My tryst with the Indian Institute of Technology : Chapter 6

Final year at IIT Kharagpur

Now it was time for the all important final year - the 7^th semester being the more significant of the two. It was the time to appear GRE, apply for jobs, apply to universities for higher studies and appear CAT. I was inclined for a MS abroad rather than pursuing a MBA in IIMs. So, I chose to appear for GRE.

I booked a date for both GRE and TOEFL, the standard tests required for admission into the graduate schools at any US university. I scheduled my TOEFL on Oct 5 and GRE on Oct 11 and started my preparation. The mid semester exams in between caused a break in my preparation and by the last week of September, I was sure I would not be able to appear for TOEFL on the scheduled date. Not because, TOEFL was tough, but rather I would waste my time if I went to Kolkata to appear for it. TOEFL in fact is an easy but a very boring and long test. I rescheduled TOEFL to Oct 21 and preparations for the GRE continued. I fared very badly in my GRE. I ran out of time in the verbal section and that was disaster. My score 1180/1600 with 380/800 in the verbal section was a pathetic one! I was very sad, as the prospects of getting admitted to a good university seemed doomed. I was not sure if I should appear the GRE again. In the meantime, Oct 21 came by and I appeared the TOEFL. After that, I decided to appear for the GRE again and booked Nov 1 as my test date. I had prepared well earlier too, so didn’t have much to prepare. I just revised the Barron’s word lists and practiced some RC (Reading Comprehension) questions as they were the killers of time. This time I scored 1470. I was elated as my dreams of a MS abroad seemed to become a reality.

Then it was time for the end semesters and the more important campus placements. I had decided to appear for core companies only and not in financial or software ones. During the semester, I had attended quite a few PPTs (Pre-placement talks) by various companies which helped me narrow down my choice. On the first day, I was short listed in ITC and Schlumberger RDM. I hoped I get selected in one of them. As expected the day was a grueling one, running from one place to other - appearing for the group activity and presentation in Schlumberger, followed by the GD in ITC, followed by the interview in Schlumberger. I wasn’t selected for the interview round in ITC. According to the new rules of the Training and Placement section, the results of all companies were to be declared at a time after all interviews of the day were over. I came back to my room and waited for the results. It is such an unpredictable matter that I hardly was confident. My mind hovered around to the next companies in line. My next possible company was 3M India on the 6^th of December. My brother was calling me up every hour, asking me the results. That was making me more nervous. After dinner, me and some of my friends sat down to watch the comedy scenes of Om Shanti Om. I was tensed enough not to be amused by SRK antics. It was around 10-11 pm when Babba called up saying that I had been selected in Schlumberger RDM! I was highly elated and so were my friends. The GPL ritual followed immediately. I called up my parents and brother and informed them. They were ecstatic at the news. I wanted to see my name on the list and confirm it. I went along with Karmu to the TnP section and looked at the notice board. There it was!

Surya Mishra – 04MF1018- Post: Manufacturing Engineer

I was the only one from the wing to have been selected for a job that day. Though I was happy for myself, I was sad about the others. As days passed, the others also got selected one by one. In the meantime results were out and I had scored the first 9 pointer of my life. I was not too keen on the results, as it had practically no significant as the CGPA considered by companies as well as the universities was till the 6^th semester. With a 9.26 in the 7^th semester, my CGPA raced to 8.59/10.00. What followed next was applying for higher studies in universities abroad. The job profile at Schlumberger appeared brilliant and the remuneration was handsome! That led me to decide to apply to only 3 universities from the original 10 that I had short listed – MIT, UIUC and Purdue.

The last semester was a lazy one. There was nothing much to do, except waiting for the results from the universities. There was hardly any interest in attending classes and the attitude was too casual. I guess it was natural. I coined a term for the state which we were in –The Last Semester Syndrome. It became quite popular :P, thanx to Gtalk . Even Dheeraj Baid, hardly attended classes. There was no interest in doing the project work. Only wish was to be in the room and relax J .

The results started to come. MIT rejected my application for a MS in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. That was kind of expected, as it was a dream school. I wish I had a better CGPA! Then one fine evening, I got an email from the graduate school of UIUC. I had been offered admission into the MS program in the department of Mechanical Science and Engineering with full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend of 2000$. It was a moment of success. Getting a scholarship for the MS program was difficult. However, by this time I was more inclined to join Schlumberger than go for a MS. I was of the opinion that going for a MS would plug my ways to come back to India, after I finished my course. Settling once in the American lifestyle, would probably make it impossible to make a U turn. And I was convinced that I didn’t want my children to grow up in America. So, I rejected the offer from UIUC. Ah yes, I haven’t heard from Purdue still. They haven’t offered me an admission, neither have denied it yet. :P

The lax attitude continued through out the semester. More time was spend on Orkut and Gtalk than ever before and playing cricket or cards sometime. Then there were wing treats to celebrate moments of success. I remember at one time, I was going on each single day for almost 1 whole week. It was time for end semester exams soon, and it went off quite okay. There were no expectations, from them. No mood to appear the exams at all! However, I managed to fare decent enough in the exams. I would be awarded the Department Silver medal for being the topper of Manufacturing Science and Engineering brnach with a final CGPA of 8.63

Then it all ended! The brilliant four years of my life came to an end when I left Kharagpur for my native place, Cuttack. Undoubtedly those were the best years during the most important phase of my growing up years. The friends I made are my most treasured possession. The moments I spent there are unforgettable. I have seen a great transformation in myself during these four years. From a shy fellow I have grown into a confident young man, ready to take on the challenges of life.

Thank you Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.