<p>I know that there have been quite a few threads on this, but I was hoping to sort of update the threads so-to-speak.
I have my interview tomorrow morning at a coffee shop rather far from my house.</p>
<p>I am usually extremely nervous about these things and am looking for some advice on the interview itself and what to wear? Are jeans actually appropriate or no?</p>
<p>As you say, this has been asked many times before. Indeed, as an Educational Counselor (interviewer), I’m pretty sure that I have answered it at least 4 times. I can assure you that it hasn’t changed in any significant way since the last time it was asked and answered.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you mean by “rather far”, but if you’re traveling for your interview, make sure you check on time zones. I didn’t, and it ended up that my interview was in a different time zone. Thankfully, I was an hour early instead of an hour late; but, it would have been pretty bad if it was the other way around.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t wear jeans. It’s probably not inappropriate, but it’s better to err on the side of caution. Wear something a step up from jeans, but not too dressed up either. If you’re a girl, nicer pants and a blouse will do and if you’re a guy pants and a shirt should be fine.</p>
<p>Otherwise, just relax and try to have a conversation with your interviewer. Ask your interviewer questions about his/her time at MIT and/or anything else you want to know. They’ll probably enjoy telling you stories about their college experience - my interviewer definitely did.</p>
<p>When I interview applicants, I ask that they make every effort to be themselves, as we hear so often in this forum. I want to see an applicant in as genuine a state as I can, notwithstanding the circumstance. It helps to demonstrate two rather unique points about MIT: (1) Admissions goes to great pains to get at the truly unique character of each individual applying. At the risk of sounding “radical”, I think promoting any normative standard of dress for applicants only acts to homogenize them. The interview serves exactly the opposite purpose. (2) MIT’s culture so extremely favors merit over any other quality. I.e., what an applicant wears does not affect my judgement of his/her fit for MIT in any way. So, they should just wear whatever makes them most comfortable.</p>