Current Interview Questions: MIT

Following up on the Princeton post, I've had some feedback on interviewing at MIT (a couple of alumni interviewers mostly) and wanted to post their feedback. ---CJ

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Like many universities, MIT doesn't give their admissions interviewers a set list of questions or anything so formal, but the questions below (asked in previous admissions interviews) should give you a feel for the type of questions to expect from your admissions interviewer.

In general, be ready to talk about your interests, passions and background. Be ready to talk about why MIT is a good fit for you. And one constant theme: Be yourself. Maybe even more than other schools (possibly because of the engineering focus?) your admissions interviewer wants to get to know you as a person.

• Why MIT?
• How did you find out about MIT?
• What do you like about MIT? What concerns do you have about going to MIT?
• What is your planned major and why?
• Why do you want to be an engineer?
• What are your passions?
• What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?
  
• What did you do during your high school years that prepared you for or led you toward your intended major?
• What have you done during high school that has had the most impact on your plans for the future and why?
• How do your classmates view you?
  
• 80 years from now, what do you want to be remembered for?
  
• What have you read recently that you've found particularly compelling, and why?
• Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur? Why?
• If you had all the resources in the world--financial, political, everything--what would you do with it? How would you take advantage of that opportunity?
• What makes you unique from everyone else who is applying?
  

As with other schools without a preset interview sheet, expect your interview to be casual and informal--your admissions interviewer's goals are going to be to "get to know the real you." It's critical that you know what sets you apart as an applicant--what makes you unique--and that you convey this to your interviewer. (for more on this, click here).

As with the other schools, I'll post more questions as they roll in. Good luck! ----CJ