Sit for SAT and stand taller

The Direct Admissions of Students Abroad (DASA) initiative is a great step by the Government of India to offer equal opportunities for the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students to study at the best engineering colleges of India. While a good number of NRI students in the Kingdom are keen on pursuing engineering courses in India, many miss the opportunity owing to lack of clarity over the admission process and procedures. In an exclusive interaction with Tribune, FIITJEE Bahrain head Aniruddha Baranwal reveals as to how the students could benefit from the initiative as well as the path towards obtaining admissions to renowned engineering colleges.

What is DASA?

It is a scheme initiated by the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India for UG programmes in Engineering, Architecture and Planning for Foreign Nationals/PIOs/NRIs/ OCI to NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other premier technical Institutions in India.

What is the eligibility criteria for admissions under DASA scheme?

Apart from various eligibility criteria like age, minimum marks in CBSE BOARD EXAMS (which can be checked at www. dasanit.org), the students are also required to appear in SAT subject tests conducted by College Board, US. The students have to appear for the three subject tests of Maths level 2, Physics and Chemistry.

What is CIWG category for DASA admissions?

This is an additional advantage to the students of Gulf. There is a special reservation for the Children of Indian Workers in Gulf (CIWG) under this scheme. Five per cent of the total 15 pc of supernumerary seats of DASA are reserved for CIWG (i.e., 1/3rd seats from DASA quota are reserved for CIWG). The fee applicable for this category shall be at par with the fee prescribed for Indian nationals and because of this, the competition for these seats is much higher.

Why is such an admission linked to college board, us?

Earlier, it used to be a direct admission based on one’s CBSE class XII board percentage. But it was realised that students despite of scoring high percentage in boards were unable to cope up with the engineering syllabus and compete with those students of India who come to these Institutions after undergoing rigorous training by different coaching Institutes and subsequently crack the qualifying JEE main exam conducted by the CBSE.

Hence to instill a competitive spirit and to bring these students at par with these brilliant ones, they linked this admission to the one of the most coveted exams across the globe- the SAT (subjects).

Can you briefly describe SAT subject tests?

Each subject (Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics L-2) is scored out of a maximum of 800 marks making it a total out of 2,400. Each subject has different number of questions but time allotted is one hour each. DASA requires a minimum of 1,800 out of 2,400 to be eligible for admissions. The tests can be taken at various times in a year and the best score is what matters. However, over the years, because of FIITJEE’s training students in Gulf, the overall scores have gone up.

It is very difficult to get some core branches like computer science, electronics etc in good NITs as each subject requires different mindset and training to get a decent score. CBSE Board based learning alone may not help one to attain a high score in SAT.

Could you give a few tips to the students for scoring high in the SAT subject tests?

Although SAT scores are valid for two years, the best time for students to take the tests is when they are in class XII. A well thought out plan is required to prepare and take the tests. The best time to take Math Level 2 test is in the months of May and June. For Physics and Chemistry, the best time is in the months of October and November.

However, like many students of FIITJEE, with proper training, students can achieve perfect SAT score in May/ June for all the subjects in one go. Students should practice using ones’ own calculator, which is allowed for Maths L-2, focus on certain chapters like functions, projectile, waves, forces, chemistry laboratory practical and equipment.

What are the other benefits of obtaining a good SAT score?

one of the most important criteria for getting admission to UG courses in some prestigious universities in US and other countries. Many FIITJEE trained students have been placed in various prestigious Universities in US like Caltech, Stanford, UC Berkeley etc. through SAT Subject tests and AP Exams.

How is FIITJEE helping students to achieve good scores in these tests?

FIITJEE over the years has been producing numerous perfect scorers. This year alone 15 students have achieved perfect scores in these three subjects. This has been possible by conducting numerous mock tests along with test analysis, with proper advice and planning given to the students besides training them for their basic concepts. FIITJEE in India has a dedicated division named USA UnivQuest from where we get the support.

We are starting dedicated batches from March for the same. (Baranwal is an Ex-IITian and has been providing consultancy and guidance to CBSE students in Bahrain for CBSE Board, SAT, IIT-JEE and other similar exams for more than 11 years and has been guiding force behind many success stories. For more details he can be reached at aniruddha. baranwal@fiitjee.com )