Its close to one year that i attended the TISS interview (March 9th to be precise :). The year had completed pretty fast & its quite eventful and here the next batch is ready to attend the interviews in few days . So i believe its time to clear some air around the interview process
There are quite a few misconceptions when it comes to TISS interview , just to quote a few :
(1) TISS looks for people who had done so much of social work
(2) Extremely good profile is required to make it into TISS
(3) Clearing written cut off just by a small margin affects the final offer
(4) High score in written exam helps in sailing through the interview part
(5)High level of HR knowledge is required in the interviews
(6) The conversion ratio is only 1:10 and that too with 50% reservations , there is hardly any chance
(7) If interviewers come to know that i had given MBA entrance examinations (or got some IIM calls ) , they won't select me
(8) Last but not the least , Is it worth leaving XYZ college to join TISS
and so on .............
When i had attended the interview an year back , i myself had quite a few of the above doubts . But seeing my batch , seniors and interactions with faculty , most of them are clarified
It is a fact that TISS participates in socially relevant causes ( for ex: M-Ward initiative ) and students across the courses actively participate in them . But its not a mandatory requirement that u should be having an experience working for a social cause . I had literally none , along with 50-60% (conservative figure)of my batch . So if u really had some experience , portray it else don't try to fake
Its a fact that quite a few in the class come from elite institutes like LSR,SRCC ,Stephens , NITs(for Engineers) . But there are also others who come from normal colleges and with quite ordinary acad records . At the end ur attitude is what matters
Coming to the scores
Once you are in for interview process scores hardly matter . If the panel wants to take you in ,rest assured u are IN . if they don't want to take even perfect 70/70 in written will not save you
An overview of HR knowledge would be appreciated and shows your interest in the field. But the interviewers obviously won't be expecting you to cover "organizational Behavior" (we read it for 2 sems :0 ). But being aware of happenings in the country and having an opinion on them would be of great help
coming to the conversions , its a fact that only 60 people make it into HR course from a rough estimate of 9000 applicants . The fact that one made it into 600 people itself is so special and its a utter waste of oneself if he/she believes he cannot make it into the top 60 . One best advise i received while i am preparing for MBA entrance exams is " You are competing with only yourself, never even bother to try comparing yourself with others" . This would be of great help on the interview day where you can see lot many studs , if u are afraid and feel not worthy enough for TISS, definetely u are not worthy to be here
There is no mistake in disclosing about your other interview calls. No one ever writes only one exam . But be sure to make it a point that TISS is of priority to u and not just a fall back option
"Is TISS Worthy enough to Join"--i would better not answer the question atleast at this point of time
PS: All the above points are my personal opinions and i am quite prone to be biased :P , so take them with handful of salt
PPS: Would try to come out with other post , if i happen to remember any more points (i so love to write in parts :P)