Average Interview Expense? OOS

[dentalschool12]

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Hey guys, how much are you spending per interview for an out of state school? My flight is $200 alone plus taxi fee (or car rental) + food + living expense (hotel). I'm already spending over $400 for one interview.....is this how much everyone else is spending?

 

[MrAvicii]

Hey guys, how much are you spending per interview for an out of state school? My flight is $200 alone plus taxi fee (or car rental) + food + living expense (hotel). I'm already spending over $400 for one interview.....is this how much everyone else is spending?

im thinking between $300 to $500 should be enough. Flights almost always cost between low 200s to high 200s, then car and hotel is another $150 or so. thats my estimate for upcoming interviews.

 

[CedarZ4]

Hey guys, how much are you spending per interview for an out of state school? My flight is $200 alone plus taxi fee (or car rental) + food + living expense (hotel). I'm already spending over $400 for one interview.....is this how much everyone else is spending?

$600, $700 for me!
$450 alone for ticket, say $50 for one day car rental, $75 for a cheap hotel/motel (if available) and a meal or two...
I guess it really depends on how far OOS you are.
Unless... there is a cheap way to book flights that I am unaware of?!

 

[PilotG2Pen]

$600, $700 for me!
$450 alone for ticket, say $50 for one day car rental, $75 for a cheap hotel/motel (if available) and a meal or two...
I guess it really depends on how far OOS you are.
Unless... there is a cheap way to book flights that I am unaware of?!

Yeah about the same for me. Most flights are calculated by distance and flying from the Bay area to the East cost can be pricey. It was 568 flight + 120 hotel + 50 car rental + ~20 for food = $758! Bulk of the price comes from flight tickets. Another interview will cost around $500. You can always try to bring the price down by taking public transportation but some areas are not safe for this, and I don't want to get lost on interview day. Renting a car, to me, is worth it since you don't have to rely on the shuttle driver/taxi driver.

 

[ossumpossum666]

Yeah I'm thinking around $500-$600, I live in Oregon and so far my interviews are in Arizona and Wisconsin...I've found fairly cheap plane tickets from Southwest.

 

[CedarZ4]

Yeah about the same for me. Most flights are calculated by distance and flying from the Bay area to the East cost can be pricey. It was 568 flight + 120 hotel + 50 car rental + ~20 for food = $758! Bulk of the price comes from flight tickets. Another interview will cost around $500. You can always try to bring the price down by taking public transportation but some areas are not safe for this, and I don't want to get lost on interview day. Renting a car, to me, is worth it since you don't have to rely on the shuttle driver/taxi driver.

Yeah, most of it is from the plane ticket. Opposite for me though, going from NY to Cali!

As for public transportation, I say always rent a car. It's probably even cheaper, considering how you have to take a taxi, or if your hotel offers shuttles but a cheap hotel normally doesn't back to the airport. Although some places, like NYU for example, where parking is impossible you are stuck with public transportation.

OssumPossum - Yes, I've heard great things about SouthWest. I've checked online for this one interview, I can save $50 for a roundtrip ticket, not that much but $50 is $50 right? Although, I'm still flying continental because I have miles saved up. If anyone flies continental should look into their points. I scored a free round trip from NY to CA with 50,000 miles. You can also have a relative/friend use their points to buy you a ticket.

 

[PilotG2Pen]

Also remember when you are renting a car that they have daily rates and hourly rates. It is best to rent for a 24 hour period so adjust your flight plans accordingly. I was stuck with an early flight and arrived in the city at around 10:30 am. I'm waiting around the airport until around 3:30 pm to pick up my car, so tomorrow after the interview I can come straight from the school and drop off the car at 3:30 pm. That way I am only charged for one day, if I had picked up the car at 11 am, I would have been charged for 2 days and it's like 70 dollars extra. If you want to check out the city before or after the interview, then of course you should spend the extra money to have the car earlier.

It can get pretty boring sitting around the airport, so bring a book and a laptop.

 

[jeffity]

It can get pretty boring sitting around the airport, so bring a book and a laptop.

Correct. I'm dying here. Three hour flight delay on my way to my first interview (on opposite coast). I'll be lucky if i get to my room before 1AM. I should be all smiles at 9AM tomorrow.

 

[CedarZ4]

Correct. I'm dying here. Three hour flight delay on my way to my first interview (on opposite coast). I'll be lucky if i get to my room before 1AM. I should be all smiles at 9AM tomorrow.

Wow! That sucks.

First interview and stuck at the airport?

I'd be freaking myself out if I was on SDN the day before my interview.

Good luck! 👍

 

[dantemac]

All I know is that interview trips are making me broke like a joke.

 

[dentalschool12]

Wow $600-700 per interview? I'm glad I didn't apply to any schools on the west coast....

 

[CedarZ4]

Wow $600-700 per interview? I'm glad I didn't apply to any schools on the west coast....

Both my interviews are on the west coast!

For once I'm glad I fly continental and can get free tickets (using miles)
All those years eating bad continental airline food is making itself up!

 

[jeffity]

Wow $600-700 per interview? I'm glad I didn't apply to any schools on the west coast....

The short notice on this interview was going to cost me $660 for the flight alone. I travled like mad for work before I quit to pursue the big dream so I had a voucher and paid only $10 instead. Great deal...assuming they stop delaying it and I make it to the interview.

Expensive flights. Long waits. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid applying again.

 

[Graphire]

Flying in to Boston from Toronto is costing me 500 just for Flight + Hotel. With food and travel I'm guessing around 600ish