<p>For the past two weeks, up until the SAT physics today, I have been steadily ignoring my MIT interview scheduled tomorrow at 8:30, somewhere at MIT (I'll have to do a little assuming and guesswork here x_x).</p>
<p>So, now, I'm feeling rather nervous.</p>
<p>I don't really want to be told "feeling nervous is a good thing!" I haven't done any preparing...haven't dutifully memorized the MyMIT web portal information about the school, haven't prepared a full business attire, haven't worked on my elocution (or lack thereof), or anything, really.</p>
<p>Uh...hey! Harvard medical school is pretty good, yeah? sorry, I know nothing more =p good luck with your interview. I thought Harvard didn't want interviews?</p>
<p>lol...med school is grad but thanks neways~ my cousin is a frosh at MIT now...she loves it!</p>
<p>harvard's interview is optional but my school (private boarding school) has it's own policies. harvard alums come to our school twice a year for interviews, the first round for EA ppl only, the next for regular.</p>
<p>"harvard's interview is optional but my school (private boarding school) has it's own policies"</p>
<p>It's not really optional. All US applicants are interviewed except in the rare instances where there's no alum in a close enough proximity for an interview to be arranged.</p>
<p>Theoretically a student could turn down the chance to interview, but that would be looked at askance because the interview is definitely part of the application process. As an alum interviewer, I've been asked follow-up questions by adcoms, so I know that the interviews are not just a formality.</p>
<p>It also doesn't help that I'm sick. Hopefully the interviewer won't mind if I cough all over them...jk. But this cough is going to be a slight problem.</p>
<p>All the interviews are allotted one hour at my school. Is it bad if not all the time is used up?</p>
<p>Oh, this is bad. Harvard's interview is not really optional? I could've sworn, when I read it it was like they disfavored interviews. So now it dawns on me that this will be the first of many.</p>
<p>But one thing at a time. I'll just pretend this is the one and only interview in the world. x_x How does a high school student talk to a professor who obtained his PhD in 1969?</p>
<p>Good idea! *scribbles it down on a ... note...pad...er. Should I bring stuff? A notebook? Scribble notes furiously as he talks to me? I hope they don't expect that. A resume? Essay drafts? o.o</p>
<p>Okay, I had my MIT interview this past Thursday...</p>
<p>It's a good thing I DIDN'T bring an activity record or resume or anything, because he gave me an intro speech that basically said he would refuse to look at it anyways.</p>
<p>I spent hours researching MIT. How much did it help me? BARELY AT ALL. You should still read up on the facts site, just to get a feel for the school and impress your EC with some info. Know a few things about the department you're interested in. The two facts I think I mentioned were that "The Boston/Cambridge area is great, on average 1 college/sq mile and 83 restaurants within a 10 minute walk from campus" and "8 Nobel Prize Winners, 1 or 2 in chem, and it would be amazing to work with one of them."</p>
<p>My EC just made me talk. About my ECs mainly, he wouldn't hear a word about my grades or scores. The first thing he asked me was what other colleges I was applying to.</p>
<p>It was extremely casual conversation...sometimes we got sidetracked and at one point ended up talking about how he used to coach soccer and how little kids are getting way too aggressive on the playing field nowadays. And we talked about his antique clock in his living room for about 10 minutes. And the pronunciation and origin of my last name.</p>
<p>So don't worry, you'll be fine, and you might even enjoy yourself. Once it started, all stress melted away and I was totally relaxed. </p>
<p>Engage them in conversation, ask them questions, make them talk, BE HUMAN. I found out that my EC wouldn't WANT to go back to MIT if he had the chance. </p>
<p>This all depends on the EC, but I have a feeling that most are the same. Good luck, let me know if you have any more questions.</p>
<p>Cool! Thanks for your wise words of wisdom, o one who has been through the fire. </p>
<p>This is good. I can have a lot of fun talking about ECs, but not about grades or scores. Department...hm. I hope he doesn't expect me to put forth a new method of fab (see, even now I don't know what I'm talking about)...but thanks...I'll just brush up on my hacks, my favorite is the pong on the walls of the green building =)</p>
<p>It was at his house. I got there 10 minutes early and waited in the cul-de-sac reviewing the answers I had prepped. How much did that help? NONE. Lol, just be yourself and prove you aren't a robot that cranks out the grades and scores and has no life. (unless you are, in which case you're screwed ;))</p>
<p>Disclaimer: this could all depend on the EC, if you go with nothing prepped at all and take it up the <em>cough</em>, you can't blame it on me! :) :) Good luck.</p>
<p>Ooops, sorry just realized yours was at 8:30...I'm guessing that's probably AM, so sorry I didn't get back in time. Mine was at 8 in the evening :P I hope having it on campus wasn't much of a differrent atmosphere. How'd you do?</p>
<p>I've only interviewed on campus once (at Reed) and I'm still not sure if it has any bearing on admission. I did, however, greatly enjoy spending double the allotted time talking to a graduating religion major about ethical problems at my high school. I was wearing a shirt that said "some call it laziness, I call it deep thought" with a picture of Garfield the cat. I wasn't prepared, but I was myself...we'll see how that turns out.</p>
<p>Maverach (and others): After my EC inexplicably missed the second interview date today, I got it rescheduled again, this time for this Wednesday. Thought I'd give you an update ^_^</p>
<p>I had an interview for MIT last week. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (I was really nervous going in). It definitely helps to bring a resume though -- and be ready for those questions like "why should MIT want you?"</p>