I had odd application number, so my interview was scheduled on odd date, i.e. 23rd of may. I stayed at one of my friends (Hemant, AIR-94) place. The climate of Delhi was like hell. So hot that i felt like being cooked inside an oven. I roamed all places of delhi, explored the metro, visited iit delhi just one day before the interview, so that i don't get messed up on the day of the interview, It's important to do so.
On the very day of interview around 50 students (out of total 100 called for the interview on 23rd) were present. We had a 15mins introduction about the procedure and norms. We were then assigned different rooms and waiting halls. Then the interview started at around 10:30am. There were several panels each consisting of 2 to 3 professors. I was called upon at around 11:30am.
The interview went like this:
Ma'am: So Ruturaj, you are a recent graduate, you got a rank of 105, are your final semesters results out?
Me: No Ma'am, not yet.
Ma'am: Ok So tell me what do you mean by Query Optimization?
Me: In case of segment trees, whenever there is a query, we don't immediately propagate the changes to the leaf nodes by using the technique of lazy propagation, so this is an example of query optimization.
Ma'am: Sorry ruturaj, I was asking about DBMS query optimization. You remember about DBMS right?
Me: Yes Ma'am but it was taught in 3rd semester, so bit hard to recall. (After thinking for a while...) No Ma'am i don't remember.
Ma'am: Ok. Sir you may ask your questions.
Sir: So ruturaj are you good at programming?
Me: Yes Sir, i am a competitive programmer.(Now i cheered up as it was my field)
Sir: Which is better row major or column major order?
Me: Row major order i guess.
Sir: Why?
Me: after thinking for a while. Sorry sir it is actually code dependent.
Sir: Can you write the code to initialize a single dimensional array with 0.
Me: sure sir. i wrote it immediately.
Sir: Explain how row major and column major ordering works.
Me: I explained them with a simple example.
Sir: In a 2D array how row major and column major work?
Me: Explained them again with an example.
Sir: What is locality of reference?
Me: Said the answer and quoted an example.
Sir: Ok Ma'am now you can ask.
Ma'am: Can you write a recursive program to find powers of 2?
Me: Sure Ma'am.Wrote it immediately.
Ma'am: Can you optimize it?
Me: yes
Ma'am: how?
Me: Fast or Modular exponentiation ma'am.
Ma'am: Can you explain?
Me: Explained it with a simple example.
Ma'am: Write code for it .
Me: Wrote it immediately...
Ma'am: ok ruturaj, you may leave now...
............................
Finally on june 9, 1pm i got the offer letter from IITD.
Some Tips:
TRY TO SHIFT THE MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE FIELD IN WHICH YOU ARE STRONG DURING THE INTERVIEW.
DON'T GET NERVOUS IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION, IT'S ABSOLUTELY OK.
DRESS WELL AND BE POLITE.
On the very day of interview around 50 students (out of total 100 called for the interview on 23rd) were present. We had a 15mins introduction about the procedure and norms. We were then assigned different rooms and waiting halls. Then the interview started at around 10:30am. There were several panels each consisting of 2 to 3 professors. I was called upon at around 11:30am.
The interview went like this:
Ma'am: So Ruturaj, you are a recent graduate, you got a rank of 105, are your final semesters results out?
Me: No Ma'am, not yet.
Ma'am: Ok So tell me what do you mean by Query Optimization?
Me: In case of segment trees, whenever there is a query, we don't immediately propagate the changes to the leaf nodes by using the technique of lazy propagation, so this is an example of query optimization.
Ma'am: Sorry ruturaj, I was asking about DBMS query optimization. You remember about DBMS right?
Me: Yes Ma'am but it was taught in 3rd semester, so bit hard to recall. (After thinking for a while...) No Ma'am i don't remember.
Ma'am: Ok. Sir you may ask your questions.
Sir: So ruturaj are you good at programming?
Me: Yes Sir, i am a competitive programmer.(Now i cheered up as it was my field)
Sir: Which is better row major or column major order?
Me: Row major order i guess.
Sir: Why?
Me: after thinking for a while. Sorry sir it is actually code dependent.
Sir: Can you write the code to initialize a single dimensional array with 0.
Me: sure sir. i wrote it immediately.
Sir: Explain how row major and column major ordering works.
Me: I explained them with a simple example.
Sir: In a 2D array how row major and column major work?
Me: Explained them again with an example.
Sir: What is locality of reference?
Me: Said the answer and quoted an example.
Sir: Ok Ma'am now you can ask.
Ma'am: Can you write a recursive program to find powers of 2?
Me: Sure Ma'am.Wrote it immediately.
Ma'am: Can you optimize it?
Me: yes
Ma'am: how?
Me: Fast or Modular exponentiation ma'am.
Ma'am: Can you explain?
Me: Explained it with a simple example.
Ma'am: Write code for it .
Me: Wrote it immediately...
Ma'am: ok ruturaj, you may leave now...
............................
Finally on june 9, 1pm i got the offer letter from IITD.
Some Tips:
TRY TO SHIFT THE MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE FIELD IN WHICH YOU ARE STRONG DURING THE INTERVIEW.
DON'T GET NERVOUS IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION, IT'S ABSOLUTELY OK.
DRESS WELL AND BE POLITE.
Any other colleges you had given the interview and waiting for the letter?
ReplyDeleteI have applied only at iitmadras, iit delhi, iisc, iitkanpur, iitbombay.....iitmadras i got direct seat. iitd delhi through interview. iisc ssa i might get soon. iitkanpur shortlisted but didn't attend the interview as i was least interested....iitbombay waiting for direct admission.
Deleteese
ReplyDeleteyou have a very good rank. despite of that you have given the interview for selection. isn't there any direct admission criteria for top rankers ?
ReplyDeleteYes i got direct seats. But i wished for IIT Delhi. It is mandatory to give interview at IIT Delhi unless you score really high and have good cgpa in college.
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