Sloan 2013 (MIT) - Calling All Applicants

I learned to avoid going over my application again as a method to fight my anxiety during this wait game. I think that sometimes, you read blogs or comments from other people and start polluting your own opinions with this external information and end up trying to project these external thoughts onto your own application. Suddenly you start thinking that what you wrote at that point in time is not good because you are now armed with all these opinions from every blog out there and this just becomes a slippery slope that can culminate in suicidal behaviour or autoerotique asfixiation.

Either way, its not good for the soul. I know I did my best, but I refuse to double-click on that damned folder icon until I am preparing for a Sloan interview or if I need to recycle my essays for other applications.

Enjoy the weekend, hopefully next week will bring good news to all of us in the West US region or Latin America applicants.

I could not agree more. Until you get your interview invitation, rereading your application serves no purpose other than to stress you out. It's time to take a deep breath and let it go, for better or worse!

I read the whole comment... but my mind fixated on two words: "autoerotique asfixiation" ... what exactly is that?? Are you trying one of those bondage tricks which tie up the neck to asphyxiate, while increasing the erotic orgasm sensitivities?? All this just to relieve MIT anxiety?? Why!?!?!? Why on earth why?? I think in the last years thread someone was mas@@rbating off to Rod Garcia's video.... WHY??

Disclaimer: anxiety relief only. no offences to be taken.

To relieve my anxiety I have been watching top gear all episodes end to end....


Here is a good piece of anxiety relief:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzjgZpfVcxc&feature=g-high-rec

Apologize if this is already clear to others, but I wanted to understand the interview style adcom/counselors conduct.

The Sloan interview preparation guide asks interviewees to be prepared to talk about past experiences influencing others, building professional relationships, and exhibiting drive. Given that the guide only mentions to focus on our prior experiences, are we not expected to answer questions like "why MIT?" or "why an MBA" during this interview? I guess I want to know if this interview is strictly related to my professional background and detailed stories of leadership, team work, mentorship, etc. or should I expect general questions on what I want to do at MIT and why I am drawn to the school?

Any insight will help. Thanks guys!

First up, congrats on landing the interview!
Sloan is a huge proponent of the 'Behavioral Interview' - an interview style wherein the questions are not really about what you want to do in the future, but what you have already done. As they keep saying, 'Past experience is an excellent indicator of future performance'. So they take situations that you are likely to face in business school, and ask you not what you would do in that situation, but what you did when were faced with it. The distinction is subtle but clear - Sloan expects you to have experienced that situation already. A common example would be - 'Tell me about a time when someone in your team was not performing to his/her potential".
A common thread across all Behavioral Interview questions is the way the question is framed - its almost always "Tell me about a time when..." or "Describe a time when.." or "What did you do when...". This lends itself to a very clear answer structure called the STAR method - Situation, Task, Action, Result. What was the situation, what exactly did you need to do (Task), what did you do (Action), and what was the outcome (Result).
But I digress... To answer your question - Sloan usually asks for detailed leadership experiences, and does not worry about Why MBA and Why Sloan. However, you should be prepared with an answer in case they decide to surprise you with it . Better yet, you could weave it into one of your responses.
(FYI - There are multiple sites where current students have posted transcripts of their interviews. Check last year's thread - am pretty sure I saw some there)

All the best!
MBAWanderlust

Any LatAM candidate get an invite yet?

Any West Coast people get in an invite yet? I'm near LA...

Hi all!
Did any Canadians receive an invite? My supplemental video was viewed on Youtube last week.
Hope it goes well

Anyone from WI hear anything? My video is still not been reviewed yet.

I am in the same boat. I am in La Crosse area and haven't heard anything. My videos stats are unchanged from October 24th.

Cool, let's keep each other updated!

will do, where are you located in WI?

Not yet. I believe there are few other people from Canada too who haven't received an invite.

Did anyone else not submit a video? I did not as I thought my video could hurt my application more than it could help me. I have not received an invite though, so am unsure whether or not the optional essay/video is one reason. Guess we will wait and see. Good luck everyone!

I didn't submit a video and haven't received an invite.

I did not submit a video and still got an invitation. However, I felt then (and still feel) that the essay was the best forum for my message.