Wednesday, February 27, 2008

4 BITSians named Goldman Sachs Global Leaders 2008

Disclaimer: All the posts on this blog are meant to talk about BITS and not intended to offend any other college/university students. (You exactly know what I am talking about!) Please do not claim anything until you can give facts/news clips. Do not make comparisons between various colleges until they serve a higher purpose. The aim of this blog is to talk about achievements of BITS and BITSians and not to undermine others. Unless comparisons are fruitful to our discussion, they will be duly rewarded with a click on the delete button.

You can read the original article here:
http://discovery.bits-pilani.ac.in/NewsModule/detail_page.aspx?id=203

Four students of BITS Pilani - Anantha Padmanabhan (2006B1A3338), M Harsha Vardhan (2006A7PS156), Srikumar Murthy (2006A3PS235) and Rachit Chandra (2006A7PS012) have been named as Goldman Sachs Global Leaders. The Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Program identifies exceptional, second-year college students and provides them with training that will enhance their leadership abilities. Thee four students are among the 29 Global Leaders selected from top 10 universities of India and among the 150 students selected worldwide from close to 100 top universities and colleges. Each student will be awarded US$3,000, and given the title of Goldman Sachs Global Leader in the Regional Recognition Ceremony at Mumbai. In the next round, 15 of them shall be selected through personal interviews at Mumbai to represent India at the annual Global Leadership Institute in New York. During the week long stint at the Institute, students shall participate in leadership training and seminars on timely international issues. Last year, six students from BITS, Pilani won the Global Leader title taking the tally to 10 in two years. Goldman Sachs Foundation conducts the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Program with the motive to train and develop tomorrows educators, policy makers, business leaders, research scientists, social entrepreneurs, AND other professionals AND TO CREATE an international network through which they can share ideas, WORK collaboratively, AND BEGIN TO change the world, together.

The top 10 universities which were shortlisted from India can be found here:
http://www.iie.org/programs/global_leaders/universities.htm
  • Birla Institute of Technology and Science
  • Fergusson College
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
  • Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
  • Loyola College, Chennai
  • Mt. Carmel College, Bangalore
  • The National Law School of India University
  • Nizam College
  • Presidency College, Kolkata
  • St. Stephen's College, Delhi
  • St. Xavier's College
It is a proud moment for us all. Best of luck to these future leaders!

BITSAT: Selectivity of 1.71%, 2008-2009!

Disclaimer: All the posts on this blog are meant to talk about BITS and not intended to offend any other college/university students. (You exactly know what I am talking about!) Please do not claim anything until you can give facts/news clips. Do not make comparisons between various colleges until they serve a higher purpose. The aim of this blog is to talk about achievements of BITS and BITSians and not to undermine others. Unless comparisons are fruitful to our discussion, they will be duly rewarded with a click on the delete button.

You can read the original article here:
http://discovery.bits-pilani.ac.in/NewsModule/detail_page.aspx?id=196

For the first time in India, in 2005,BITS Pilani introduced a computer based online admission test known as BITSAT (BITS Admission Test). BITSAT has been witnessing a phenomenal increase in the number of applications. BITSAT 2008 has received 1,16,980 applications for 2000 seats ( 800 in Pilani and 600 each in Goa and Hyderabad Campus). As compared to last year, the number of girl-applicants has increased by 4% and this year it is 32% (37460). Last year the test was conducted in 16 centres across India. To cater to the increase in number of applications BITS has announced three new centers ( making the total number of centers 19 )in Delhi , Bhubhaneswar and Nagpur. BITSAT2008 will be offered from 9th May to 12th June. Another significant change BITS has introduced this year is that it has allowed students with Physics Chemistry and Biology also for BITSAT-2008 and they are eligible for its M.Sc(Hons) Biologial Science and B.Pharm(Hons) programmes.

A selectivity percentage of 1.70969% in 2008-2009. Perhaps the best in Asia. The statistics on the other university(s) with best selectivity (IITs) are here: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Indian_Institute_of_Technology_Joint_Entrance_Examination?t=3.
(Their authenticity needs to be verified) according to which for 2006 their selectivity is close to 1.81%. (I am unable to include 2008-2009 data here, since I don't have access to it. Can someone help me here?) I have included IT-Bhu and ISM-Dhanbad because:

1. ISM and BHU have long been admitting students by JEE. They definitely deserve to be in the list.
2. Due to the more technical problem of all 300000 students giving JEE for all the IITs, ISM and BHU. If I count only 4078 seats for IITs, then the number 300000 should also be reduced to an appropriate number which I am unable to estimate correctly.

Here are the acceptance percentages for various US universities:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-11-02-collegerates_x.htm

HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
19,690 2,054 10.4%

STANFORD UNIVERSITY 
19,172 2,486 13.0%

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
10,466 1,665 15.9%

DUKE UNIVERSITY
17,749 3,804 21.4%


I'd like to add that best selectivity does not mean the best input of students. Nevertheless, the input in BITS has always been one of the best in the country and that is proven by the amazing distinctions which BITSians have held over time.

Finally!

Ahh! It's two in the night, I have lots of work to do and have office tomorrow. But I have something sacred to do! I am writing this post! Why you ask?!

Well, I love BITS-Pilani and this has been the blog I've always wanted to write/compile! I am damn proud to be a BITSian (some people tell me that i'm infatuated with it!) and I just love it when I read news about BITS! I've always wanted to compile it all under one roof and this blog is an effort exactly to do that. And of-course as long as you are related to BITS, you are invited (read: urged!) to contribute. Just send a mail to akaash[dot]bits[at]gmail[dot]com and I will add you in the authors list.

The journey begins here...