He did not go to IIT

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

How about that and I let my admission to Stanford's Ph.D. program (Aero & Astro in Fall 1972) slip away for nothing, mostly for not being able to arrange enough funds during the beginning of the program!

Hellsangel wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

How about that and I let my admission to Stanford's Ph.D. program (Aero & Astro in Fall 1972) slip away for nothing, mostly for not being able to arrange enough funds during the beginning of the program!

You should have been the CEO of Ifosys, Sevaji!

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

How about that and I let my admission to Stanford's Ph.D. program (Aero & Astro in Fall 1972) slip away for nothing, mostly for not being able to arrange enough funds during the beginning of the program!

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

How about that and I let my admission to Stanford's Ph.D. program (Aero & Astro in Fall 1972) slip away for nothing, mostly for not being able to arrange enough funds during the beginning of the program!

What could have been and what might have been....if you had..

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

Rishi wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishal_Sikka

IIT? Bah. He's a PHD from Stanford. Getting a PHD from Stanford is the highest award you can get as an individual

How about that and I let my admission to Stanford's Ph.D. program (Aero & Astro in Fall 1972) slip away for nothing, mostly for not being able to arrange enough funds during the beginning of the program!

What could have been and what might have been....if you had..

I was quite nutty to not take this opportunity (Stanford admission) seriously.  I probably did not fully realize at that time the value / importance of getting the Stanford education (especially Ph.D.).  Even though quite difficult, I probably would have found a way to arrange for the funds if I was more knowledgeable then about a degree from a top-notch school (a villager-type ignorance on my part).  

Kris wrote:
Just think of it this way. If you had what it took to get into the Stanford program, you still have the smarts. The lack of a Stanford degree can't take that away from you. At least this is what I tell myself this (my share of missed opportunities is a story unto itself). Anyway, with regard to Stanford, I thought they were a bit more accommodating on the funds front etc. My cousin was in the same boat as you, but of all the schools, Stanford was the one that arranged for some kind of a teaching assistantship(?) from the get go. He didn't have an interest in leaving India (only son, lack of finances etc), but he was impressed by some of the guys at Stanford. In retrospect he says his impression was right. They pushed him out of his comfort zone and made him try out new things.  In that sense, he thinks it was broader than just academics.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Kris wrote:
Just think of it this way. If you had what it took to get into the Stanford program, you still have the smarts. The lack of a Stanford degree can't take that away from you. At least this is what I tell myself this (my share of missed opportunities is a story unto itself). Anyway, with regard to Stanford, I thought they were a bit more accommodating on the funds front etc. My cousin was in the same boat as you, but of all the schools, Stanford was the one that arranged for some kind of a teaching assistantship(?) from the get go. He didn't have an interest in leaving India (only son, lack of finances etc), but he was impressed by some of the guys at Stanford. In retrospect he says his impression was right. They pushed him out of his comfort zone and made him try out new things.  In that sense, he thinks it was broader than just academics.

That is true of most top 25 schools. Of course, depends on the advisor's personality.

Also, this is where advice from the oldies and those who have walked the path, making the mistakes and accomplishing goals, matter - if only the young would listen.