MIT Interview

Believe it or not, between my last post and this one, he received an email from his interviewer :).

@HPuck35
This new system has that disadvantage, but it’s a vast improvement from the old system. Prior to this year, students were using MIT interviews as practice. Requiring parts 1 and 2 to be filed gets us applicants who are at least somewhat serious. I’m still hoping admissions decides not to interview those applicants who are obviously not the right fit for the school, thereby easing the burden on the interviewers. As the number of applicantions continue to rise, maybe admissions will realize it’s a reasonable option.
@MITChris

I emailed interview@mit.edu and this was the response:

“We understand that most students would like to have an interview, but, unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to interview every applicant.

Most EA interviews will take place sometime in November, and the timing really depends on the availability of our alumni interviewers. We do not confirm the availability of an interview for individual applicants.

ECs will typically use the email address you provided on your application to contact you, so please monitor your inbox and respond promptly. If we are unable to offer you an interview, it will be waived and your application will not be adversely affected, so don’t worry!”

I’ve been doing interviews for a few years and had a few that ended up not applying. Those that didn’t apply were, IMHO, qualified to apply. I never felt it was a waste of time or that they were just using the MIT interview as practice. They just decided that MIT wasn’t a fit for them.

If there aren’t enough interviewers to meet demand, as post 22 seems to indicate, wouldn’t MIT be better off interviewing candidates who’ve done the research to know MIT is a good fit rather than those who interview then decide it isn’t? I know several ECs. They believe most of the ones who never apply were using MIT as practice.

Son got a letter yesterday night, and the interviewer seems like a great fit based on his interests. Now I’m wondering whether MIT tries to actually fit interviewers to applicants in this way or this is just a happy coincidence.

Happy coincidence. He’ll have a lot to talk about with the interviewer, which doesn’t hurt. Good luck to him.

Will students who are not offered an interview be affirmatively notified that their interview has been waived? For those who haven’t heard anything yet, it’s hard to guess whether it’s because they’re not going to be offered one, or just that their interviewer hasn’t had a chance to reach out yet, or that perhaps the interviewer tried to reach out but there was a communication problem such as a typo in the email address supplied or used.

  1. They should let you know one way or another, but remeber this year's process is different so it could be a few more days until they do. I'm guessing by Nov. 15. Just an educated guess.
  2. Do contact MIT if you haven't heard. It could prompt them to send an email to the interviewer or the interviewer's Regional Chair (coordinator) -- Regional Chairs have a list of MIT Skype interviewers as well, although I haven't had to pull that trigger yet myself.
  3. Interviewer gets the email that the applicant used on their MyMIT profile, and I just copy and paste to avoid typos, but I guess it could happen. Hopefully in those cases the email gets returned to the interviewer.
  4. Interviewers are asked to report the status for each applicant on their list. I have one who hasn't responded to two emails. I'm asked to report that.
  5. Do check the spam mail folder.

If I am an international applicant who applied to MIT for EA, when can I contact MIT asking for the interview? I do not want to bother them too much but also do not want to miss a deadline.

My DD sent her application in 10/31 and was contacted by 3 different interviewers! We are in a small midwestern city and I think they were surprised there were other alumnis!

My S has not heard from an interviewer yet (we’re in rural VT). He emailed and got the same form letter as @Fibbonachi10. I hope they let him know officially one way or the other, as this way it’s still unclear if he was intentionally not contacted, or if something has gone wrong. (He has checked his spam folder.)

Interviewers are still sorting out interviews. In the past, MIT has exteneded deadlines but they haent yet this year. If an applicant has not heard from an interviewer and has inquired about it, then they have done what can be done. It’s also not a bad idea to indicate a Skype interview would be a feasible alternative.

@changa A friendly email to the Admissions Office won’t do any harm. Again, if Skype is a possibility, mention it.

My D submitted the application in Mid-Oct, and received the same letter as @Fibbonachi10. Some people said that the deadline is 19 Nov, hope we can have some news.

My son submitted application on November 1 and still didn’t receive email for interview. How much chances he still have to be contacted by EC? How do you know application is expected early else chances for interview are less. Nowhere on MIT website is written that. If so, what is the meaning of Nov. 1 as dead line to submit. This is just unfair if chances for him is now less as interview didn’t take place.

There’s no negative impact on an applicant if no interview is offered to them. Date of application isn’t necessarily related to whether an interview is offered.

Thanks @allyphoe , feels better. I do read other blogs where it says your chances of getting admission is 15% when interview is offered Vs 1% if not offered makes me cry

@allyphoe, Thanks for clarify!

@ESAmin That difference is between those who accepted an offered interview and those who were offered an interview and declined the opportunity.

Not being offered an interview is not the same as declining an offered interview!

@allyphoe make sense now. My son did reach out to MIT notifying he didn’t receive any email from EC for an interview, he received same reply as @Fibbonachi10 , looks like they are busy now and done with interview.