tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post2395350624181364310..comments2024-03-20T13:10:11.477+05:30Comments on nanopolitan: (Some) IIMs Want a More Diverse Set of StudentsAbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790560045313883673noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-24872189598419819512011-08-29T10:23:57.489+05:302011-08-29T10:23:57.489+05:30I remember reading, many years ago, C. Northcote P...I remember reading, many years ago, C. Northcote Parkinson of the eponymous law on how the Brits chose leaders to run its empire in India. Given that the applicants would, naturally, have no experience in empire-running, choosing people who would succeed at doing do was a huge challenge. After agonizing a bit, the idea to test people in Classics and horse-riding came about (the latter because someone who could handle a horse was obviously a decent bloke). The later Indian Civil Service (ICS) exams were born of a similar logic. Parkinson, if I remember right, goes on to say that they we may as well add tightrope walking to the list of exam subjects (he was mocking the MBA, then new). Incidentally, the Civil Service exams used to have the interviews as a substantial fraction of the qualifying marks, and here, I do see that hugely reducing this and the role of English has increased diversity.<br /><br />The IIT and similar entrance exams ostensibly make for objectivity. These exams have some merit, albeit highly debatable, but the near complete absence of human intervention in decision making, post-exam, is rather strange. Subjective and pro-active intervention can be reasonable, as Rainbow Scientist points out! When this is done we can truly get more interesting and diverse people into the undergraduate community instead of the dominance of the Kota Klone Kult. Caution: When metrics are well-defined, even subjective ones, such as essays and extracurricular roles, Kota monsters will spring up to fix the system. So, its a constant battle.Vijayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00906122390237442828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-16278206529070499082011-08-29T08:47:39.385+05:302011-08-29T08:47:39.385+05:30it is essentially a right step in right direction....it is essentially a right step in right direction...to give edge to underrepresenting group. This has potential to replace reservation in the long run. Performance in one exam is not the indication of long term success for any body so why rule out a group who for socio economic reason or for any other reason is at disadvantge in the exam. <br /><br />I understand people who are opposing it. It took me long time to accept subjective evaluation in tenure track hiring in US. There are two types of people I guess; one who managed to get in there inspite of all the competition so they don't want to dilute their success and another who have seen so much corruption at every level, that they can not belive in any subjective admission procedure with fear that it will essentially mean bad things. <br /><br />Its sure is transition period for India.Rainbow Scientisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619911613235481638noreply@blogger.com