My EC wants me to bring “a list of activities and interests to stimulate conversation.” Should I bring a resume containing my achievements in addition to this list? What about in replacement of the list?
No, do not bring a resume. ECs are instructed NOT to ask for resumes.
Okay, thanks.
@HPuck35 That’s strange-- my EC asked for a copy of my resume through e-mail.
My son’s interviewer already had a copy. They don’t want the paperwork to distract from the interview.
There is a “MIT Quick Guide to Interviewing” which is the “handbook” for ECs conducting an interview. On page 4 of that guide under “Statement of Best Practices” is item 4.Expectations for Alumni and Applicant Interactions. One of the items under this heading reads:
• Alumni volunteers will not request that the applicants provide specific materials (i.e. transcript, application essays, resume, questionnaire) to their interviewer.
The guide states that these guidelines are agreed to by “The Ivy+ Colleges and Universities” (which is a specific set of colleges listed elsewhere in the guide).
ECs are encouraged to ask for a list of the student’s activities which I assume is an effort to avoid concentrating on paperwork while conducting the interview.
aunt bea: How did your son’s interviewer already have a copy of his resume? ECs do not have access to a student’s application and besides a resume is not normally part of the application.
@HPuck35, son’s interviewer turned out to be employed by a company where ds had a number of scout leaders and internship supervisors familiar with the ds. Son didn’t know the interviewer but son said the interviewer was new, and seemed familiar with son’s activities.
There’s no harm in having one with you.
If it doesn’t seem appropriate, you don’t have to offer it. But if you ARE asked for it, wouldn’t you want to be prepared?
Definitely have one prepared just in case! My interviewer had asked for a copy to be emailed to her, but she hadn’t printed it and asked me if I had one for the interview. I did!
My son was specifically told not to bring a resume but he could bring info about activities if he wished. He ended up bringing a tablet with some software he developed and a few other things he could show and tell but the conversation flowed well and they never needed the activities list.
My DD had her resume with her and EC made notes on her resume and asked questions about activities.
Your mileage may vary. I never ask for one, and would not want to see one, but there are literally thousands of ECs out there. Your mileage may vary.
As a former interviewer, I will disagree with Mike, especially “would not want to see one”. Sometimes it takes a bit of work on the EC’s part to get a student out of his or her shell, and having something written is one way to start a conversation.
I also think it’s valuable for the student to prepare one, even if he or she doesn’t bring it to the interview.
When I interviewed, I would say when setting it up that while it’s not necessary, some students found it valuable to prepare a list of activities they participated it. I think the two biggest risks are that this turns the interview into a “chance me” session (which is not just unproductive, but also impossible) and students going overboard - I remember a student who brought in a 60 slide PowerPoint presentation on “Why MIT Should Accept Me”.