Many applicants apply to schools in "geographic clusters" - for example, every school in Chicago, New York, or northern California. If you don't live near your geographic clusters, then it is certainly ideal to avoid traveling back and forth multiple times. Sometimes, a brief email to the admissions office can alleviate your travel woes. A sample:
Dear ___,
I recently learned I will be in Boston on September 22 for an interview at another institution. Would it be at all possible to accommodate me for an interview at Tufts during the same week? I am very interested in interviewing at Tufts, and I am hoping to minimize travel as much as possible. Thanks for helping me with this matter.
Warmest regards,
Sam Student
Additional suggestions:
- If you know the name of the person who receives correspondence for the admissions office of interest, include it; otherwise "Dear Admissions Committee" is sufficient.
- Do not share the name of the other school. You will appear either pretentious or desperate, neither of which is desirable.
- Be succinct and kind. The administrative assistants who work in the admissions offices are the people who can make things happen for you!
- Finally, recognize this is a long shot. Some schools can and will accomodate you and others won't, but it is absolutely worth a shot.
