Mikalye

One more quick thought. Depending on the part of the world in which you live, you may need to have completed part 1 of the application before you are allowed to schedule your interview.

ehehheehee

If the information of the my EC shows up on the myMIT account, does that mean I am allowed to schedule one? I haven't seen anything from poking around the website that suggests I am not allowed to (I live in the US). I have not submitted part 1 of the application, but I have already sent my EC an e-mail.

Mikalye

You are doing fine, sending your EC a mail is exactly the right thing to do.

wmm8

I sent my EC an email last thursday, how long should I wait for a reply? After that amount of time, should I call or should I send a follow up email?

littlemikey4

ya i left my EC a voicemail last Thursday also and I have no response yet (only contact info given was home phone number) so I was wondering what people thought... try again? My mom keeps trying to tell me maybe he's on vacation or something lol

Mikalye

Yes. That is quite right. EC's are often very busy people (I have two EC's that are CEO's of significant companies in my region). They are also adults often with small children. This is a fairly popular time of year for holidays, with the extra day off for a long weekend in many parts of the world, and with the children out of school. I would give it at least a week at this time of year. Many will be back next week, many not until after the long weekend. Is labor day in the States this weekend or next?

In any case, do not worry about it yet. If you don't hear, do contact the admissions office, as there may be another problem. For example, I had one EC get desperately ill one year. None of his candidates heard from him (which is not all that unreasonable from his hospital bed), and we had to reassign all of them. But they all got interviews.

book_worm

My interviewer lives about 2-3 hours driving away from me!

Oh no... what to do?

wmm8

Ok so I have my interview scheduled.
So what should I NOT say in the interview? Are there any topics that I shouldn't touch on, like should I not share anything too personal about my life?

Inconclusive

I think the entire purpose of the interview is not to tell your SAT scores and AP scores but your life experiace and personal lifes. I mean the things that you did not mentioned in your MIT application.
Just be who you are, and use the interview as a chating.
Most importantly smile, and smile.
If you get nervous, just remember this If you have not seen the movie Madagascar you can find this scene in youtube.

Again


I am also nervous right now, though I did not scheduled my interview.

Dex

Cmon!! Only interview is in my country is 600km away, no airport in my city.I also don't know anybody at city of my EC.So I going to take a terrible 600km bus ride there take a interview just just after bus ride.And guess what?! I gonna take another 600km bus ride back in same day.Also if I sleep in the bus there is good chance of waking up with a missing cell phone/wallet/bag.
I have chance to get my interview waived but I not.Because getting in means that much to me!

So be thankful
ofc you can also ask for another interviewer

globaldreamer

"Please note that there may be times when there is no EC in your area and we will waive your interview."
Source: MIT Application Guide; courtesy of USPS.

To Mikalye:
Honestly MIT is my first choice college, I've visited, I've researched, I've talked to alums and I am sure I can find my niche etc. etc., but I'm very nervous about the interview. I'm not too sure I'm ready to go speak to my EC in two weeks or so. I do know that my EC is busy so I would like to contact her in advance, but I'm not really sure of my own mental readiness and teh state of affairs in say three weeks from now. Should I only contact my EC once I have adequately prepared or should I contact her as soon as possible (disregarding my current fear factor) as MIT suggests?

T-bird

I just sent an interview request to my interviewer - I figure with my erratic schedule it'll be easier to schedule earlier than later. I'm kind of nervous, but I love MIT. :]

wmm8

I just got home from my interview! I think it went well, we talked solidly for 2.5 hours. Nothing too difficult to answer, just what I like doing, why MIT, and a bit more about myself. I was nervous at first but then I relaxed and I'm pretty sure I left a good impression.

T-bird

that's exciting that it went well, wmm8! I just scheduled my interview for this thursday (my schedule gets pretty crazy once school starts, so I want it out of the way). It's going to be at a Panera. :] I'm not nervous right now... I'm just hoping I don't get super nervous in the next four days.

Mikalye

Absolutely, and a waived interview does not count against a candidate in any way. When I've had a candidate a very long way away, I have occasionally seen telephone interviews used. They genuinely suck, it is much harder to come across well, but they are usually better than nothing. That being said I have had (albeit very rarely) candidates fly in for the interview.

Argh! This question is addressed directly to me, and I cannot reasonably answer it. Even if I could, I'm not at all sure that I should. I would no more answer this than I would answer a question about what an applicant's essay should be about. The interview is part of the application and needs to be treated as such. At the same time, the interview is also an informal chat that has been designed to be fun and comfortable for both parties.

I am happy to field questions about what in general works well and poorly at interviews (or indeed in essays). As soon as it moves from the general, to an individuals specific essay or interview, I am much less comfortable giving advice. Here I can only say that it is part of your application. Schedule it when you are ready. Good luck and I hope that you enjoy the interview.