More on student interviews

Mathematics @ IISER Pune is all set to start an Integrated PhD programme in the coming autumn semester. We finished interviewing candidates for this programme today. Sharing some thoughts from being a part of this process:

1)   We interviewed candidates shortlisted through the NBHM entrance exams and/or the JAM exam (jointly conducted by IISc and IITs for admission into their MSc/Int. PhD programmes). The candidates were either in their final year of undergraduate proramme or had finished it last year.  When we asked the latter what they did in the last one year, many mentioned that they took coaching for JAM exam. I was very surprised that there now exist coaching institutes for MSc entrance exams! When we asked why they did not instead register for an MSc at their university, they mentioned that their university marks were lower than the cutoff and JAM coaching offered a better alternative.

2)   There were a couple of colleges (not the famous, elite ones, but those which would be ranked from middle to low at their respective universities) from where multiple students showed up. These students did very well at the interviews and displayed high levels of motivation. Seeing the enthusiasm of these students, it looks like some faculty at these colleges are definitely doing the right things (which possibly include identifying bright students, training/counseling them, informing them about available opportunities and organizing lectures by eminent mathematicians which would spark their interest.)

3)   I still have the concern mentioned before that there could be students who are very good, but cannot perform optimally at interviews due to nervousness, a wrong set of questions [although we made every possible effort to give them a fair chance based on their preparation] or other factors. I wish the selection process could be modified to minimize such cases (so that we don’t lose out students with potential), but have no idea how.

4)   If Indian institutes ever feel the need to organize faculty orientation programmes analogous to North American universities, these should include a session on conducting all kinds of student interviews.  We do this frequently (for example, KVPY, PhD, Int PhD etc) but even with the best of intentions, have no idea how hurtful or intimidating our behavior as interviewers can be to students.