Interviews Go or Phone?

[MovieTeller]

I've looked around and didn't see anything really said about this, so I thought I would ask here.

Is there a significant difference between flying in for an interview or doing it over the phone? I realize that in general you can make a much stronger impression in person, but if it's not really an option how much do you think it hurts you?

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i'm going to phone in an interview but that's because i honestly can't afford to fly all the way over just for 30 minutes. I think that it would be better to show up in person but I hope they're also reasonable people and don't expect all students to be sporting a trust fund.

 

[Allen Ho]

If you live in major cities, Virgin America has got some great deals to New York.

I am probably going to fly to interview if I get offered because I want to check out the campuses, faculty and talk to some of the students. Cause if eventually I am gonna be 100K in debt, I wanna know I've made the right choice.

I think it just depends on the person, I mean if you're really great on the phone I dont think it will hurt you. However, I am terrible on the phone, so it's not an option for me.

 

[santoki]

I know someone who got into Columbia and he interviewed over the phone. I think schools understand that flying out can be difficult for some people. Why else would they have the phone option? Still, if you really want to get into a school, I say interview in person.

 

[pinger007]

I'll be calling in for NYU. Like redpokiepenguin already stated, for some of us it's just not realistic to spend that kind of money for thirty minutes.

Now Columbia University and Chapman, on the other hand...well...that's different.

 

[Winterreverie]

One upside to going to an interview-- providing you can afford it--- Is you never know what you'll feel about a school until you visit it.

For instance, last year I considered Chapman a fall back (Insane huh) but then I went to visit the school and was floored by it. I was so impressed with their students and their facilities. It quickly became my number one choice.

On the other hand, I was dead set on UCLA until I interviewed there and saw what the dept looked like I was not impressed at all-- you'd think at the interview the school would put their best foot forward... (Not to offend the UCLA peeps-- the campus itself was beautiful and maybe the film school will be renovated soon.)

So as you can see, visiting in person really made a difference, but as far as your chances of getting in, I don't think a phone interview would put you at a disadvantage at all.

 

[Jayimess]

I wasn't offered the phone option at either of the schools I interviewed at (UCLA and AFI), and neither of the interviews took place on the campus (Manhattan, and Silver Spring, MD respectively), so I can't say from experience which method is better.

BUT- It's my opinion that they wouldn't offer the phone interview if it wasn't acceptable to them.

 

[pinger007]

I visited New York in September to visit and tour NYU and Columbia, but mostly just to see if I could cope with the big city; I'm a country boy.

But I'll definitely head back up if Columbia requires an interview.

I will also fly out to interview for Chapman to get a better feel for the school and the program. I remember reading you post from last year about being floored by Chapman, Winterreverie. I look forward to experiencing the same.

 

[MovieTeller]

Thanks for the responses. Personally, I'm not planning on going to interviews myself. Making the assumption that I get invited for interviews that is. LOL I think I would if I had the disposable income to jet off for thirty minutes of "getting to know you" conversation. Granted it's a pretty important thirty minutes, but it would be hard to explain that to my landlords. "Sorry, I'm jetting off to California for the weekend to see if I can go terribly into debt, so I can't pay you this month, but if I don't have any more interviews I'll get you next month." LOL

 

[pinger007]

melisbru,

Columbia's film program was solid. The faculty, what few I had a chance to interact with, were very friendly and seemed to know thier stuff.

As far as equipment goes, I couldn't tell you much. It didn't seem like they had as good of pickins as, say, NYU, but I'm alright with that. I just really fell in love with the school. Of course, I may be biased since I'm such a fan of "Ghostbusters". Maybe I just wanna quote Dr. Venkman's lines on the steps of Columbia for the next three years.

 

[MovieTeller]

I got a call from Chapman for an interview and they requested I be there in person. I was told the professor prefers to meet eye to eye. Honestly, thats what I would prefer as well. I think I would a lot better in person, but unless I sell my camera, take some time off work and not a pay a bill or two next month cuz of the time off, I couldn't swing it. I HATED having to ask for the phone interview. I didn't want to seem ambivalent, or to get a "virtual" negative mark for not showing up in person. The person I spoke to seemed ok with it when I explained, but I worry a little.

 

[Winterreverie]

Movieteller- what discipline are you applying to? And did they tell you who the professor interviewing you is?

 

[duders]

I don't know anyone that got into NYU without interviewing in person. People come from all over the world, and I assure you most people can't afford it.

Personally, I think it's indicative of how much you are willing to sacrifice for the opportunity. For the next 3-5 years you will be faced with the same issue: money. It's about how resourceful/inventive you are willing to be to do what you want to do.

You really should go to an interview in person, especially if you are in the USA.

 

[MovieTeller]

I applied to the directing track and Alex Rose is supposed to be the interviewer.

Like I said,I would prefer to go in person, but circumstances (money and having a job) are such that it would be nearly impossible. I agree that it might hurt my chances by not going, but that's the world we live in.

Thus the universe has spoken... spoken... spoken...

 

[redpokiepenguin]

agreed with you movieteller. i'm taking a phone interview with fsu. but i was lucky i'm an international applicant so i got the option while other people don't. I think the general rule is, in person is better but they would be ridiculous to think that everyone can afford to jet around the country.

winterreverie-should i be freaking out that i haven't heard from chapman yet? i'm producer track and international.

 

[Winterreverie]

Wierd that Alex Rose is interviewing you when her specialty is producing and not directing-- I would have expected Badham or Dezso... hmm.

Worse case scenario-- or if you're getting antsy contact the grad assistant or even email Joe himself-- Just to check on their deadline. I think I contacted the grad assistant a few times before I was officially accepted.

And Joe Slowensky is great--Just call to see if they'd like you to send anything else.