College Interview Advice: MIT
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- čas přidán 5. 10. 2017
- ICYW: I'm MIT Class of 2013, current Assistant Director of Admissions for MIT, and used to interview applicants between graduating and my current gig. So I've experienced pretty much all aspects of the interview...
0:08 Our deadline
0:22 What happens during an interview
1:30 What to wear
2:16 How much does the interview matter??
4:16 What if I bomb the interview????
5:41 Quick tips for the interview
My interview is tomorrow - just wanted to say thank you for calming me down a bit but also for the great advice you're giving!
How did it go????????
Did you get in?
ali habib No, but I’m not too distraught about it. Thanks for asking. I’m staying in-state and attending Georgia Tech in the fall.
@@jiyuandong8964 Oh, Georgia Tech is a nice school :)
Good luck 👍!!!
Is that all right to be calm and frank with the interviewer as she said?
Means whatever she speaks, is that really true?
This was great; thank you. I am an interviewer for MIT. I appreciate seeing this perspective, and I agree with everything she says about the MIT interview style and process. Relax.
@@adnanmir9964 Did you get to MIT?
Vraj Panchal one day😢
when u say, ''be yourself", do u really mean it?
Thank you for this. This one of the most 'relaxed' college interview advice I have seen. Thanks!
That is amazing what you are doing now! Thank you for your tips and advices! I think that it is so awesome when someone, who personally experienced all aspects of life and admissions in the MIT, tries to help and direct other students how have no idea about how the interview is going or how to behave during it. I really like your videos; keep on doing what you do!
Thank you so much. I am having an interview at the beginning of November and you have made me feel less nervous.
So, Did you get in?
I have my interview tomorrow! I'm so excited - thank you for the advice and wish me luck!
So how did it go?
@@IoOLOoOfficial i also want to know ;_;
I didn't know interviews were a thing until I got an email yesterday.
@@iceicehon4044 neither him nor I had any communication skills.
If was very drawn out
@@iceicehon4044 The same, dude. Did you get one eventually?
Same
This is really helpful. Thank you! I have an interview today and this advice will come in handy.
Hi! Watched this video to prep for my MIT interview and just found out I got in! Thank you so much!!
My interview is on Friday. Thank you for the advice!
my Skype interview is tomorrow and i am so excited yet terrified. this video is a GODSEND and i thank you so much for the advice!!
How did it go? I hope well!
Thank you for the advice!
If echoes still uses this account thanks so much for the amazing help the two videos you've made has really help me with being me for my application.
I understand that my channel looks silly talking about MIT lol
This video helps a lot :). I just submitted my MIT application for EA. And I just got an email from one of the MIT Alumnus. I am very nervous of what the question will come and how am I going to do during the interview, but I believe I can answer all of them and try my best. And importantly "be yourself" and RELAX. Wish me the best :)
I just submitted my app for EA on the 30th. Haven't gotten an email. This is such a nerve racking process! Good luck with your interview!!!!!! You got this! Best of luck to you! :)
@@josha1349 Thanks Josh. Best of luck to you too. Hope your accepted to MIT. :)
SAME bro! I can't believe my interview is just in around a week!
@@ranashreyas WOw bro. im kinda nervous. how about you?
@@hizkiapermata5206 I’m in the process of applying to MIT. If you don’t mind me asking, how did your interview go?
Love your vids!! When are you going to upload next? :D
I have my interview this week. Thanks for sharing the insight and being so chill. definitely did help to calm the nerves.Keep Calm and Hack On!!
did you get in?
@@rk-gh4iv Unfortunately no, but the interview did go well.
@@varunmondaiyka8151 wish you big good life then
@@varunmondaiyka8151 I`m applying this year, can you give me some advice?
@@rk-gh4iv Honestly I'm not the best person to ask as I didn't get in, but one thing I would advise is to talk to as many alumni as you can to understand what each college is like and if it is the best fit for you. Ivys and MIT are amazing schools but the place where you will get the most may not be these schools. That being said make sure your college essays are written in advance (like in September) so that you have plenty of time to edit and make them better. My essays changed drastically through revision. It's also important to recognize that colleges aren't just looking for a certain standard of students, they are looking for a certain personality. There are many people who are better on paper than those who got in but were rejected. Especially this year where there are fewer standard exams it is important to highlight the parts of you that make you unique. That's the best advice I got and it served me well. I didn't get it to MIT but I got into my top choice (which was a better fit for me).
hello
I am applying through regular action this year and wanted to know when is the deadline to set up the interview since the application deadline is January 1
thank you
Will you be spending a lot of time asking me about tangible accomplishments? The one thing I'm worried about is demonstrating passion through tangible accomplishments. I've heard that interviewers are looking for passion and related accomplishments, but I don't really have anything crazy or extremely long-term. I'm currently a junior and I've started pursuing my passions more recently. Don't get me wrong, I'm genuinely passionate about what I'm doing and it's something I'm likely to continue doing for life, but I haven't really done too much for the first half of high school. I've had the wrong mindset about college admissions until late into junior year and I thought that grades and token volunteering are the things that get me in. Luckily, 7.5 months is a long time to do lots of projects, but a lot of big accomplishments will happen between Jan 1 and March 14 (I'll probably use the FUN form email the admissions office with updates). I can probably have a lot of things covered in LORs also. Would it hurt me if I couldn't share an amazing accomplishment with you at the time of the interview? Thanks!
Can I get in touch? I really want to know how admissions in MIT work considering I'm foreign, looking for a scholarship in MIT, and an admission. Thank you!
I’m excited, I wonder if it’s okay to show my white board. I really wanna show what I find to be mind blowing about fluid mechanics, I really believe it can be connected to how gravitational waves work :). in short is it okay to bring my white board ?
Thanks!
Your awesome!
Hey! Awesome video! Just one question: Do you think it’s better to be honest or filter yourself a bit? By this I mean, could I confess that I’m nervous or should I pretend to be cool and collected? Can I express worry or concern over the application process or should I show pure confidence?
Honest is absolutely better. Interviewers have seen it all. I know some colleges like to see a very chill interviewee, but MIT would definitely like to see what you care about, get excited about. Worry is fine; confidence is fine. You'll be fine if you just be yourself.
@@lauriegavrin3410 I started out with the confidence that maybe I could make it to MIT as an international student. But I have dug quite a lot and come to see that maybe sources suggested that our(international students) have even more slim chances if we haven't achieved anything great academically(as in we haven't got top ranks in national competitions or so), is it true? will having the perfect personality for MIT with some other academic factors(not low grades or marks on SAT's) holding us back prevent us from getting in?
MIT has always been my dream school, but I have terrible anxiety. Is even thinking about going to MIT a good idea? I know how hard it will be even if I get in, and that scares me a lot. Thank you!
Wait did you get in????? 😳😳
Hey, I have two more years of High School, can you please help me with the time perfect time for starting taking my exams because I'm from Europe
Hello Elizabeth, thank you for posting this helpful video! I don't know if it's just me or the volume in your videos is really small. Sometimes when people around me talk I can't make out your voice and have to play it again to understand what you say :'( Hope it can be fixed.
And also, I'd like to know if an international student can ask for an interview? Thank you so much.
Huh. Sounds fine on the computers I tested. Might try to boost levels next time, but maybe try headphones and see if that helps? International students can have an interview if there's an interviewer listed on your MyMIT. If not, you're excused from the interview and it doesn't hurt your chances at all.
Oh, yes. I have done many Skype interviews with students around the world.
Have we still got to schedule our interviews for MIT?
Would you consider taking interviews?
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for the tips! It's funny--my EC got back to me just after your video went up :O
I was just wondering about supplements for the application: what context are they considered in? I play an instrument for my high school band, but I'm not professional because I just do it for fun and I love it. Is that the right reason to do a music supplement? I'm definitely looking forward to joining some music group as an extracurricular in college but not looking to major in music or pursue a career in music (it's my hobby). Although, I am looking to be a writer, so I am willing to offer a writing supplement if it will be considered!
Thanks! (and don't worry--I'm breathing~~~ [i think])
The music supplements are reviewed by our music faculty, who are conservatory-level faculty. They're basically seeing, hey, is this student bringing a particular talent that is going to add something meaningful and special to the music programs at MIT? So the students submitting them are usually planning on auditioning for one of the faculty-led music ensembles or fellowships. That being said, being a music superstar isn't enough to overcome a weak application to get into MIT, and being a so-so musician isn't enough to prevent a strong application from getting into MIT! I didn't submit a music portfolio but ended up minoring in music and playing in the symphony and chamber music society (I'm not sure that my supplement really would've made a difference). I would say, there's usually no harm in submitting a supplement, but since you're just wanting to join a group for fun (like our marching band or wind ensemble), I wouldn't feel obligated to do so. Same advice goes for writing, or really any supplement.
Cy
Hi, my name is Vaibhav it is a great video and very informative. I have a question about the gap year I want to take.
I have a pretty good scores in my high school. I am planning to take gap year to do some internship in computer science that is the subject I prefer to take in my college. Do you have any idea that MIT will consider student who has taken gap year?
Yep, we consider students who take gap years all the time: mitadmissions.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1556480-gap-year
Hi, nice videos and I want to thank you for alI this information that you have been providing for all of us. We really appreciate it.
I am from Peru and once I heard that a friend ( who, by the way was a really talented person) of mine didn't get accepted because there was this smart-peruvian-girl who got an external scholarship who got accepted and it was not possible for MIT to accept two peruvian students. Is this true? is not possible for 2 peruvian students to get into MIT on the same year?
Thanks for answer
I know this is a little late but I am pretty sure it's technically illegal to have racial quotas regarding student acceptance no matter the college. Good luck!
FYI -- happy ending. Raul already got accepted.
When will the interviewer info be posted?
Hi Elizabeth, I want a little help because seems to have a really big problem with interview! I really really really want to make MIT interview but there is a problem! Actually I will apply for MIT with early decision, I am an International student, and haven't done SAT before, to report my scores so I will make SAT subject in October 6 but can't take results before 19 October. When can I contact with an interviewer, I remember that I saw somewhere that was until 20 October. I have started to make aplication question from April but now that i found this was a complete breakdown! Please can you help me, I am very stressed! Hope that you will read this alos I am sorry for taking you time! Very thanks in advance.
(Ps. I decided to write you an in fb after that video in MIT administration page but after some weeks struggling to writte you or no, finally I thought that here would be better. If you want I can send my email to write more specific, lol please don't hack it :p)
Have my interview in 18 hours and 43 minutes.
How was it
I have mine in 2 days
Sarah Athar it was really good, we met in his office, and the conversation went quite smoothly. The conversation got more and more “informal” as it went on and as he started to talk about his experience and insight on MIT.
His office doesnt sound like a very neutral place but good that you enjoyed it.
@@CZcams_Staff didya get in???
Hi,
Thanks for information shared, really am international student applying for transfer. I do not know how the interview will look like weather on zoom or in person because am far away from US (Africa). When likely willl the interview for fall 2023 start. Thanks
H, i im looking to apply to MIT in a few years, as a Foreign/international student . I currently live in Italy but I completed 4,5,6,7, and 8th grade in florida. do you have any tips for international students applying to MIT
Ti capisco, io dovrò tentare il prossimo anno e fino a dicembre studiavo in Sicilia. Spero che mi vada bene e spero lo stesso per te. Devi sapere che per noi internazionali tutto è più complesso, quindi ti serve davvero tanta fortuna. Ah mi raccomando, fai più cose possibili al di fuori della scuola, non commettere il mio stesso errore
Thanks a lot, this video was super helpful:) I do have a few questions and would really appreciate it if you could help me out
1) For the 'contributed to your community' short response, do we have to specifically talk about humans or helping animals also count?
2)For the 'how has your world shaped your aspirations' section, what if my world hasn't shaped my aspirations? Does that negatively affect my application?
3)What is a good answer to the 'Tell me more about yourself' interview question? What does the interviewer specifically want to know?
4) Does it affect my application negatively if I haven't had any summer jobs? (since that's not really a thing where I'm from)
5)What exactly does the 'Additional information about family' section require? Do I write about what role they've played in making me who I am or just about their cultural background?
It would really mean a lot if you could reply soon, I'm trying to get this application done for the early action.
First Hello! I am applying too.
1) The question is how you cotributed to your community? It could be nature, animals or even people. It depends in what you have done.
2) The question is simple, how your context shape your dreams? You can talk about a challenge that you have to go through to achieve a goal.
3) About the interview you need to say something that you did not say in any part of your application, but at the same time it must be important. Of course, it depends in the moment, maybe is related about something that you said.
4) MIT looks for people that are very independent and had a job. If you don't have just leave it in blank.
5) You need to mention more things about your family apart from the things you have said in your essay. Something important and trascendental in your life. It can be your virtues that they taught you.
Hope see you there in Class 2025!
@@marjorieaesquivel Thanks a lot!!! Hope to see you there too:)
Does it matter if I take the SAT or ACT, or both? Which one would you prefer for MIT?
Cinnamon Rolls Everything is there in the MIT website.
what about the international applications ?
Interested in attending MIT. The website says that interviews, if you don’t have them, will not count against you. Has this changed since you’ve published your video?
If you are OFFERED an interview and you decline, then that is a negative.
If you aren't offered an interview, it won't count against you.
How do i get an interview
Madam I am from Indai and i dont know how to ask for interview for MIT
Im applying but im worried my GPA is 3.2 and my sat score in English isn't good I had to move highschool's 3 times and will they take that into consideration when looking at my application
How detailed are the report from the interviewers? Do they just write a brief overview of how the interview was like in general, or do they give detailed reports on what the student said, asked, etc.?
And thanks for posting this video - it's really helpful!
I am an interviewer, and I have done many Skype as well as local interviews. I take about an hour with each interviewee, and I take about four pages of notes in my [paper] notebook. It takes me about an hour to write up an interview from its notes. I write about two single spaced pages per interview. I hope that gives you some idea.
Had a commenter here ask if foreign students have to have great academic achievements, or if not, a great personality, to gain admission to MIT. Whether you are applying as a foreign student or domestic, it is very difficult to gain admission. It is a highly selective college. Admission rates are around 6-7%. I don’t know what the questioner means by academic achievements or personality. There will be more completely wonderful, qualified students applying than can be admitted, by 3 or 4 to 1. You can look at the ranges of scores and grades of admitted students on free US government websites like college navigator. That will give you some idea of how your scores and grades compare to other students at each college. There is no personality metric. Even if you are a good fit, are engaged in the world around you, and have some solid accomplishments, you are not guaranteed admission. Please don’t obsess. Pick some target, stretch and safety colleges that have the programs you want. Choose a school from the ones that admit you, and work hard there to make the most of whatever opportunities you get.
Hi I have a confusion on subject choice suppose if I have choose to study computer science in first year of my college but later if I also want to study astrophysics can I will be able to study both subject in MIT
Are you at MIT?
I had just applied EA, do i have to schedule it myself or will an EC reach out to me because I have not gotten any emails, and it is November 17 when EA was November 1st
Your EC will reach out, they just emailed me yesterday for the 2nd time (the first time their email went to my spam).
Welp -- twas rejected. Nonetheless, this video helped chill me out. Applications are a stressful process. Less stress is better than more stress. Thanks.
Hey are you there for UG or Masters?
Plzzz write Your SAT scores below, It would really HELPFUL to others....
Is there any chance to get accepted in mit with an overall high school percentage 87% on the 100 % scale ( because I'm from North Africa ), and Thanks.
I think so. Since it's a holistic process, it will depend on your sat/act scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and the interview. I´m pretty sure 87% is an A- or B+, so it's a fine grade.
Well here in morocco (North Africa).
The grading system is over 20 (max mark) and according to GPA converters marks from15 to 20 are equivalent to an A+
Interview tomorrow! Time to study up!
Hey! It just went really well!! You'll be good! Just be relaxed, like she said.
It was actually a lot of fun tbh lol
It's 18 hours before my interview...hope I can sleep well tonight lol
@@brightonbetoit463 did you get in!?
@@gaurangalone5350 Ah, no I did not, but to be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting to lol. I shot for the stars and didn't quite reach 'em. Instead, I'll be going to University of Michigan, which is much more my style, and closer to home.
Do they ask subjective questions also in interview?
Sure. I always ask what your favorite subject(s) in school is/are. There's no "correct" answer.
Does it look bad if you have a 33 on the ACT math section? I feel like everyone is scoring 35-36 for MIT
33 is enough to get you through the door i think... After that, every admission officer says essays matter. Good luckkk
Honestly as an application reader I couldn't care less if you get a 36 vs a 34 on the ACT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Usually a 33 math is totally fine, but it really depends on the context of the rest of your application. If your math SAT II is good, if you've taken calc and gotten good grades, rest of your application looks strong, etc. then it's really NBD, IMHO. If the only thing that changed in your app was just a 33 vs 35 on your math ACT, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't make a difference in whether or not you got accepted.
Can you get into MIT with less than a 4.0 GPA?
Yes. They care more about your extracurriculars and outside stuff compared to your GPA. However, it depends on if you survive the initial weeding out process.
Hey there, I have a question hanging in my mind ; What makes MIT the number one university.
I would be thankful if you could answer some of my questions before I apply.
It’s not the #1 uni. But it’s one of the best if you’re going into a stem field. They have serious clout in the STEM field so all their graduates are picked up quick after graduation. The community is also amazing.
who is MIT? Romney? Prazdant?
If you are getting interviewed at a coffee shop or something like that, is it rude to leave after the interview is over even though you still have a coffee
You should leave when the interview is over. It may be that the interviewer has more interviews. Take your coffee with you. And really, an MIT ready student does not need advice on whether to leave when an interview is done.
Say, I wanna major in Chemistry. What type of questions I may face then? Are they gonna be academic questions or personal ones?
general in my opinion as it is not like oxford or cambridge.By the way I want to major in physics (theoretical).Can you tell me something about yourself and your stats if you don't mind?Thanks.I will be applying next year to my dream institute.
@@someone1059 Hey thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I'm not applying at MIT. I guess I have a great fear of being rejected. But their Physics department is amazing. You should definitely apply
@@nuhanoor763 no you shouldn't be as shakespeare said:"our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearaing to attempt".I guess you should definitely apply because if you are watching this video this means you really care about mit and definitely better than those who don't even know about this great institute (assuming you are from south asia like me).You know I live in a very small city and my father is a depression patient.From very young age I was interested in science and I would make parachutes as a kid.I discovered archimedes's principle as a kid.So naturaly I loved physics.In ninth grade I discovered free physics lectures by mit professors and watched them.In that way I was certain that this is the institution that I want to attend and physics is a career that I want to pursue.I have 4 certificates of merit,2 times best essay writer and winner of culture debate forum in my college.I have 4.0/4.0 unweighted GPA in 9th and 10th grade (No APs in my country thats why) and was member of science club as well.I was leader of chem and physics lab group and class leader for 3 years.In tenth I achieved perfect score in maths and english and have topped my college four times.I am national merit scholar for this year.i have a national academic excellence award.The reason behind mentioning these was that my achievements are good but not that great for mit level.My father is not supportive and bullies us and I have nobody to help me.My mother is a teacher and she supports me financially and tells me to follow my dreams.Shall I not apply because of my situation?No not at all.I will apply and I will face hurdles but it is worth it.I am very hopeful that your situation won't be worse than mine so in short you should never waste an opportunity to apply to this academic heaven.
Note: I can easily be a doctor or any other high paying servant in my country but I believe life begins outside the comfort zone.
My youtube name "Julian Dyson" is a combination of the names of "Julian Schwinger" and "Freeman Dyson" who are two of my favourite physicists of 20th century.I use this name to hide my identity.
@@someone1059 Thanks a lot for inspiring me. And I'm really sorry for all the hardships you are facing. I can understand your situation as I'm also from south asia. You'll definitely succeed in life. Lots of best wishes for you! (And let's see I might even apply to MIT)
@@nuhanoor763 thank you miss noor.I will definitely inform you when I get in mit.Stay tuned and best of luck for your future!
I am promoting an idea that cud increase efficiency of wind generation ,
I know it's an odd question, but is interview conducted in English or your language?
Bartus Cieslar. Per MIT’s website, the language of the school is English. I would imagine that the language of the interview is also English.
Always in English.
My interview in 2 hours nervous
Didn't you teach a course on how to be the next bill nye?
Do I have to participate in olympiads and win awards?
No, but there are a lot of other people also trying to get into all the top schools, and so you have to show some kind of strong evidence that you would be a great addition to the MIT community.
Is it a good sign if you are asked to have an interview lol
Everyone gets asked to have an interview. Or at least try.
Hi mam. Thank you for the video.
I'm Sankalp, I want to get admission into MIT and you just gave me hope. Please tell me what can I do, that will get me into MIT.
Hello! I love your essays and ideas. I am going to apply to MIT Class 2025. My GPA is 3.3/4 and I am not able to take the SAT, because of the pandemic. However, I am searching to take the AP virtual. And my goal of IB is 39, but the bad thing is that I have Math Studies SL and Biology SL, that is why I enter to groups of advance math and biology to help me to improve and the teachers that helped me are going to write my knowledge of the topics. In summary, I am Peruvian and I grew up with the stories of our nation that gave me my identity, but then when I travelled to other regions of Peru I found out the poverty of many people. That is why I started to do social work in my country, but also I wanted to look for a solution. One day I was googling some ideas on Internet, until I found that many countries improved with the help of industralization. I wanted to do a company, so I could help in the economy and give employee to peruvians. Until one day in my last year of high school our biology teacher told us to do an investigation for IB, I didn't know what to do until I saw some news about the emergency of climate change. That is the moment that I realized what I wanted to do, that day I talked to my teacher about to do a project that would photosintetize the excess of CO2, bit she didn't like the idea and explain to me that the only way to do it is in a lab. However I realize that the process it was in the plants. Then I found a project similar in another country, so I plan it and present it to my high school to do it. My teacher for the first time she like the idea, and she would help me to do an internship in a University to do it. But my high school turned his back of me, because I was too young. Even though, I continue the project, then I contact scientific of Europe that helped me to plan it and they affirm that is viable and it would solve climate change. Also something that I did to help students is create programs to teach different subjects, also help students to study abroad by free. That is what I am working on and I am more than sure that I would get accepted to MIT and I will work my projects in their campus. What you recommend me to do? Do you think that I would get accepted?
You would have a very strong application, to say the least. The test scores and GPA might be problematic because I believe there is an initial weeding out process at the beginning of review. But other than that I would say your chances are high.
@@higgs_boson2231 Thanks! Yes that's something that I am scared of. My GPA it's in in the average that is why I am doing my best to get a top score in IB. And in my recommendation letter, my teachers are writing about the good student that I am. So that somehow it's helping me to make up for the test scores.
Did you get into MIT?
@@francislhf6290 No, I'm pretty sure she did not.
1) MIT Registrar listed two undergrads from Peru at MIT.
2) I know Raul Castillo is one of them (and I got to know him from elsewhere). He was a 3x IMO medalist (2x silver, 1x gold).
(...which is like what the level is for many internationals these days.)
interview tmr ahsdoiahsod
how did it go?? mine is in 2 hours
@@Grace-lm9ju went well! Just be yourself, and talk about whatever you want to!
Mine is in 30 mins *breathe*
So, did you get in?
Vraj Panchal I unfortunately got rejected but was accepted to both Harvard and Stanford. In the end, I chose to attend Harvard this fall since it’s closer to me and I can cross register classes at MIT
I applied for EA this year, but didn't get any interview yet now, Are there chances of getting in?
At least one person high up in the MIT admissions office was continually promoted with much praise until it turned out that she didn't have all those degrees that she said she did. So they fired her. Well what can you expect for an elite university that turns out engineers who can't connect a wire battery and make a bulb light.
Interview in an hour lol