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Friday, October 24, 2008

Who'll be the next Microsoft Student Partner?

Update: I've been selected as a Microsoft Student Partner!! Check out the new post to know more :)

How many times have you glanced at a Google Product and said, "Oh it's by Google. Let's check it out!” How many times have you turned away from an application just because it's from Microsoft? Today, there's a growing trend of "Anti-Microsoft" feeling amongst most of the tech-enthusiasts. They'll blindly buy an Apple product, but ask them anything about Microsoft and they'll start making faces. And to an extent, Google & Apple have managed to draw attention thanks to their revolutionary products, but somehow a lot of amazing Microsoft application are not even known to people (Take MS Office OneNote for example. I never cared to look at it till now, but once I did, I realized what an awesome product I'd been missing!)

I guess this gave a hint to the smart minds running Microsoft that something needs to be done. There wasn't anything wrong with their products, what was needed was to make sure people atleast try it out once before checking some other vendor. And here comes the concept of Microsoft Student Partner.

MSP are selected from different colleges, mainly to try and make their college peers aware about different MS products. Products which are better than the ones they are currently using, but never cared to try out, maybe just because of the common notion to under-estimate Microsoft. And the selection test was held this Sunday (19th Oct) in 8 cities across India to choose the next MSPs.

I and few of my friends were shortlisted for the test, and I went to the Delhi center (As I was leaving for Pilani to participate in Oasis). And nearly half of those in the Delhi center (More than 75 students) were from BITS Pilani! A short introductory session made us more familiar with what MSPs are, what benefits they get by being one and what they are expected to do. And then we went for the written eliminations.

The written test was of 4 parts (of nearly equal questions). First one was on Logical Reasoning, with simple puzzles like in any IQ test, and a section having excerpts from a technical article/news items and questions based on it. This was followed by a test to judge Analytical Ability, in which you had to use the statistics provided (Bar graph of Sales, Details of Bus timings etc.) to answer the questions.

Next, we had to technical papers. One was on C Programming, which was pretty simple (except for some questions based on syntax and header files which you need to mug up to answer). The last paper was the weirdest of all, as it had high level technical questions (some about how data is sent in a network, memory architecture and what not!). Thank god there was no negative marking!! :D

Some 40-50 students were shortlisted from the 200-300 present, and were grouped for GDs. Sadly, I had a couple of 3rd years in my group, and they turned out to be pretty good at GDs. We got the topic as "Relevance of Internet in Rural Areas in India" and the ten of us started thinking about what to speak. But what was disappointing in the GD was the contrast in experience of the participants. One of them was very dominating, where as some 1st yearites were actually quarrelling, instead of letting others speak. Unable to understand what's going on in this fish market, the Observer finally asked everyone to speak one by one, and then asked the dominant participant to conclude (Sadly, she didn't conclude the GD. She just concluded what she was saying). And well, that was it.

The results are expected around 28th Oct 1st Nov, and I'm a bit doubtful about my selection, thanks to the chaotic GD. In the other center, Rahil & Sudipt from BITS Pilani Goa Campus got through for the GDs. Let's see if we get a MSP in our college!

Anyway, I took this opportunity to talk about getting some Microsoft guys to do a presentation/guest lecture etc in our campus, under CSI (Computer Society of India, BPGC Chapter). Hopefully, you'll see a notice soon with the Microsoft logo \m/. Oh & if there's any particular topic you would like to have a lecture/workshop on, do tell me!

So what do you feel about this whole Microsoft Student Partner idea? Do you feel it'll be able to reduce the "Anti-Microsoft" feeling which is there among a lot of students today? Do leave a comment!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

i liked the way you gave your topic

RaSh said...

Hey thanks alot kenil :)

Hope to see more of your comments soon!

phoenix said...

i think that it'd be more about the experience rather than ms products :)

RaSh said...

Yup.. It's only a few weeks since I became MSP & I'm already enjoying the feeling.. Conducting lectures is fun! :D

Plus the interaction that you have with other tech-oriented students is really helpful!

Hope to see you more often on the site!!

Shane said...

Hi! Congratulation on becoming an MSP! Did you have to go through an interview after the GD? Please reply soon.(I wasn't shortlisted the first time but I applied again on Nov 16 and cleared Round 1 of the IT Challenge)

RaSh said...

Hey!
After my elimination test, I had only a GD. Most of the GD Topics were Technical (Need of Internet, Online Services vs Desktop Apps etc.)

We didn't have an Interview, but instead have been kept on a 3 month probation period, in which we are expected to conduct atleast a given number of activities.

Anyway all the best for the GD/Interview! Do let me know the result!

PS: Take a copy of your CV/Resume, even if they haven't asked for it. It might help! :)

Shane said...

Thanks a lot

RaSh said...

You're welcome Shane!

Oh and I'll post a few tips in Jan (somewhere around the time you have the GD/Interview). Be sure you to check that too1 ;)

All the best!

Unknown said...

hi you get a great experience.
-Rohit Wadhwa
(Also done computer Engg.
Diploma Form SJPP Damla(ynr))

RaSh said...

Hey Rohit!
Thanks for dropping by! And yes, I'm looking forward to more activities as an MSP :)

Shashank Chinchli said...

hey ,
nyce to se your blog,
helpful bro,
hey could u tell me type of questions asked in IT challenege:?
N hey n GD topics are current or on any theme:?
I want to get MSp at any cost ...
i can is what i believe ,
i just want good directions,
Hope u would help me!

RaSh said...

@Shashank: Hey!

GD topics will generally be on something related to technology in general. They tend to cover the recent events in the past few years (For ex, shift from Desktop to Web Apps, Potential of Internet in India etc.)

IT Challenge is part of Imagine Cup. It covers different topics (Depends upon the particular month). Frankly, I didn't take IT Challenge very seriously (Left after reaching the 2nd round).

Wait and find out the latest procedure of becoming a MSP. Feel free to drop in a comment here if you need any help! :)

All the best!

Shashank Chinchli said...

hey shashankk here,
dude coul you lend me some tips on adsense,
i write blogs but few jealous people get it blocked purposely!
any tips....
N could you let me know way to earn few bucks as i badly need it!

RaSh said...

@Shashankk:
Sorry, but I don't use adsense. I really didn't like the whole monetizing idea.

Anyway, go ahead and search (bing!) for adsense tips. You'll get enough stuff to read for a few years. :)

jayesh said...

hii rash i am also a msp.I liked the way you shared your experience here.will definetly meet you in open days or in boot camp.good.buh bye

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