My name is Kim Hunter. I came to MIT from the Central Valley of Northern California in the fall of 1982 as a freshman. I was fascinated by MIT. I also picked it because it was as far away as I could get from the West Coast without leaving the continental United States. So, off I went and for a few years took very long plane rides twice a year.
While on campus as a student I was involved in quite a variety of activities, sometimes so many that my parents worried a bit. I joined the Chorallaries of MIT, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Alpha Chi Sigma, and was on Class Council and Ring Committee to name a few. I lived in Baker House for all four years, falling asleep each night by the light of the CITGO sign and watching the crew team row many mornings from my window. Many of my closest friends remain those I met while a student here.
In 1986 I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. I quickly decided I didn't want to work in engineering after all so had my own business for many years, designed knitting patterns, and managed a counted cross stitch company, too. Along the way I become an active alumna volunteer for MIT working on class reunions, in a regional club, on national committees and serving as an Educational Counselor (EC) interviewing students in New Hampshire, the state I now consider home.
Last year I joined the Admissions Office as the Director of the Educational Council and as an Associate Director of Admissions. I quickly realized that it was a great "match" for me – much like my coming to MIT as a student. I get to work with a wonderful bunch of alumni/alumnae volunteers serving as ECs around the world. The ECs interview students in their local communities each year as the students apply for admission. In addition, I get to travel the country talking to students and parents discussing MIT. Through the winter months, like my colleagues in admissions, I read application files and help select the class. I work with an amazing group of people and most days it feels more like play than actual work.
It's easy to tell when you talk to me that I really loved my MIT experience. But it all started with a central meeting that my younger brother dragged me to (he graduated from MIT four years after I did) and an interview with an EC in the San Francisco area. I tell people every day how valuable the interview is in a student's application file and I hope that with this blog I can share some of the reasons why with you (although I'm sure we'll cover other topics as well). I'll have some help along the way as I've enlisted the efforts of some of the ECs out there in "EC World." With over 2600 ECs there are at least 2600 opinions but the one thing we always agree on is that getting the chance to interview applicants each year is worthwhile for the student and fun for each of us.
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