...and it never goes like this. The top tier, the ones who are going into big three consulting, banking, etc., are even more polished than their Ivy League counterparts.

However, this unprofessional mentality is quickly evident as you dip below the top tier. In your comments, I even recognize myself in my younger, more naïve pre-B-school days. Sometimes we, like many of our non-LDS counterparts, believe that being an exceptionally "good" person makes for an exceptionally "good" candidate, while ignoring basic skills, experience, and knowledge that are pertinent for the job.

While I probably wouldn't hire the kid you saw today, I wouldn't be too quick to write off others exhibiting some of these traits. A lot of the Mormon kids are truly upwardly mobile, coming from an extremely different culture--but the sharp ones tend to adapt very quickly once they get into the new culture (e.g. Wall Street, Europe, diplomatic circles, etc.). The Ivy Leaguers simply tend to have already been coached on this stuff--which I recommend to BYU grads to seek out as well before hitting the job market. As an aside, my observation is that that the major that prepares kids the most at BYU in this respect is Economics.

That said, this hokey approach to a job interview has its parallels from non-LDS candidates as well. They might not talk about their family and mission, but they will focus on very tangential goals and skills that really aren't pertinent to getting the job done, such as making the world a better place, social justice/responsibility, namedropping, etc., and they as well seem to be holding out for a pat on the back.

Good observations though that should be heeded by the most ambitious CougarBoarders.