Thanks Stu- this is really helpful. I especially like numbers 6, 7, and 8.

-Eleni

Man, I consider myself a pretty relaxed and laidback person, but even I'm getting a little nervous about the interview. Thanks for the advice!

Mine is in two days and my parents were getting a little naggy about it, so thanks for helping me get my head straight.

I have to say though, be prepared to share your grades and test scores. My EC asked what AP classes I was taking and what I got on the SATs. That felt kind of odd, but I figured it gave him some background information he needed to know.

Come with a curriculum vitae, your EC may want one. Even if s/he doesn't, you can give it to him before he leaves in case there's anything else he wants to know.

I don't know how good this advice is, as it's based off my own EC, but it's what I did and it turned out well.

Thanks Stu- your advice is really helpful!

(especially because in my country, Romania, people are very scared of the interview)

I'll try to do what you advised us on items 6 and 7

I've been an EC since '89, and have seen a lot of applicants. I couldn't care less about grades, or SAT scores, other than to show the applicants what the medians were for recent classes, so they can figure out how they compare. Nor would I give a flying proton about how you're dressed, or who your parents are. What's interesting is who YOU are- what interests you, and what you've done about it.

It's not so much an interview as it is an hour or two long conversation. You tell me about the clubs you founded, and I'll drone on about MIT, and what Boston was like 30 years ago, and what's changed for the better. You tell me about the folks who've had a great effect on you, and I'll tell you what were my favorite things to throw off the Green building. Dishwashers make a cool sound just before they hit’Ķ

I had a kid who opened up the 'interview' telling me about sideswap notation, used to describe juggling moves, since he was an avid juggler. My background was Course 3, and crystallography uses a nearly identical schema! We hit it off, and that was a fun conversation. I had another who said she'd won an Art contest, and some of her paintings were on display: but she didn't know where, nor even the name of the competition. That conversation was temporally short, but subjectively eternal.

So relax- and have fun.

My EC hasn't been responding to emails since a family emergency prevented him from making our first scheduled interview early in October. What happens if it doesn't work out at all? I've asked interview@mit.edu but recieved no reply yet.

To zoogles: I am sorry to hear that your initial meeting was cancelled and hope all turns out okay with the EC. Writing to interview@mit.edu is the right thing to do. We are a bit backed up on answering those questions, so have a bit of patience. We'll make sure that you are connected to an EC who can interview you, and you won't be penalized in anyway by the deadlines. We'll be aware that you have initiated your contact by the deadline.

I am an EC since last year. I have met several interesting candidates with a wide range of pursuits. Where I find the most stimulating dialogues between me and the candidate is when we talk about how he/she sees him/herself at, say, age 30 or 50.

Often the candidate has not thought that far ahead, so the answer tends to be spontaneous.

When the candidate has in fact thought about the longer term, the ensuing discussion is even richer, as well as rewarding for me!

For me, this is insight into how current passions might get translated into lifelong avocations. "I enjoy listening to the future"!

first of all thanks for your advice.i think this advice is really helpful for me.thank you

I have a problem - I e-mailed to my appointed EC twice, but he has not answered me since. The first mail I sent was more than a month ago, so I thought it was still too early. But the second was two weeks ago, and there is still no reply. Any advice? Thank you.

Dear Mr. Schmill

I have an urgent problem. I have just tried to contact my EC here in Oslo, Norway, but recieved an email saying that my email could not be delivered to my EC's address, as his username was unknown. I then contacted to company in which he is 'employed', only to find that the receptionist does not even know of my EC.

Therefore, I would like to ask you what you think my next course of action should be?

Kind Regards

Michael B. Berthelsen

Dear Michael B. Berthelsen

WRITE TO MIT IMMEDIATELY

I live in Maine, so I had an interview with Mr. Openshaw. I was very nervous when I got there, and I had arrived twenty minutes early... PLENTY of time for me to think about how scary it was going to be.

Mr. Openshaw came up to me, and we shook hands. My hand shake wasn't so great, so I was going over it in my head obsessively.

Mr. Openshaw and I sat down in his office and just talked. It seemed completely informal other than the questions he asked. We had so much in common, which helped. I have to say that having the interview with him made me want to go to MIT even more. In fact, I was reluctant to leave. I wanted to talk to him about it more, but the time was pretty much up.

Moral of the story: Don't be afraid to go to your MIT interview; it's nowhere near as scary as you think!

As a reply to all who are having trouble contacting your EC, you should write to interview@mit.edu to get some help. If you would prefer to call, you can call about the interview at this number: 617-258-5510.

If you have been having trouble in any way, don't worry. Our ECs are all very nice and will be as accommodating as they can, even if you contact them after the deadline.

Glad to hear of this nice story in Maine!

---Stu Schmill

I want to have informations about this institute of technology and I want to be admitted in it. Thanks

I missed the deadline date due to being out ofthe country for short while. Can I still get the interview with EC. I have not been assigned any EC so far.

Casey

I have been an EC for 8 years. In my experience, I really would prefer that an applicant NOT bring anything to show me. I once had someone insist on showing me a video that he had created. Other times, people want me to have a resume or some kind of CV. The interview is a chance for the applicant to tell me something interesting. What do you like? I really want to know. Don't tell me things like you have a "passion for science". Tell me something like I'm always tinkering on something, so I fix everything in the house.

Also, for the parents, please let your child do all the talking until the EC asks you to be part of the interview. I give the parents a ton of stuff to look at (all the pamphlets, information booklets, and whatnot, that MIT sends to us), so they should not be bored. Or, they could just listen to the interview. This is the chance for your child to shine, give them the spotlight.

Best wishes, everybody!