2014 Interviews - Page 11

Mikalye · 10-23-2009, 07:17 AM

For JDong 217,

Re the RCT portfolio:
How do you intend to submit it? If you have a series of files for which they have to have a copy of RCT in order to look at, then I suspect that you are wasting your time. If you are submitting them as pictures, then you lose the impact of what you are doing. There were quite a few RCT design competitions, if you have won one of these, it makes the quality of the work clearer to a non-expert. Otherwise it is tricky to tell good design from indifferent design. Full disclosure here, I am a roller-coaster enthusiast who can talk intelligently about the field, I have been on a roller coaster trip with Chris Sawyer (amongst other enthusiasts), and I appreciate the work that can go into your design. And yet, I think that I would struggle to properly evaluate your design portfolio. It is definitely tricky. I would give some serious thought as to how you want to present it, if at all. Maybe it is something you could write about, or discuss at interview, but unless you have some novel way to display it, I would be careful.

2. Resume:
You do not need to follow any specific formula for submitting supplemental materials, but you do have to ask yourself what the supplemental materials are showing the admissions office that does not appear elsewhere on the application. If all you are demonstrating is that you can format a resume, then I would drop it.

3. Absolutely not. Campus visits are very nice, but they are also very optional. Indeed a significant portion of the admitted students could never afford a campus visit. This is the necessary consequence of a need-blind admissions process that guarantees to meet full financial need in the financial aid package. Not visiting the campus, and indeed not attending any information sessions definitely do not count against you in any way.

feuxfollets · 10-23-2009, 03:27 PM

@seadog

My interview was quite similar. He just asked me "So what else should I know about you?". And then we just talked about his experience at MIT / after MIT and I asked a few questions. Yea I ran out of stuff to say at the end after he asked that question 6 times.

MIT specifically says their interviews are supposed to be casual conversations, so there won't be any tricky, thought-provoking questions really.

Hmmm side note, my interviewer actually said to me "I'll write you a good recommendation." Is that normal? I wasn't expecting them to say it, lol.

Xeaqs8 · 10-25-2009, 04:41 AM

My interview was over 2 hours; is that normal?

Mikalye · 10-25-2009, 07:21 PM

It is certainly unusual but not unheard of. However long is not necessarily good nor bad. Speaking personally one of my best ever interviews was one of the longest and one of my worst ever interviews was also one of the longest.

PiperXP · 10-25-2009, 09:25 PM

Mikalye - Why did the bad one take so long?

heinochus · 10-25-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Mikalye - Why did the bad one take so long?

As I recall, Mikalye said that most of the time was spent trying (and failing) to find something that the interviewee was passionate about, and that's why it took so long but wasn't good.

feuxfollets · 10-25-2009, 11:19 PM

That was the one where the interviewee could not name a single thing he did that was not assigned in school.

eevvaann22 · 10-28-2009, 01:06 AM

is it unusual to not have finished an interview at this time? I've called my EC *multiple* times, since around Oct. 5th or 6th and he said that he'd call back to schedule an interview...and yet he still hasn't. I'll probably call him again tomorrow or the day after, but am I in any serious danger of not being able to get an interview in in time for the review process?

PiperXP · 10-28-2009, 10:29 AM

^ eevvaaann22 - After that long, I'd contact Admissions. They might be able to set you up with a new EC.

JmanX27 · 11-02-2009, 11:00 PM

I really enjoyed my interview! I had it almost a month and a half ago (September 20th) and it lasted for about 2.5 hours. Hell, I even got up and sang an original song to my interviewer that I composed a while back.

I'm glad that now everything is out of my hands, and I now only have to face the mighty judgment of the admissions committee. Go beavers!

nk9230 · 11-08-2009, 07:32 AM

Im in the process of emailing my EC (I would call, but my schedule is all over the place, and I dont know their schedule). How should I go about the email? I know I should introduce myself, but what else? I dont want to just say Im scheduling an interview; I think that alone might come off as being a bit rude.

Secret Asian Man · 11-08-2009, 09:28 AM

I think a simple "Hello, my name is ____, I'm applying EA/RA and I would like to request an interview with you." should suffice.

Perhaps give your school and where you live.

Mikalye · 11-09-2009, 05:57 AM

That's pretty much it. I would also ensure that the subject heading makes it clear that it is an MIT interview request.

nk9230 · 11-12-2009, 06:59 PM

Lastly, would it be rude to ask for my interview to be scheduled in December? ( I know the deadline is Dec. 10 to Schedule one).

Mikalye · 11-13-2009, 09:08 AM

No, it is not rude to ask for a December interview, but prior to 10 December is preferable, if possible, as we always get a mad rush of interview requests on the 9th and 10th of December.