For all of you who have not had the interview yet, just remember to really RELAX and be yourself. There's no need to be nervous because at least for me, the interview was just like a talk with a friend. There really wasn't anything scary. So don't stress yourself out too much and just be natural.

Posted by: Leon Liu on October 20, 2005

Agreed. The for me, the interview was like a two-hour sharing session - and it was a two-way, not one-way, sharing.



Essentially, my interviewer sat down with me in a restaurant, told me about herself and MIT, and following that, asked me, "I've told you about myself, why not you tell me about yourself now?"



From that question on, everything else flowed on... And it does help, with such a big and open-ended question, to think clearly and be calm.



Maybe, for me, it helped that I psyched myself into that mental state I get when I have a speech competition - that kind of mental clarity and focus, that nothing else can distract me from the interviewer. Seems to work. Maybe any other interviewee who probably has the same kind of mental makeup as me can try it out.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 20, 2005

Yup, I agree with Eric... I have met her last Saturday and in fact she is a nice person! (not because she treated me a drink). Me too, took 2 hours to share whatever I had. Well, here are some tips for those yet to be interviewed...



1) Go to your desk and pen down whatever activities that you have been doing in college for the past few years and also write down about your hobbies and passions.

2) Next go to your bed and close your eyes (not sleep!) Reflect on the activities that you have pen down. Ask yourself why had they been meaningful to you? What have you learnt from these activities? Apparently my EC seems very interested in the purpose of the activities that I have done.

3) Any experience related to research and your interest in science would be very useful. Tell your EC whole heartedly your interest in these activities. I discussed (notice that I did not use the word "talked") about the various attachments I had and the Olympiad trainings I went through. Feelings cannot be conveyed through your essays. Make good use of this ONLY opportunity to show who you really are.

4) There is really no need to memorise facts about MIT just to impress your EC! In fact the real purpose of the interview is to find out more about you.

5) Do not worry if you do not have any great achievements to share with your EC. More importantly, your EC is very interested in the learning process that you went through.

6) Er... I do not know about the rest but the only question that my EC asked was "Tell me about yourself". So Just relax! ECs are very friendly... In fact we still keep in touch after the interview!



Well I hope these help!!!

Posted by: y2kit on October 20, 2005

I was a little bit worried about how my interview went, mostly because of how my EC worded some of the questions. For example, I was asked, "What do you do outside of class?" I answered with six or seven extracurriculars, and he asked, "Okay, but what do you do outside of school?" The way he asked it just made me sound like I had no life outside of school even though activities take up a good amount of my time. Eventually we found a common interest (I'm a newspaper editor and he was once the managing editor of The Tech). In retrospect, I think the interview went better than I thought at the time that it had, but it could have been better.

Posted by: Justin Myers on October 20, 2005

Hi

I can't find the 'orange interview information button'. Please Help.

Thank you.

Posted by: Edward on October 21, 2005

PS: my MyMIT username is kelvinjayanoris

Have a good morning-assuming you'll read this when you wake up.

Posted by: Edward on October 21, 2005

I too had my interview. It was a unique experience - something i'll cherish forever especially because of the suggestions my EC gave(top secret!)



Although my interview was 'less' informal - being just half an hour long and 'across the table' rather than side by side! - I definitely enjoyed it later. (it's understandable coz my EC was a BIG guy)



But my EC was very friendly, encouraging. He is constantly in touch with me even after the interview and has told me to keep sending more info about projects, incidents etc. till he doesn't send his report till the end of November! No matter what chances I have at MIT( he gave me an interesting fact that has cropped up after .... (secret) that influences admissions from... (veryyyyy TOP SECRET! - but I'm not joking!) ), I definitely enjoy the chance to have met him and keep talking and meeting in the future( probably unrelated to the interview!)



So a great experience! Thanks. MIT!

Posted by: 0 on October 21, 2005

Sorry. Can't edit! My interview was for Regular Action!

Posted by: 0 on October 21, 2005

Hello matt :D

I have a few personal questions I would like to ask you. Would it be possible for me to email you?



Thanks

Ian

Posted by: Ian Tang Yee Yen on October 21, 2005

My interview took about an hour and a half. It was more like a conversation about pretty random topics with MIT coming up now and then. Relax, interviewers are not out to get you...

Posted by: Sandeep Jalli on October 21, 2005

Hi, I tried to contact my EC through his e mail and contact no. but got no response, so I e mailed MIT about the situation, but still I have no idea what should I be doing. I am for "regular decision" by the way.

Posted by: Faiqah on October 21, 2005

Faiqah, matt would probably say you're right to contact MIT. In any case, just keep trying to call your interviewer, or drop periodic e-mails (say, once every 3 or 4 days) to nudge your interviewer. It'll probably catch his/her attention soon enough.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 22, 2005

Eric, I have tried to send at least a dozen of e mails and a dozen of dozen phone calls since september, and then I decided to write to MIT, but now its been the 8th day since I send MIT an e mail. I send it to interview@mit.edu and I am seriously worried now.

Posted by: Faiqah on October 22, 2005

Hey,

have any of you guys here met Mr.Ravi Meattle? he's the EC for New Delhi, I just wanna know how it's like to be interviwed by him, tips will be welcomed with open arms.

Posted by: Harish Alagappa on October 22, 2005

I had a really fun interview with MIT alumnus Mr. Rahul Saha. I didn't tell him this at the interview, (because I wasn't 100% sure), but the company he works for is the same company that's giving a satellite project group I work for a "free lift" (i.e. into space) on one of their next launches. Pretty amazing coincidence.



At my interview, I got some great advice and a ton more information, despite having already visited MIT and having extensively talked with friends about MIT.



So, if Normal-Action applicants are trying to decide whether or not to get an interview, I'd suggest that they do, as it will help give them an even better understanding of MIT as a whole.

Posted by: Zack Yang on October 22, 2005

Faiqah, if that's the case, you shouldn't have to worry. Those reviewing the applications (like Matt) will take note of the difficulty and will take that into consideration. You can find this info on the "Interviews" section of the "how to apply" part of the MyMIT portal.



I quote, "Remember, the interview is not a required component of the application, and the Admissions Committee will be aware that we were unable to offer you an interview." So you shouldn't get too worried about it. Chill buddy.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 22, 2005

Zack,



That's some EC you've got! Must be a cool guy.



Much of the info I had from my EC I had actually found by browsing deep, deep, deep into the MIT website, (well, okay, not so deep... haha) but then she also shared some of the more *quircky* aspects of life (the feelings of pulling off all-nighters, for example), and that prompted a lengthy discussion after the main part of the interview was over.



MAJOR ADVICE FOR UPCOMING INTEVIEWEES: Just relax, be calm, cool, and most importantly, yourself.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 22, 2005

I had my interview already and my interviewer seemed like a cool a guy

It didn't seem like it went that bad, especially since it lasted around an hour and a half.



My advice - be your self, tell the truth, and show that you are passionate about MIT (if you are )

Posted by: Chris Dancy on October 22, 2005

I had my interview about a month ago. My EC was great - he not only seemed interested in what I had to say, and why I wanted to go to MIT, but he was also able to help me out by telling me of his own experiences while he was in school.



It also didn't help that he was a double major in Physics and Literature, so my Psych/Chem aspirations didn't seem entirely insane once I'd heard about that. ^_^

Posted by: thekeri on October 22, 2005

The interview people at MIT can take up to two weeks to respond. Keep in mind that as the Early Action deadline approaches, they get very busy. Also, your interviewer could be out of the country, and I am sure sending 3-4 emails a week is not a good tactic. I thend to be kind of mad when I go over my inbox after at rip and find like fifty from the same person. After the first couple, it is ont likely you are being ignored, he/ she simply is not there. Be patient, it isn't the end of your life.



Also, Physics/Literature sounds alot easier than Physics/Chem. I think you might find yourself overwhlemed by the sheer enormity of the owrk. But hey, what do I know ?

Posted by: Sandeep Jalli on October 22, 2005

Sandeep, thekeri wanted to so Psychology/Chem, not Physics/Chem. But nonetheless, I think it's pretty cool to double-major.



I wanted to do BE/Astrophysics or BE/Physics. Sounds pretty contrasting, and I think it'd be an equally heavily-loaded course than Psych/Chem. After all, what do they call MIT the firehose for?

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 22, 2005

As most people say, it's really not as scary as you think it will be. And THEY'RE RIGHT. Stop sweating guys. Basically it's like a conversation, you aren't doing all the talking and there aren't right answerse. If you know yourself you'll do fine (is that so much to ask for?).

Posted by: nehalita on October 22, 2005

Contrary to most, my EC responded a day after I emailed him and 3 days later, we were having our talk!! needless to say, it was the MIT office that took longer to respond! lol!

Posted by: Rushil Goel on October 22, 2005

Just a quick question for Matt or any of you who have already had your interview- anyone have advice on dress? Formal, semi-formal, informal? What do you think. I have my interview on Wednesday. Thanks.

Posted by: 0 on October 22, 2005

Dress to the occasion. If it's a posh restaurant, then dress formally. If it's at the coffee-shop, then less formal should be okay. If it's at his/her house, then semi-formal.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 23, 2005

I was interviewed at starbucks, and my interviewer had asked me beforehand to dress "as casually as I can". And on the day of the interview, the interviewer himself was dressed in t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. Of course I am not making the suggestion that people should always be free to dress like that for interviews, but there are just not a strict set of rules as to how one should be dressed for this interview. So if you are not sure, maybe you can ask your interviewer how formally they would prefer you to dress.

Posted by: Leon on October 23, 2005

I was going to be interviewed at Starbucks, but my EC didn't show up. (Uh...yeah. I'm a little worried, this is the second time)



How was Starbucks? Did the fresh aroma of energizing coffee affect you?

Posted by: zoogies on October 23, 2005

Mine is this Thursday, but I'm worried that I might be late since the location is at the other end of the city.

Posted by: Sendie on October 23, 2005

My interviewer and I actually sat at a table outside of the Starbucks building because the person interviewing me wanted a relatively quiet environment with no background noises/music so that he can actually get a good recording of our conversation. I could not smell the coffee outside of building. There were just more people passing by, which didn't pose any problems.

Posted by: Leon on October 23, 2005

My EC asked me to tell him about math and physics things that I assume would be simple for an MIT graduate. I felt like he was trying to quiz me, and it made me uncomfortable. Also, his Harvard bashing did not reflect well on MIT.



With so many competitive applicants, how could a bad interview not ruin your chance of admission?

Posted by: Bummed =( on October 23, 2005

Bummed: Under no circumstances could such an interview be held against you. Contact Stu at interview@mit.edu and tell them about your experience. They'll likely strike it and make sure that it doesn't happen to future students.

Posted by: Timur Sahin on October 23, 2005

My interview experience was... interesting. My EC basically told me that the interview was my chance to show my personality, etc. and then didn't ask me any questions whatsoever. I began talking, only to have him take over and talk all about his MIT experience, etc. Sure, it was good info and I did learn a lot but the interview was largely him talking and me taking notes, almost as if I were interviewing him! The only good thing I remember is that the interivew lasted 1.5 hours instead of 30 minutes. Should I be concerned?

Posted by: Jason on October 23, 2005

Guess you shouldn't be too worried. If the interview went like that, I guess your interviewer more or less had an idea of what you were like by the time you finished talking. Was it a conversation? Or was it more like a monologue? I know mine was a conversational-style interview, so I was quite comfortable with it.

Posted by: Eric Asava-Aree on October 23, 2005

My experience( I was the one above who had a 30 minute interview - a formal one) was basically one where I spoke and my interviewer wrote his report side by side. Although we did have interesting discussions after!

Posted by: 0 on October 24, 2005

I am having trouble contacting my interviewer. The e-mail address in the orange box is no longer in service, and the e-mails I send keep coming back to me. When I called the number given, I was told it was the wrong number. I e-mailed admissions, but they have not responded. I know the interview is "optional," but I still want to do it. Any suggestions?

Posted by: Casey Flynn on October 24, 2005

I apologize for posting so late but I would like to comment on my interview as well. I was nervous but I was also early for my interview so I had time to cool down. The interview itself went on for about two hours, is this normal? Anyways, I found out much information about MIT and its campus life. This new info. makes me want to attend MIT even more It also gave me confidence as well. Kudos to whomever created the interview system and about all of those usggestions for the interview. I just went through it spontaneously (dont recommend), but somehow my interview flowed with questions and expereinces being shared back and forth.



Thanks again,

Matt

Posted by: Matt Bayer on October 25, 2005

hi(again)

Thanx a lot....my 'orange interview information box' appeared.

It appears my interview has been waived...drat!

Again, thanks.

Do have a nice day.

Posted by: Edward on October 27, 2005

Dear Mr Meattle ( Ravi Meattle ec)

Thank you so much for all the help you have given me. I could not have got into MIT without your advise and recomendation- and your belief in my ability to make it.

I still remember the day u interviwed me and things u told me during the interview still inspires me. I am really grateful to u and sincerely appreciate what u have done for me--thanks a million- The next four years will be an adventure but i will always remember your inspiration and confidence in me

Posted by: apporva murarka on April 6, 2006