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[gaeta]

Hello Forumites,

I seek your advice. It seems as though my interviews at the MLA went better than expected and I currently have four campus interviews scheduled over the course of a three week period that begins relatively soon. I have a feeling that this is going to be much more tiring that I can possibly imagine. I am also aware that this is a very good problem to have. Please don't interpret this as complaining because I am very happy.

Now, for the first week, I have two visits scheduled, at schools that are approximately 3-4 hours away from each other by car. Back in December I booked a round trip flight to the second school from my home. The first school is going to be contacting me to book a flight within the next day. So:

First school campus visit: Sun arrival -> early Tues afternoon departure
Second school campus visit: Thurs arrival -> early Sat morning departure

1) Do I come back home between visits? (approx 3 hr flight) Do I stay in the region, paying my own way the nights not covered by either university and then drive to the second school?

2) If I stay in the region, how should I approach the travel coordinator for the first school? Do I tell them I just need a one-way ticket or is this giving away way too much information?

My gut tells me that coming home is the better option but I would love to hear your opinion about this and also any advice for dealing with multiple campus visits within a limited timeframe.

Thanks all.

[iomhaigh]

What part of the country is this?  What is the likelihood that a foot of snow is going to throw a wrench in all of this?  If it is high, then I would stay and drive from one to the other.   

They know you're on the market.  They know you're possibly interviewing at other schools.  What you want to do is preserve your sanity and state of mind. 

Which is worse to you -- traveling back to back or spending a day or two getting to the know areas/region where you might end up someday? 

[ladeebug]

gaeta, I just recently had two campus visits back to back and, to my delight, the second school that invited me offered to get in touch with the first school to coordinate on booking flights between the two schools and share the costs. Long story short, I think it would be perfectly fine to let the second school know that you will already be in the region for another interview and that you would like to be flown in from the first school's location and then be flown back to your home. In a way, I think this bit of information might even make you a little more desirable in their eyes (i.e. you are 'wanted' by several others...).

Good luck!

[marlborough]

It is probably best to treat these as totally discrete events--it will help you keep the two schools separate in your mind and in your preparation for visiting, too.  It will also lessen complications for the second school's travel office.  They know you're interviewing, but don't really need to know everything.

For me, sleeping in my own bed, seeing the dogs and doing a load of laundry is worth the 3 hour flight and more of a stress reducer than staying in a hotel and driving (rented car?  more stress) to the next place.  

I'd actually prefer flying into snow than trying to drive 300 miles in unpredictable weather.  Unless you really know what you are doing, that is the more dangerous option, especially in a rental car.

[trabb]

First, I'd do two round trips just because I'd like that day in between to sleep in my own bed.  If I decided not to fly home after interview #1, here's what I'd do (and I have no reason for thinking it's the right thing except that it's what I'd do:)

The first school is irrelevant in this situation; even if they buy you a round-trip ticket, you don't have to use the second part of it.  Leave them out of it.

Approach the second committee and tell them that you're going to be in the area for other reasons and that you'd prefer to arrive by car but that if you do that, you'd still need to fly home.  Assure them that you're notifying them for their benefit; you want them to be able to book the cheapest ticket, whether that's a one-way or a round trip (often one-way is more expensive, oddly enough).  I wouldn't volunteer that you're there for another interview, though I probably also wouldn't hide that fact if asked.

[pink_]

I'd also do the two round trip thing.
Think of the frequent flier miles!  ;)

On a more serious note, I would like to come home, see my cats and my partner, swap out dirty clothes and start over again fresh.  I know that travelling can be exhausting, but I'd buy a couple of junky paperbacks and use the time on the plane to try and relax and recharge.

[gaeta]

Thank you all for your fast and thoughtful responses. After weighing all of my options, I have decided to do two round trips and have two nights in my own bed between visits. I think I will definitely prefer to regroup at home with my significant other as opposed to watching endless loops of Sportscenter in a strange hotel room.

Happy New Year to everyone!

[rosemarysbaby]

Thank you all for your fast and thoughtful responses. After weighing all of my options, I have decided to do two round trips and have two nights in my own bed between visits. I think I will definitely prefer to regroup at home with my significant other as opposed to watching endless loops of Sportscenter in a strange hotel room.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Congrats!
I also think it wiser to stay home whenever possible.
Reason 1: you can do laundry! (or how are you going to clean everything between 2 visits?)
Reason 2: you can be YOURSELF at home. you can unwind yourself. this is very important.

[killerapp]

Sounds like you have a solid plan worked out Gaeta, but I wanted to reiterate another poster's concerns about weather. Are the two interviews in a snow-storm prone area of the country? When I was in a similar situation last year (three visits within three weeks), weather created some serious problems.  I found myself sitting in an airport hoping desperately that my rescheduled flight would manage to take off in the middle of a horrible snowstorm.  I ended up spending the night in the airport, had to take an alternate flight to a location that was about 2 hours from my home.  I had to convince a friend to drive to pick me up and, low-and-behold, the snow storm moved into that area and made the drive treacherous.  In any case, I arrived home just in time to turn around and fly out to my next interview.  I literally had hours at home before heading to the airport again.  Needless to say, it was very stressful!

[compneurodoc]

Seems like you made the decision that feels right for you. I would have stayed in the area and explored instead of flying back. That way, it would be "one trip". I don't find hotels so tiring, but air travel makes me tired and stresses me out. And you can do laundry in most hotels or pack a bit more... Plus more flights = more CO2 emissions.

[trabb]

Sounds like you have a solid plan worked out Gaeta, but I wanted to reiterate another poster's concerns about weather. Are the two interviews in a snow-storm prone area of the country? When I was in a similar situation last year (three visits within three weeks), weather created some serious problems.  I found myself sitting in an airport hoping desperately that my rescheduled flight would manage to take off in the middle of a horrible snowstorm.  I ended up spending the night in the airport, had to take an alternate flight to a location that was about 2 hours from my home.  I had to convince a friend to drive to pick me up and, low-and-behold, the snow storm moved into that area and made the drive treacherous.  In any case, I arrived home just in time to turn around and fly out to my next interview.  I literally had hours at home before heading to the airport again.  Needless to say, it was very stressful!

I think in cases like this, OP might still be better at home.  If weather has made things so bad that the candidate cannot fly in, the SC really can't fault the candidate.  If the candidate has said "Oh, I'm going to be in the area already," then the SC has a reasonable expectation that the candidate will show even if flights in and out are delayed and/or cancelled.  If the OP is four hours away in a rental car, that presents a problem.

[gaeta]

Thanks again for all your comments. I do indeed feel comfortable with the decision, particularly because my flights into both cities are in one case nonstop, and in the other have a very "safe" connection. (Well, safe at least in terms of time and weather at the connecting airport. I know anything can happen.)

Although there is somewhat of a risk of weather in the area, I thought along the lines of Trabb, ultimately preferring to risk a missed or delayed flight as opposed to braving the roads in a cheap rental car. I will certainly let you all know how this turns out.

[chigagolake]

One more thing...what if you need something at home that you can get between visits? I had two back to back and realized I really needed to look at one of my textbooks. It was helpful to use the mistake from the first visit to get what I needed for the second one.