some ideas (kinda) about not wanting to talk about it.

So, to summarize, I was more comfortable taking my friend b/c there was not an expectance of me getting in. She understood that just b/c the interview went good didn't mean that I was getting in. My parents have never understood that just b/c they think I am the best and they think I am a "shoe-in" for vet school, that doesn't mean the school thinks the same. Also, having my friend there, she was able to get into the conversations with the other vet students. Not sure if my parents would have asked questions that I was not comfortable with them asking other students..Not sure how your parents are, but I would say taking a friend may be less stressful. Hope this helps.

[BlacKAT33]

I have really bad anxiety so i need SOMEONE there with me lol For my first interview my parents will both be coming, i dont think they will come to where i will be with the interview. They will probably walk around campus and take care of themselves. But i know before my interview they will do a great job supporting me and calming me down. My second interview I am bringing my bf too. He also does a great job of calming me down. But it is a little more fitting that I bring him to this school because there is happy hour after so he will fit in more

[rileyroo]

Originally Posted by Bearby

I haven't had any interviews but if I ever do, my mom is coming. She wants to come just because she likes to travel and go new places, she couldn't care less about the reason I'm going lol! Anyway, as lalzi said, I think that having a parent there could make it more difficult to be comfortable talking to new people because you don't want your mom to get bored. My mom has already told me that she just wants to come to come. She'd like to see the school, but she doesn't want to follow me around all day. I guess the best advice is to do whatever will make you feel most comfortable before and during the interview. If talking to your mom beforehand will relax you a bit, bring her with you. If she will stress you out more, either leave her at home or tell her you'd like to go by yourself and meet up with her after the interview. That's why my dad will never come with me to an interview, he would add to the pressure.

If my mom went with me she would just do the school tour b/c I'd like for her to see the school but as far as the other activities she would probably stay at the hotel. Like you all said, it's sometimes awkward to focus on socializing with others while your parent is just sitting there (that is awkward for me). And the day of the interview, she would definitely stay at the hotel (she wouldn't be waiting outside with me, that is definitely a me time situation). Thanks for your input so far!

[ImaJerseyGirl]

If I have to get on a plane, my dad is coming. I've never been on a plane and he goes on trips all the time. I'll be so nervous about the interview, the plane ride/getting on the plane might push me over the limit, he'll need to take care of that! If I can take a train (Tufts was amazing about that), I'll do that and bring a friend who goes to school up there to slap me if I get too silly.
I definitely think I will need a baby sitter, at least until I get to the school.

[badcats]

I am in the camp of if my mother came she would bug the hell out of me. She means well and only does it to be supportive, but she I am afraid she would continuously grill me until the second I walked in the door. This is part of why I went to my Kansas interview alone, but now she wants to go to the next one. Maybe she will have me so wound up, getting away for a little bit will help me relax and then the interview will seem calming?

However these are all personal opinions and I wouldn't worry about whether you bring a parent or not unless YOU have strong feelings either way.

[OliveOyl]

I know what you mean about your mom bugging you. That is why I was really stressed after my interview. They just kept asking questions and I just wanted to relax and not think about it too much. Having a friend along was a lot more relaxing.

[badcats]

Originally Posted by OliveOyl

I know what you mean about your mom bugging you. That is why I was really stressed after my interview. They just kept asking questions and I just wanted to relax and not think about it too much. Having a friend along was a lot more relaxing.

If this is directed at me, I am glad I'm not the only one with an overenthusiastic parent. My dad on the other hand would be super mellow and just say one or two things and let me go.

ETA: How did you hear from LSU already, I thought they were still deciding on who to interview?

[turnbackhelly]

I have gone to both of my interviews alone and it was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. For Ohio (my first interview), I did wish I had someone with me for the traveling portion just because I find traveling alone to be annoying (ex: dragging ALL of your luggage into the bathroom with you at the airport because you have no one to watch it for you). But as far as the actual interview day went, I was glad to be alone because most other people (especially my mom) tend to stress me out. My Penn interview was a little different because I live just outside of Philadelphia and know my way around the city and Penn, so traveling was very low stress - also, Penn explicitly does not allow guests at the interview, so there was no decision to be made there. As for my Tufts interview in February, I will hopefully be bringing along a close friend, mostly because he's planning on applying to vet school in the next few years and is really interested in seeing Tufts. I'm actually really looking forward to having him with me, because he understands the process and how stressful it is, and knows how to distract me and calm me down better than pretty much anyone else I know. Plus, it will be nice to have someone to entertain me for the 6 hour drive ride each way.

In the end, I think it depends not only on your personality but also the person you would be bringing with you. I was really nervous about going to my interviews alone, but it ended up being a really fun and empowering experience. Particularly for Ohio, I think being there alone helped me to feel more confident overall, because it was almost like "Hey, I'm here by myself... I navigated the airport and picking up my rental car and driving around this strange city all by myself, so this interview should be no problem." That sounds kind of weird, but it's hard to explain. Regardless, I liked interviewing alone!

[rileyroo]

you all have really brought up some great points. the one reason why i was considering letting my mom come along would be to see the school...BUT i realized that if i get in anywhere, she will have an opportunity to see the school then. my initial plan was to go alone and i think that's exactly what i'm gonna do now that we've reasoned it out.

thanks for the help! i was feeling kind of guilty for wanting to go alone.

[HandD42]

Originally Posted by rileyroo

you all have really brought up some great points. the one reason why i was considering letting my mom come along would be to see the school...BUT i realized that if i get in anywhere, she will have an opportunity to see the school then. my initial plan was to go alone and i think that's exactly what i'm gonna do now that we've reasoned it out.

thanks for the help! i was feeling kind of guilty for wanting to go alone.

Hey are you talking about your MN interview? (I think you got one anyway)

[laurauva2009]

I am terrible at finding my way around so for me I liked having my family with me just so they could figure out where we needed to be and get me there and I didn't have to stress out about that on top of stressing out about the interview itself.

[rileyroo]

Originally Posted by HandD42

Hey are you talking about your MN interview? (I think you got one anyway)

yep the MN interview! i'll be renting a car so i'm hoping it won't be too difficult to navigate from the airport to hotel to campus.

[variegata]

I flew solo to Kansas State, and while it was pretty boring by myself in the hotel room, having my mom come with me would not have been good for me. I'm shy as it is, but my family is so antisocial that that would have made it worse. Not to mention that she'd be flying out of a completely different airport since I live 500 miles away. Plus it would just be more expensive to buy her a plane ticket as well and since, unlike me, she won't subsist on granola bars, dried fruit, and stolen food from the continental breakfast at the hotel, which I did to save money on an already expensive trip.

I didn't have too much trouble finding my way. I have a GPS, which helped sometimes, but when I was driving from the airport to the school, I had to mute it because it was trying to take me...I don't even know where. I think most schools will probably send you all the information you need to find your way. There might even be others like KSU that have student ambassador drivers to pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the airport or your interview.

But then again, I studied abroad and flew overseas by myself, so flying somewhere and transporting myself with a backpack and ONE bag, really doesn't faze me much. At least everyone speaks English here.

[luvgoldens482]

Originally Posted by badcats

ETA: How did you hear from LSU already, I thought they were still deciding on who to interview?

She is on deferment from last year... she said it somewhere else i think.

[badcats]

Originally Posted by luvgoldens482

She is on deferment from last year... she said it somewhere else i think.

OOooh. That makes sense, thanks!

[DVMDream]

I am traveling solo...it is cheaper and I do not have to worry about my parents interrogating me after the interview. I will get plenty of that when I get home. I just prefer to go alone because it gives me the opportunity to meet new people without one of my parents being around and saying something ridiculous. This is just IMO; I know my parents would like to see the school but they can see it after I get in. Having them there would just stress me out more.

[HandD42]

Originally Posted by rileyroo

yep the MN interview! i'll be renting a car so i'm hoping it won't be too difficult to navigate from the airport to hotel to campus.

Excellent! I was hoping to meet some SDNers during my interview but us ISers have different days

I am always up for meeting for dinner/lunch if anyone has time though....

I work about 15min from the vet campus

[katryn]

In state, I'm definitely going solo. I live/work like 20 min from the vet school, and did my interview during my lunch break last year.

If I chance upon any out of state interviews, the hubs will be coming with. I love road trips but hate flying, and have never been comfortable staying in strange places unless I know someone there. But he's a relaxing kind of guy and knows when and how to tell me to shut up and stop stressing.

Would definitely NEVER take my mother. I love her to death, but her idea of the perfect interview question is "what adjectives would your co-workers use to describe you?" Literally, she asks me the question or mentions it every time the subject comes up.

[Coquette22]

If I get an interview, it'll be a bit of a fight between a couple of people for who gets to go with me. Mom will want to go, Dad might. My riding instructor (who is like a mom) will certainly want to go. Someone will be going with, because it's a six hour drive and I don't want to make it myself, I just don't know who yet, because I can't take them all!

[galen13]

I have 2 interviews lined up and I'm taking my dad to the Iowa interview and my mom is going with me to my interview with U Glasgow in Boston. (They are separated). My mom lives in NY so I'm making a long weekend to visit her and then go to the interview. And I know my dad wants to go with me so I'm taking him with to Iowa.
I really like having my parents with me when I travel because it gives me someone to talk to, eat with, and pick up the bill (hee hee). But also I know that both of them want to be there to support me and learn a little more about the school.
I think that having them there will give me a distraction so I'm not all stressed out.

[zeebra44]

My boyfriend drove me to Missouri. I really appreciated him being there. He kept me calm, and seeing his face after my interview helped calm me down...as cheesy as it sounds. I'm having my mom come with me to Kansas because of the pizza party, and I want her to have some part in this process. After all, she has heard me bitch about it for four years. I am going solo for Minnesota, and in Boston I'm meeting up with my best friend to help plan her wedding. I get to head straight to a bridal extravaganza after my 10:30 am interview to help her get a dress, haha!

[scb44f]

I plan to have someone with if I get interviews when I apply, but the state will determine who will go with me. I will try to drag a friend with me to Mizzou for the day, my mom to K State since that's where she went to school, and my SO's mom to Tennessee since she lives in the state and is on the way for me anyway.

I know my SO appreciated the distraction that Zeebra mentioned above when he took his mom or dad to med school interviews. It helps that his parents are down to earth and realistic about his chances of getting in, so they didn't pump him up (too much).

[DickVetPlease]

Its solo for me. I'm pretty positive my parents would stress me out ALOT. My mom likes to randomly ask questions like, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" etc, to make sure i'm prepared. If someone was doing that to me right before the interview, I'd freak out a little.

[aspiringDVM]

I know that if I get interviews my parents will freak out about me driving far away by myself (irrespective of the fact that I would be moving to these places in seven or eight months). However, Mom can't be in the car for more than 3-4 hours at a time due to back issues (both of my potential interviews are 8+ hours away), and my dad would be less interested in going and also more nerve wracking to be around. Sigh. A totally stupid and solution-less argument will doubtless ensue.
Hope it works out for you, Riley, and good luck on your interview!

[Whyevernot55]

I hadn't really considered bringing people. All of my interviews will be at least 8 hours away, or 10, or a plane ride. My boyfriend can't afford to fly, or take time off work, and it'll be easier if he stays home to take care of the kitties. My mother lives in NJ - she's coming with me to the Edinburgh accepted candidates reception in NY next month, but not for interviews! I prefer traveling alone. It gives me time to think.

[rileyroo]

Originally Posted by aspiringDVM

Hope it works out for you, Riley, and good luck on your interview!

thank you!!

[quantized]

I'm older so bringing my parents is not going to happen, although I'm sure they'd visit eventually. My boyfriend is meeting up with me at the Iowa interview because it's within driving distance for him and we don't see each other that often, so that should be nice. If I get an Illinois interview I'd assume he'll probably show up to that one too. Everything else I'm just planning on going to alone.

[jpeterman13]

my mom is coming with me on my first one (maybe only one) because I am really, really afraid to fly. if I get an interview at western, i'm going solo.

[eventualeventer]

Originally Posted by Whyevernot55

I prefer traveling alone. It gives me time to think.

Ditto. I'm sure I will be calling my dad several times from the hotel room (we're really close), but I need my mental space when I'm under stress.

[Minnerbelle]

for those bringing their parents, please leave them home unless you can get them to behave!!!

there were several parents at my osu interview and a surprising number of them were obnoxious. there was the dad who wouldn't shut up during the tour. the parents who kept asking me questions to "size up their kid's competition" while their kids were interviewing (seriously none of their business and no, i don't need to hear how deserving they think their kid is).

i was asking my tour guide afterwards (it was just the 2 of us talking) why he personally chose osu over penn since i had just interviewed there the day before. then this helicopter mom comes zooming by, shoves me out of the way and goes "oh my daughter applied to penn too. she's over there! you know what, i think she needs to hear this. lemme go get her!"

riley i'm hoping your parents are tame! congrats on your interview and good luck!

[causticus]

I would never. Ever. Ever. ...bring my mom with me. I love her to death, but she would send my stress level through the roof.

For my Ohio interview, I brought my husband. It was great to have someone else there, he was very much a calming influence on me. He's been through this whole process with me so many times that he already knew exactly how it worked, and didn't grill me on anything. He also helped me get pumped up mentally/emotionally during the ride there. (Imagine the scene from Cool Runnings..."I see PRIDE! I see POWER! etc etc." Yeah, it was kind of like that. )

[rileyroo]

Originally Posted by Minnerbelle

riley i'm hoping your parents are tame! congrats on your interview and good luck!

lol my mom is very tame. she is very quiet and classy. she would just be going to see around the school and city. but i'm gonna go solo as i had planned b/c i feel better about it now after talking to you all about it! i was feeling guilty for not asking her to go with me.

[rileyroo]

Originally Posted by eventualeventer

but I need my mental space when I'm under stress.

that's exactly how i am!

[BlacKAT33]

Minnerbelle- wow that is REALLY annoying. luckily my parents aren't like that and they really respect privacy between families because we dont like it when people try to pry too much about us! and although i'm bringing them with me i already know they will want to walk around campus themselves and go see what they want while i do my thing! i hope there aren't annoying parents like that at my interview.

[quantized]

Minnerbelle that reminds me of touring with my mom when I was applying as an undergrad back in the dark ages. She was THAT mom. The one who would raise her hand and go "What about RAPE?!?!?! HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY GIRL FROM BOYYYYYYS!?!?" There were always cute guys on the tours who would then look at me like I had three heads and I would die a bit inside. Thanks mom!

[BlacKAT33]

Originally Posted by quantized

She was THAT mom. The one who would raise her hand and go "What about RAPE?!?!?! HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY GIRL FROM BOYYYYYYS!?!?" There were always cute guys on the tours who would then look at me like I had three heads and I would die a bit inside. Thanks mom!

I am more embarrassed by my dad because he tells corny science jokes lol but now that im older i dont mind it as much. By reading this i realize i should be very happy all i had to deal with was corny jokes

[Whyevernot55]

Originally Posted by quantized

Minnerbelle that reminds me of touring with my mom when I was applying as an undergrad back in the dark ages. She was THAT mom. The one who would raise her hand and go "What about RAPE?!?!?! HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY GIRL FROM BOYYYYYYS!?!?" There were always cute guys on the tours who would then look at me like I had three heads and I would die a bit inside. Thanks mom!

*falls over laughing and dies* I'm sorry, but that's hilarious. And it makes me so much happier that I did my tours for undergrad mostly alone!

[TrocarKarin]

I brought my husband with me to my KS interviews, but that was because I was driving, and didn't want to drive for 8 hours straight by myself. If I get any other interviews, they'll require flying out, and I'll go alone.

[aspiringDVM]

Originally Posted by quantized

Minnerbelle that reminds me of touring with my mom when I was applying as an undergrad back in the dark ages. She was THAT mom. The one who would raise her hand and go "What about RAPE?!?!?! HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY GIRL FROM BOYYYYYYS!?!?" There were always cute guys on the tours who would then look at me like I had three heads and I would die a bit inside. Thanks mom!

Your mom and my mom must be related. Mine also wanted to know what kinds of guns and ammunition the campus police carried.

[eventualeventer]

Originally Posted by BlacKAT33

I am more embarrassed by my dad because he tells corny science jokes lol but now that im older i dont mind it as much. By reading this i realize i should be very happy all i had to deal with was corny jokes

Haha, me too.

[flyhi]

Originally Posted by aspiringDVM

Mine also wanted to know what kinds of guns and ammunition the campus police carried.

that is freakin funny.......

[OliveOyl]

Originally Posted by badcats

If this is directed at me, I am glad I'm not the only one with an overenthusiastic parent. My dad on the other hand would be super mellow and just say one or two things and let me go.

ETA: How did you hear from LSU already, I thought they were still deciding on who to interview?

I was actually accepted into last year's class and accepted their offer. However, my National Guard unit was called up and I am deployed right now, so I had to defer my seat to start with the Class of 2014.

[Minnerbelle]

Originally Posted by quantized

Minnerbelle that reminds me of touring with my mom when I was applying as an undergrad back in the dark ages. She was THAT mom. The one who would raise her hand and go "What about RAPE?!?!?! HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY GIRL FROM BOYYYYYYS!?!?" There were always cute guys on the tours who would then look at me like I had three heads and I would die a bit inside. Thanks mom!

that's awesome!!!