_This article was written in 2016 from my experiences in 2015. Things have changed quite a lot at NCBS._

Every year, during the last week of May, NCBS Bangalore conducts interviews for admission to our Ph.D. and Integrated Ph.D. programs. If you are invited to the interview, this post is for you.

You should report to the campus by 7:45 am (I know this is too early and cruel). To reach the campus, you can use an auto/cab. There is a shuttle service between IISc and NCBS, but it won’t be of any help in the early morning. Food is not a problem for you or your parents. If you can’t report to the campus by early morning, do contact the people given in your brochure/information sheet/email.

There will be volunteers to help you throughout the interview process. You’ll get to know them during your orientation. Catch any of them, ask anything; they will sort out most of your problems.

The interview process consists of two stages for both Ph.D. and Int. Ph.D. candidates. Results are usually announced post-dinner at the end of the last interview day. Try to be calm during the process; it helps your chances.

Interviews will be in your area of expertise. You really don’t have to prepare for it. People are interested in how you think about scientific problems and not how much you know (which is always useful). The interviewers will not have access to your mark sheets, etc. You won’t be judged according to grades or your performance in the written tests. They will start afresh; it is all based on interviews from now on.

If you are from different backgrounds such as physics, computer science, or engineering, they will ask you general questions which are easy to understand (why do plants have flowers/fruits?). For goodness’ sake, don’t just say random things if you don’t know the answer. Do not throw any jargon at them in the guise of an answer. Try to answer logically and in simple terms — from the first principle. Or ask them to ask another question if you feel clueless.