<p>I had it last week and I think I blew it…
MIT is my first choice and I was so nervous…my EC is this old architect who has graduated MIT in 87, we had very little in common & silent awkward breaks ensued every now n then.
It only lasted for 40 minutes, and this was IT!!
I was nervous to the extent of not remembering half my ECs and I even forgot to tell him about my current job (database programmer), but I told him about my first ever job (baby sitter) !!
I was so unprepared for this that even when he asked 2 cite a story about cooperation, I couldn’t think of anything AT ALL
I really don’t know what to expect any more…
Did any of u, accepted kids, have a similar experience?? Shud I kiss MIT goodbye??</p>
<p>“This old architect”… </p>
<p>I’d be more concerned about coming across disrespectfully than anything else. Someone in their mid-forties is really ancient!</p>
<p>Yes, class of '87 would make the EC something like 45 years old. Man, what could a guy that old possibly know about MIT. Note Dean Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions is class of '86. So is Kim Hunter, the admissions officer who runs the Educational Council. </p>
<p>Look, the interview is only one part of the application, and far from the most important. But I’m an interviewer, and if I asked an applicant, “Can you tell me about a time when you cooperated with someone else to achieve a common goal”, and they said something to the extent of “Gosh, I never have.” then yes, that would possibly lead to a less than stellar interview report.</p>
<p>The interview is not a test, there are no hidden pits, or gotchas built into the process, but we do want to meet you. And we expect you to be a bit nervous. That is normal. We meet lots of nervous applicants. But if you are so stressed that you fail to show up mentally for your own interview, then yes that is not a good thing.</p>
<p>That being said, I can think of two of my applicants over the years who have been admitted despite my mediocre-at-best interview reports, and of quite a few who have not been admitted despite sterling interview reports. So while I do not think that a poor interview will necessarily keep you out of MIT, it cannot help your application.</p>
<p>@Jshain: jee, I do not mean to be disrespectful at all, really…I just wanted to indicate that he way older than I am…
And just for the record, he had his post-graduate studies at MIT…so he is in his late fifties…
@mikalye: I didn’t reply exactly this way when he asked me about the cooperation thing…I cited a story and digressed a lot…I just don’t think I gave the best answer…4 later on, when I thought about it, I could actually come up with a bunch of more impressive stories…
I just think I could’ve done way better, that’s all…
I don’t know, maybe I am just paranoid…
I am sorry if I had unintentionally offended anyone</p>
<p>Ugh, I badly regret posting this thread…was real dumb !!</p>