Arts Camp Scholarship Application 2015: Fill & Download for Free

Perhaps you should channel your writing by being involved in the school paper or Year Book, debate team, essay contests etc.beginning of content:The Atlantic & College Board Writing Prize2016 Writing Prize Winner AnnouncedThe College Board and The Atlantic want to thank all students who submitted entries for the 2016 Writing Prize. We’re encouraged by the positive response of students who, through this exercise, learned the importance of analytical and reflective writing, essential skills for college and career success, while thoughtfully engaging with a variety of artworks. Entries were judged by 24 college professors of art history and composition who read over 1,600 submitted essays from the U.S. and 43 other countries. They were impressed by the intelligence and passion shown by students in describing their engagement with great works of art.This year’s winner, selected by a panel of College Board and Atlantic staff, is Thanh Nguyen, a student at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted in Hanoi, Vietnam. His essay — on School of Athens by Renaissance artist Raphael — stood out for his rich interpretation of the painting and his thoughtful and engaging description of its relevance to his life in contemporary Hanoi. For his accomplishment, Mr. Nguyen was recognized at [Opens in New Window]The Atlantic Education Summit in Washington, D.C., on May 17th. He received a $5,000 prize, and his essay will be published in the September 2016 issue of The Atlantic.Two finalists each received $2,500 prizes. Alejandra Canales attends John B. Alexander High School in Laredo, Texas. She was recognized for her powerful writing about culture and identity in her analysis of Frida Kahlo’s painting Autorretrato en la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos. Her fellow finalist, Rahul Malayappan, is from Danbury High School in Danbury, Connecticut. His essay was selected for its sophisticated analysis of M. C. Escher’s lithograph Waterfall and for its exploration of reality versus perception and the limits of perspective.The Importance of WritingTeacher ResourcesThe new online module [Opens in New Window]Writing About Art offers strategies to help students transform their analysis and interpretation of art to writing.Writing is one of the most important skills to master. Not only is writing essential for college and career, but learning to write clearly also helps students develop their thinking skills. To be successful at analytical writing, students must support their arguments with evidence found in the text and clearly convey information to the reader. It is this kind of writing that allows students to build knowledge, deepen understanding, and develop informed opinions.With this in mind, [Opens in New Window]The Atlantic and the College Board have collaborated to create this annual contest. The focus of this contest will change each year to align with the introduction of a newly redesigned AP course and exam.27 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash PrizesFebruary 11, 2016 By Kelly Gurnett 236 CommentsWhen I was about 12, I saw an ad in a magazine for a poetry contest that sounded fancy and impressive, something like “International Library of Poetry.” I bled poetry at that age, so I crossed my fingers and sent in a poem I’d been slaving over for weeks.And, lo and behold, the people behind the contest quickly wrote back to tell me my poem had been selected as a winner!I was speechless with honor. Of the thousands of poets who must have submitted to the contest — no doubt many of them adults much wiser and more skilled than me — my poem had been chosen to be featured in an exclusive, hardcover anthology! And honored on a something-karat-gold plaque!Of course, I had to pay $50 if I wanted to see my work in print in the anthology, and I had to pay another $100 if I wanted the plaque. Those were the only “prizes.”Even as a pre-teen, I sensed a scam.Sadly, not much has changed when it comes to companies trying to take advantage of writers who want a chance at recognition and maybe a little bit of money. Google the term “writing contests,” and you’ll come up with approximately 7.9 million results. It can be hard for a writer to know where to start looking for competitions, and how to tell if they’re legitimate or not.So I’ve done the legwork for you.Here are 29 reputable, well-reviewed, free writing contests for poets, fiction writers, essayists and more. Some legitimate contests do charge a small entry or “reading” fee, but often a fee can be a red flag for a scam, so you may want to stick to free writing contests — and there are certainly enough of them.Fiction and nonfiction writing contestsReady to share your novel or personal essay with the world? Whether you’re a newbie or more established writer, you’re likely eligible for a few of these contests.1. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future ContestWhatever your feelings about L. Ron Hubbard’s work and philosophy, the prizes for this regular contest are nothing to sneeze at. Every three months, winners earn $1,000, $750 and $500, or an additional annual grand prize worth $5,000.Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy, and new and amateur writers are welcome to apply.Deadlines: Quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.2. Graywolf Press Nonfiction PrizeAwarded to “the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a writer not yet established in the genre,” this prize provides a $12,000 advance and publication by Graywolf Press.If you live in the U.S. and have published at least one book (in any genre), you’re eligible to submit a current manuscript in progress for consideration. The judges look for winners who push the boundaries of traditional literary nonfiction.Deadline: Annually; the 2016 deadline was January 31.3. Drue Heinz Literature PrizeYou can win $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press with this prize, awarded for a collection of short fiction.You may submit an unpublished manuscript of short stories, two or more novellas or a combination of novellas and short stories. Your total word count should be between 150 and 300 typed pages.Deadline: Annual submission window is May 1 through June 30.4. Tony Hillerman PrizePresented by St. Martin’s Press and WORDHARVEST, this prize awards the best first mystery novel set in the Southwest with $10,000 and publication by St. Martin’s Press.It’s open to professional or non-professional writers who have not yet had a mystery published, and there are specific guidelines for the structure of your story: “Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story, with emphasis on the solution rather than the details of the crime.”Deadline: Annually on June 1.5. St. Francis College Literary PrizeThis biannual prize honors mid-career writers who have recently published their third, fourth or fifth work of fiction. The winner receives $50,000 but must be able to appear at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY to deliver a talk on their work and teach a mini-workshop in fiction to St. Francis students.Deadline: Biannually; the deadline for work published between June 2015 and May 2017 has not been announced.6. Young Lions Fiction AwardThis $10,000 award recognizes “young authors,” which the rules define as any author aged 35 or younger. Submit any novel or short story published or scheduled to be published in the calendar year. Works must be written for adults; children’s or YA pieces are ineligible.Deadline: Annually in August.7. Real Simple’s Life Lessons Essay ContestHave you ever had a “eureka” moment? If you have, and you can write a compelling personal essay about it in no more than 1,500 words, you may be able to win $3,000 in Real Simple’s annual essay contest.Deadline: Annually; 2016 deadline has not yet been announced.8. New Voices AwardPresented by Lee & Low Books, an award-winning children’s book publisher, this award is given for a previously unpublished children’s picture book manuscript (of no more than 1,500 words) written by a writer of color.The winner receives $1,000 cash and a standard publication contract. You may submit up to two manuscripts.Deadline: Submissions must be postmarked by September 30 each year.9. Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary ExcellenceThis contest aims to provide visibility for emerging African American fiction writers and to enable them to focus on their writing by awarding a $10,000 cash prize. Eligible authors should submit a work of fiction, such as a novel or short story collection, published in the calendar year.Deadline: Annually; 2016 deadline has not yet been announced.10. PEN/Faulkner Award for FictionHonoring the best work of fiction published by an American author in a single calendar year, this award has been given to the likes of John Updike, Philip Roth and Ann Patchett.The winner receives $15,000 and an invitation to read at the award ceremony in Washington, DC. Four finalists also each receive a $5,000 award.Deadline: Annually on October 31 for books published that calendar year.$5,000 for Your History Paper!Enter your essay to win the Prize!ReadReadPioneer Institute is pleased to announce the third annual Frederick Douglass Prize Essay Contest for Massachusetts high school students. Pioneer Institute is a private, non-partisan public policy think tank with a longstanding reputation for innovative education reformWe believe that Massachusetts students are capable of excellence in history. We need your essays to prove us right.2015-16 ESSAY TOPICThe Frederick Douglass Prize asks students to respond to key questions in history. The 2015-16 contest encourages students to investigate the stories behind the many technological innovations born in Massachusetts. Choose from dozens of Bay State entrepreneurs and inventions, and develop a clearly organized and well-researched essay drawing on primary and secondary sources, that explains the greater historical impact and significance of your subject matter.TEACHERS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY!The Frederick Douglass Prize is an excellent opportunity for your students to demonstrate their strong research and writing skills before college applications begin and to meet some very remarkable people.SAMPLE TOPICS AND IDEASThe innovative spirit that has animated America is particularly evident here in the Bay State. The colonists established themselves as a center of global maritime trade, and in 1795 Massachusetts businessmen built the country’s first railroad on Beacon Hill. Sample topics drawn from 20th and 21st century Massachusetts inventions include:The Sewing Machine: Elias Howe, born in 1819 in Spencer, developed, the nation’s first patented sewing machine, which still contain three key features that he designed: the needle, operational lock stitch, and automatic thread feed.New York’s Underground Subway: Alfred Beach, born in Springfield in 1826, invented the Beach Pneumatic Transit system to alleviate traffic.Campbell’s Condensed Soup: Dr. John T. Dorrance discovered how to condense soup without sacrificing its rich taste. His invention allowed Campbell’s to save large amounts of money on shipping. One of his five original flavors became the kitchen staple “Campbell’s Tomato Soup.”The Gillette Disposable Razor (1904): William E. Nickerson, a MIT-trained engineer, helped King Camp Gillette discover how to stamp a razor blade from an inexpensive steel sheet.The Computer: In 1928, MIT professor Vannevar Bush engineered the first manually mechanically operated analog computer, capable of solving differential equations with up to 18 independent variables. In 1951, other MIT researchers built the first computer that operated in real time, and it was used by the U.S. Navy during the Cold War.MORE INFORMATION:+ -FREDERICK DOUGLASSWhy is this contest named for Frederick Douglass?Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)Frederick Douglass fled to Massachusetts after he escaped from slavery. He lived in New Bedford and Nantucket. He became one of the most important Abolitionists and one of the most important figures in American history because he was an advocate and articulator of American freedom. Douglass’ 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, became a bestseller.Douglass’ oratorical skills were so impressive that some doubted that he had been a slave, so he wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. During the Civil War he assisted in the recruiting of African-American men for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Regiments and fought for the emancipation of slaves. After the war he worked to protect the rights of the freemen. He was secretary of the Santo Domingo Commission, marshall and recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia, and United States Minister to Haiti. His other autobiographical works are My Bondage And My Freedom and Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass, published in 1855 and 1881, respectively. He died in 1895.Nothing speaks to the dehumanizing impact of slavery and the accompanying deprivations than a human being not knowing their own birthday. His several autobiographies begin with this question about this basic fact of his life: “I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot county, Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.”Frederick Douglass was one of America’s great articulators of the meaning of freedom, and the importance of understanding our past. That’s why our U.S. History essay contest is named in honor of him.+ -PRIZESPRIZESWe will recognize the top essays as follows:1st place: $5,0002nd place: $2,0003rd place: $1,000Honorable Mentions: $500 eachSchool Prize: The 1st place winner’s school will receive $1,000+ -SHOULD I ENTER?Entrants must be US citizens or resident aliens who attend a Massachusetts high school during the 2015-2016 academic year. Students who attend a boarding school in Massachusetts or are home-schooled are eligible to submit an essay. If you are interested in this year’s question and have strong writing skills, we encourage you to submit your essay.+ -PRIZE SCHEDULEMarch 7, 2016: Submission Deadline. Submit your essay through the form below.+ -CRITERIAArgument/Analysis (40%)Articulates a clear thesis supported by evidence in the essay.Uses strong textual evidence.Shows detailed analysis and interpretation.Historical Research (40%)Conducts research beyond assigned texts.Provides accurate historical information.Demonstrates a strong understanding of the historical context.Writing Quality (20%)Correct GrammarClear StructureVoice and ToneProper Citations (MLA or footnotes)If you have questions on how to develop a strong thesis, to present convincing research, and to format your bibliography, we encourage you to consult A Pocket Guide to Writing in History.+ -QUESTIONS? Micaela DawsonThe Frederick Douglass Prize Essay Contest CoordinatorPioneer Institute185 Devonshire Street, Boston MA [email protected](617) 723-2277 ext. 203High School Contests - HomeworkSpot.comWritingAmericanism Essay ContestAnnual contest offered to students in grades 7-12, with a grand prize of $5,000.American Fire Sprinkler Association National Scholarship Essay ContestTen $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to select students who read a 3,000 word sprinkler essay and complete the exam that follows. For each correct answer, the student will be reentered into the competition.Ayn Rand Institute Essay ContestContest open to middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students to write an Ayn Rand-themed essay for cash prizes.Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest Students grades 5 to 12 write an essay of up to 500 words, with winning schools invited to participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists.Carnegie Council's International Student/Teacher Essay ContestThis essay contest is open to teachers and students anywhere in the world. The essay should be written in op-ed style, length 1,000 to 1,500 words. First prize is a $250 Amazon gift card, second prize is a $150 Amazon gift card, and third prize is a $75 Amazon gift card.Civil Rights Today Essay ContestIn honor of the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The LBJ Foundation is hosting an essay contest that is open to all 12th grade students in Texas. First prize is $2,500 and a trip to the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, in April 2014 to attend the Civil Rights Summit. There is also a second prize of $1,000, and a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to Austin to attend the Civil Rights Summit for the first place winner's sponsoring teacher.First Freedom Student CompetitionStudents grades K-12 participate in a national essay and video contest. Students compete for $2,500.The Holocaust Remembrance ProjectNational essay contest open to high school students in the United States and Mexico, designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. Contestants compete for scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.The Humanist Essay Contest for Young Women and Men of North AmericaContest is open to students residing in the United States or Canada who are enrolled in grades 9-12 to compete for $1,000 and a three-year membership to the American Humanist Association.John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay ContestAnnual competition open to high school students nationwide to write an original essay about an elected official who has demonstrated political courage to receive awards totaling up to $10,000.Making Democracy Work Student Essay ContestPresented by the United States Capitol Historical Society, this writing contest asks high school students to write between 800 and 1,200 words on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to compete for $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Additionally, a classroom grant of $1,000 plus a selection of teaching materials will be presented to the school of the first place winner. Second- and third-place prizes are $500 and $250, respectively.National Peace Essay ContestAnnual essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace, open to high school students to write a peace-themed essay for cash prizes.Scholastic Art & Writing AwardsStudents grades 7-12 submit their best works of visual art - including sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, animation, video and animation - and writing - including poetry, play scripts, personal essay, works of journalism, satire and short fiction - to compete for scholarships.Society of Professional Journalists Essay ContestContest open to high school students nationwide to write an essay on a given media-related topic, with winners receiving scholarship awards ranging from $300-$1,000.Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay ContestEach year, a new book is chosen for students to read and write about. High school juniors or seniors or home-schooled students between the ages of 16-18 are eligible to compete to win a $1,000 scholarship.Voice of Democracy Audio Essay ContestHigh school students compose an audio-essay on a theme selected by the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars to compete for more than $3 million in scholarships.Math and ScienceThe American Mathematics CompetitionsVarious math competitions open to qualifying students of all grade levels.Team America Rocketry ChallengeStudents in grades 7-12 can register as a team to design and build a safe and stable one-stage model rocket. Prizes include $60,000 in cash and scholarships and participation in NASA's advanced rocketry program Student Launch Initiative.NASA Space Settlement ContestInternational contest open to 6th-12th graders (11-18 years old). Students compete in teams to develop space settlement designs and related materials for various prizes.Spirit of Innovation ChallengeAnnual competition from the Conrad Foundation that invites high school students to work in teams using science, technology, engineering and math skills to develop innovative products to help solve global and local problems while supporting global sustainability. The prize is $10,000 and a trip to the Innovation Summit at NASA Johnson Space Center to present to a panel of expert judges.Artistic ExpressionGlobal Citizen Corps Contests focused on art, photography, video games and more.Web-basedGlobal Virtual Classroom Contest Global team cooperation and Website-building activity for students from 7 to 18 years of age. Awards range from $1,500 to $375 per team.ThinkQuest Website Competition Teams create an original website on a topic of global importance for a student audience. Prizes include a trip to ThinkQuest Live in San Francisco, laptop computers, digital cameras and school monetary grants.International Schools CyberFairStudents ages 5-19 years old conduct research about their local communities, then publish their findings on the Web for various prizes and awards.Doors to DiplomacyU. S. Department of State "Doors to Diplomacy" educational challenge to encourage middle school and high school students to produce Web projects that teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Students on winning team receive a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches' schools each receive a $500 cash award.Other Fun ContestsGloria Barron Prize for Young HeroesStudents ages 8-18 must be nominated by a qualifying adult for their leadership and courage in developing and implementing an exceptional service project. Ten students will be chosen to win $2,500 to be applied to their higher education or service project.The Institute for Global Environmental StrategiesArt, photo and other project-based contests open to students of all ages.National History Day Contest Students in grades 6-12 engage in discovery and interpretation of historical topics related to an annual theme. Awards range from $250 to $1,000, in addition to other prizes.National High School Chef of the YearHigh school students submit an original creation recipe to compete for tuition scholarship prizes to JWU culinary school.Essay Contest Scholarships - 2016 2017 USAScholarships.com“We the Students Scholarship” Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onDecember 15, 2016in Contest, FebruaryDo you want to win one of more than $20,000 in prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C.? Don’t waste your time and apply today. You can win cash just by register yourself for “We the Students Essay Contest”. The contest is open to students who are no older than 19 and no younger than […]Continue ReadingYoung Patriots Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onDecember 13, 2016in Contest, JanuaryThe National Center for Policy Analysis and Debate Central are happy to announce the 2016-2017 Young Patriots Essay Contest. The essay contest is sponsored by Copart, the premier destination for quality vehicles. The Young Patriots Essay Contest is designed to challenge middle and high school students to creatively engage with public policy and current events through […]Continue ReadingThe National WWII Museum Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 26, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, December, High School Students, ScholarshipsThe National WWII Museum is pleased to announce High School Essay Contest and Middle School Essay Contest. To commemorate the life, courage and achievements of Elie Wiesel, the National WWII Museum is asking middle and high school students to respond to a quote by Wiesel about his life and legacy. Winning essays will be posted […]Continue ReadingSharps Compliance Inc. Scholarship Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 24, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, December, Scholarships by Major, Social and Health Care Programs, UndergraduateSharps Compliance Inc. is now accepting the application for its Scholarship Essay Contest. Sharps’ essay contest is open to all students who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in an accredited university in healthcare related studies. Sharps Compliance strives to innovate new services that are regulatory compliant and environmentally sensitive. They will be […]Continue ReadingThe Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competitionby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 23, 2016in Contest, International Students, MayThe Royal Commonwealth Society has launched “The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2017”, focusing on the topic of “A Commonwealth for Peace”. The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. This year’s topics ask for a more active understanding of the role of the Commonwealth as a network […]Continue ReadingQuitDay.Org Scholarship Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 18, 2016in Contest, Graduate, March, ScholarshipsQuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! is currently accepting scholarship applications. QuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! awards $3,000 in scholarships each year to students who share their vision for a smoke-free world. With the QuitDay.org — Vaping News, Reviews, and Much More! Scholarship, they want to challenge current and prospective college students to share their story on how we can make the world smoke-free. The winning applicants for first, second and third place receive scholarships in the amounts of […]Continue ReadingTOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Studentsby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 12, 2016in Contest, MarchThe APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) is pleased to announce the 2017 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. To be entering in scholarship contest, the candidates should submit an essay that provides information concerning physical, psychological and social factors that influence the aging process. Four winners will be selected for […]Continue ReadingThe Washington State Law Enforcement Association Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 12, 2016in Contest, FebruaryThe 23rd annual 8th grade Washington State Law Enforcement Association Essay Contest is kicking off. The basic goals of WSLEA are to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of law enforcement in Washington State and to implement or support a wide range of community related programs and services. WSLEA encourages all schools to participate and stimulate […]Continue ReadingInvensis Young Thinker Scholarship Essay Awardby Scholarship Advisor onNovember 7, 2016in Contest, NovemberInvensis Technologies Pvt Ltd is pleased to honor the launch of the ‘Invensis Young Thinker Scholarship Essay Award’. The award is a unique opportunity for students in USA, UK, and Australia to showcase their knowledge and skills in the form of an insightful essay and win laurels for their efforts. Through the award, they like […]Continue ReadingThe Center for Alcohol Policy’s National Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onOctober 19, 2016in Contest, DecemberThe Center for Alcohol Policy is sponsoring its “Ninth Annual Essay Contest” to all persons who are over the age of 18 as of December. Students, academics, practicing attorneys, policymakers and members of the general public are encouraged to submit essays. The contest is intended to foster debate, analysis and examination of state alcohol regulation. […]Continue ReadingCustom-Writing.org Essay Writing Contestby Scholarship Advisor onOctober 15, 2016in Contest, DecemberCustom Writing Service | Sale Now On: -20% Off | FREE Quality Check! is pleased to announce Essay Writing Contest to the most vivid, versatile, and talented writers. Any student, regardless of academic level and location of studies, can participate. The Essay Writing Contest is not only about finding people who can write well. Indeed, the aim of the contest is to identify individuals who have both […]Continue ReadingThe PIABA Dubin Scholarship Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 8, 2016in Contest, Law, SeptemberThe PIABA Foundation is sponsoring Dubin Scholarship Contest for students interested in Securities Arbitration and Securities Law. The purpose of the competition is to promote greater interest in understanding of the fields of securities arbitration, securities law and to encourage excellent legal writing skills in law students. Three winners will be selected and they will […]Continue ReadingNaval Institute’s General Prize Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 5, 2016in Contest, DecemberThe General Prize Essay Contest invites you to “dare to write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.” The contest is open to all persons eligible for membership (including those already members) in the Institute. The winning candidates will obtain one-year memberships […]Continue ReadingSCEA Unity in Education Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onSeptember 3, 2016in Contest, FebruaryThe South Carolina Education Association encourages students across the state to join their historic 50 Year Anniversary & Celebration by taking part in their FIRST EVER “Unity in Education” Essay Contest. SCEA is the professional association for educators in South Carolina. The contest is open to middle school/intermediate, high school & college students. Essays will […]Continue ReadingGRHS Youth Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 19, 2016in Contest, International Students, MarchAn International GRHS Essay Contest is sponsored by the Germans from Russia Heritage Society. The contest is intended to encourage students from around the world to learn about the history and culture of the German-Russians, people who emigrated from Germany into Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries. Winning contestants will be invited to receive […]Continue ReadingBaxter Family Competition on Federalismby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 16, 2016in Contest, International Students, SeptemberMcGill University’s Faculty of Law and the Peter MacKell Chair in Federalism are proud to announce the creation of the Baxter Family Competition on Federalism. The overarching goal of this prestigious bi‐annual essay competition is to advance research and foster informed debate on federalism by law students, as well as law Ph.D. candidates, junior legal […]Continue ReadingAEL Collegiate Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 11, 2016in August, ContestHave an opinion on United States Political Affairs? Want to share your thoughts for a chance at up to $2500? Enter in Americanism Educational Leaders Collegiate Essay Contest as it is a perfect opportunity for undergraduate students to express their equally strong belief in American exceptionalism. The essay contest is sponsored by The Americanism Educational […]Continue ReadingAyn Rand Institute Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onAugust 11, 2016in Contest, International Students, MarchHave you read one of Ayn Rand’s thought-provoking novels? Now’s the time! Enter in Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contest for your chance to win thousands of dollars in cash prizes. The contest is open to worldwide for 8th, 9th or 10th-grade students. ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for […]Continue ReadingBrian Zeiger College Scholarship Essay Contestby Scholarship Advisor onJuly 18, 2016in Contest, OctoberAt Brian Zeiger LLC, they understands the rising cost of higher education has become increasingly more difficult to manage, and student loan debt is at an all-time high that’s why in an effort to help students meet their financial needs, The Zeiger Firm is pleased to offer Essay Contest for currently enrolled students in an […]Continue ReadingGagne Scherer & Associates LLC Scholarshipby Scholarship Advisor onJuly 2, 2016in Any Subject, Contest, July, Scholarships, Scholarships by MajorThe military trial lawyers of Gagne, Scherer & Associates, LLC believe that a quality education is one of the most valuable assets for young students today. For this reason, they are pleased to announce scholarship program to the students who plan on pursuing a course of study at a college or university for the school […]Continue Reading

Here are some books which I feel are mind expanding.Note: Some of them may already have been mentioned in answers below, but I hope there is at least one new book you found out through this list.Why Does the World Exist? - Jim HoltIt asks the question "Why is there a world when there should be nothing?" It is related to metaphysics. It is also tinged with philosophy and is quite a good read.Bulfinch's Mythology - Thomas BulfinchThis book retells the Greek Myths in all their glory. Learn about Zeus, Venus, Hera and other Olympian Gods. These gods are fallible too. After reading this book, you will have a greater understanding of the Greek mythology. It is also interspersed with Roman Mythology.Supernormal: Science, Yoga and the Evidence for Extraordinary abilities - Dean RadinCan yoga and meditation unleash our inherent supernormal mental powers, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition? Is it really possible to perceive another person's thoughts and intentions? Influence objects with our minds? Envision future events? And is it possible that some of the superpowers described in ancient legends, science fiction, and comic books are actually real, and patiently waiting for us behind the scenes? Are we now poised for an evolutionary trigger to pull the switch and release our full potentials? These and many more questions are answered in this book. It is certainly a very engrossing read.Alone Together - Sherry TurkleIn Alone Together, MIT technology and society professor Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives. It’s a nuanced exploration of what we are looking for—and sacrificing—in a world of electronic companions and social networking tools, and an argument that, despite the hand-waving of today’s self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity.The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less - Barry SchwartzIn The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice--the hallmark of individual freedom and self-determination that we so cherish--becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice--from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs--has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse.The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women - Jessica ValentThe Purity Myth presents a revolutionary argument that girls and women are overly valued for their sexuality, as well as solutions for a future without a damaging emphasis on virginity.Prisoner's Dilemma - William PoundstoneA layman's introduction to Game Theory. It is based on the work by Von Neumann. And its thoroughly interesting.The Ethical Brain: The Science of our Moral Dilemmas - Michael S. GazzanigaIn The Ethical Brain, preeminent neuroscientist Michael S. Gazzaniga presents the emerging social and ethical issues arising out of modern-day brain science and challenges the way we look at them. Courageous and thought-provoking -- a work of enormous intelligence, insight, and importance -- this book explores the hitherto uncharted landscape where science and society intersectResource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict - Michael KlareInternational security expert Michael T. Klare argues that in the early decades of the new millennium, wars will be fought not over ideology but over access to dwindling supplies of precious natural commodities. The political divisions of the Cold War, Klare asserts, have given way to a global scramble for oil, natural gas, minerals, and water. And as armies throughout the world define resource security as a primary objective, widespread instability is bound to follow, especially in those areas where competition for essential materials overlaps with long-standing territorial and religious disputes. In this clarifying view, the recent explosive conflict between the United States and Islamic extremism stands revealed as the predictable consequence of consumer nations seeking to protect the vital resources they depend on.The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing And What Can Be Done About It? - Paul CollierIn the universally acclaimed and award-winning The Bottom Billion, Paul Collier reveals that fifty failed states--home to the poorest one billion people on Earth--pose the central challenge of the developing world in the twenty-first century. The book shines much-needed light on this group of small nations, largely unnoticed by the industrialized West, that are dropping further and further behind the majority of the world's people, often falling into an absolute decline in living standards.The Ascent Of Money - Niall FergussonNiall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of finance, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance.The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity EvolvesMatt Ridley does more than describe how things are getting better. He explains why. Prosperity comes from everybody working for everybody else. The habit of exchange and specialization—which started more than 100,000 years ago—has created a collective brain that sets human living standards on a rising trend. The mutual dependence, trust, and sharing that result are causes for hope, not despair.The Code Breakers - David KahnThe magnificent, unrivaled history of codes and ciphers -- how they're made, how they're broken, and the many and fascinating roles they've played since the dawn of civilization in war, business, diplomacy, and espionage.The Revenge of Geography - Robert KaplanIn The Revenge of Geography, Kaplan builds on the insights, discoveries, and theories of great geographers and geopolitical thinkers of the near and distant past to look back at critical pivots in history and then to look forward at the evolving global scene.Justice: Whats The Right Thing To Do - Michael SandelWhat are our obligations to others as people in a free society? Should government tax the rich to help the poor? Is the free market fair? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? Is killing sometimes morally required? Is it possible, or desirable, to legislate morality? Do individual rights and the common good conflict?These questions are at the core of our public life today—and at the heart of Justice, in which Michael J. Sandel shows how a surer grasp of philosophy can help us to make sense of politics, morality, and our own convictions as well.Mind Wars - Jonathan MorenoJonathan D. Moreno investigates the deeply intertwined worlds of cutting-edge brain science, U.S. defense agencies, and a volatile geopolitical landscape where a nation's weaponry must go far beyond bombs and men. The first-ever exploration of the connections between national security and brain research, Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defensereveals how many questions crowd this gray intersection of science and government and urges us to begin to answer them.The Myth of The Rational Voter - Bryan CaplanThe greatest obstacle to sound economic policy is not entrenched special interests or rampant lobbying, but the popular misconceptions, irrational beliefs, and personal biases held by ordinary voters. This is economist Bryan Caplan's sobering assessment in this provocative and eye-opening book. Caplan argues that voters continually elect politicians who either share their biases or else pretend to, resulting in bad policies winning again and again by popular demand.The Rise and Fall of the British Empire - James LawrenceGreat Britain's geopolitical role has undergone many changes over the last four centuries. Once a maritime superpower and ruler of half the world, Britain now occupies an isolated position as an economically fragile island often at odds with her European neighbors.Lawrence James has written a comprehensive, perceptive, and insighful history of the British Empire. Spanning the years from 1600 to the present day, this critically acclaimed book combines detailed scholarship with readable popular history.The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing And the Psychology of Genocide - Robert Jay LiftonNazi doctors did more than conduct bizarre experiments on concentration-camp inmates; they supervised the entire process of medical mass murder, from selecting those who were to be exterminated to disposing of corpses. Lifton (The Broken Connection; The Life of the Self shows that this medically supervised killing was done in the name of "healing," as part of a racist program to cleanse the Aryan body politic).Civilization: The West and The Rest - Niall FergussonWhat was it about the civilization of Western Europe that allowed it to trump the outwardly superior empires of the Orient? The answer, Niall Ferguson argues, was that the West developed six "killer applications"?that the Rest lacked: competition, science, democracy, medicine, consumerism and the work ethic. The key question today is whether or not the West has lost its monopoly on these six things. If so, Ferguson warns, we may be living through the end of Western ascendancy.Influencer: The Power to Change Anything - Kerry PattersonInfluencing human behavior is one of the most difficult challenges faced by leaders. This book provides powerful insight into how to make behavior change that will last.Big Data - Kenneth Kukier“Big data” refers to our burgeoning ability to crunch vast collections of information, analyze it instantly, and draw sometimes profoundly surprising conclusions from it. This emerging science can translate myriad phenomena—from the price of airline tickets to the text of millions of books—into searchable form, and uses our increasing computing power to unearth epiphanies that we never could have seen before. A revolution on par with the Internet or perhaps even the printing press, big data will change the way we think about business, health, politics, education, and innovation in the years to come. It also poses fresh threats, from the inevitable end of privacy as we know it to the prospect of being penalized for things we haven’t even done yet, based on big data’s ability to predict our future behavior.The Fine Art Of Small Talk - Debra FineThe Fine Art of Small Talk will help you learn to feel more comfortable in any type of social situation, from lunch with the boss to an association event to a cocktail party where you don't know a soul.In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto - Michael PollanPollan proposes a new answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.The Sex Myth - Brooke MagnatiIs there any truth to the epidemic of sex addiction? Are our children really getting sexualised younger? Are men the only ones who like porn? Brooke Magnanti looks at all these questions and more - and proves that perhaps we've all been taking the answers for granted.Sexual Politics in Modern Iran - Janet AfaryJanet Afary is a native of Iran and a leading historian. Her work focuses on gender and sexuality and draws on her experience of growing up in Iran and her involvement with Iranian women of different ages and social strata. These observations, and a wealth of historical documents, form the kernel of this book, which charts the history of the nation's sexual revolution from the nineteenth century to today. What comes across is the extraordinary resilience of the Iranian people, who have drawn on a rich social and cultural heritage to defy the repression and hardship of the Islamist state and its predecessors. It is this resilience, the author concludes, which forms the basis of a sexual revolution taking place in Iran today, one that is promoting reforms in marriage and family laws, and demanding more egalitarian gender and sexual relations.One Minute to Midnight - Michael DobbsIn October 1962, at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union appeared to be sliding inexorably toward a nuclear conflict over the placement of missiles in Cuba. Veteran "Washington Post" reporter Michael Dobbs has pored over previously untapped American, Soviet, and Cuban sources to produce the most authoritative book yet on the Cuban missile crisis. In his hour-by-hour chronicle of those near-fatal days, Dobbs reveals some startling new incidents that illustrate how close we came to Armageddon.The Most Dangerous Place - Imtiaz GulImtiaz Gul, who knows the ins and outs of these groups and their leaders, tackles the toughest questions about the current situation: What can be done to bring the Pakistani Taliban under control? Who funds these militants and what are their links to Al Qaeda? Are they still supported by the ISI, Pakistan's all-powerful intelligence agency?Inside the Crosshairs: Snipers In Vietnam - Michael LanningAt the start of the war in Vietnam, the United States had no snipers; by the end of the war, Marine and army precision marksmen had killed more than 10,000 NVA and VC soldiers--the equivalent of an entire division--at the cost of under 20,000 bullets, proving that long-range shooters still had a place in the battlefield. Now noted military historian Michael Lee Lanning shows how U.S. snipers in Vietnam--combining modern technology in weapons, ammunition, and telescopes--used the experience and traditions of centuries of expert shooters to perfect their craft.Churchill's Secret War - Madhushree MukherjeeAs journalist Madhusree Mukerjee reveals, at the same time that Churchill brilliantly opposed the barbarism of the Nazis, he governed India with a fierce resolve to crush its freedom movement and a profound contempt for native lives. A series of Churchill's decisions between 1940 and 1944 directly and inevitably led to the deaths of some three million Indians. The streets of eastern Indian cities were lined with corpses, yet instead of sending emergency food shipments Churchill used the wheat and ships at his disposal to build stockpiles for feeding postwar Britain and Europe.Combining meticulous research with a vivid narrative, and riveting accounts of personality and policy clashes within and without the British War Cabinet, Churchill's Secret War places this oft-overlooked tragedy into the larger context of World War II, India's fight for freedom, and Churchill's enduring legacy. Winston Churchill may have found victory in Europe, but, as this groundbreaking historical investigation reveals, his mismanagement facilitated by dubious advice from scientist and eugenicist Lord Cherwella devastated India and set the stage for the massive bloodletting that accompanied independence.God Created the Integers - Stephen HawkingBestselling author and physicist Stephen Hawking explores the "masterpieces" of mathematics, 25 landmarks spanning 2,500 years and representing the work of 15 mathematicians, including Augustin Cauchy, Bernard Riemann, and Alan Turing. This extensive anthology allows readers to peer into the mind of genius by providing them with excerpts from the original mathematical proofs and results. It also helps them understand the progression of mathematical thought, and the very foundations of our present-day technologies. Each chapter begins with a biography of the featured mathematician, clearly explaining the significance of the result, followed by the full proof of the work, reproduced from the original publication.These are what I think are mind expanding.I'll add more as I remember.

Interview transcript of CSE 2015 Interview Top Scorer (209/275) and Rank 58 (Nazuk Kumar)My interview was scheduled in the afternoon of 28th April 2016. I was the third person to be interviewed in the afternoon slot. I was allotted Vinay Mittal Sir’s board. I have tried to recall as exactly as possible, but there may be minor variations.I was a little nervous while entering the room, but thankfully that vanished when I went inside. The board consisted of five members, with the chairperson sitting in the middle.Me: May I come in Sir? (With pleasant smile)CM: Yes, please come in.Me: Good afternoon Sir (to each member)CM: Please take a seatMe: Thank you SirCM: (Looking at my DAF) So, I see you have been very active. You have won many awards. What is this Bal Shree Award? (Luckily they started with areas of my strength)Me: Sir this is a national award given by the President of India to children between ages 12-14, for creativity. There are four streams in which it is awarded – creative scientific innovations, creative performing arts, creative arts and creative writing. I was awarded in the scientific innovations category. The National Bal Bhawan conducts a three tier competition – local, regional and national level, to select the awardees.CM: So what was your idea?Me: Sir each level was a residential camp with multiple tasks. At the national level, one of our tasks was to present innovations with the theme of disaster management. I presented the concept of an accident safe car. It had features like a sleep detector, which would monitor the eye lid movement of the driver and prompt his/her seat to vibrate in case he/she feels sleepy. Another feature was an alcohol meter to analyze breath. This car would have sensors all around to optimize seat positions in case of a collision.CM: Very interesting! This can have application beyond cars also. You should pursue it further. You went for the Physics Olympiad. Did you win anything?Me: Yes Sir, I went for the Olympiad. I did not win a medal.CM: Who won the maximum medals?Me: The Chinese team.CM: Why do you think they won the most medals? Why doesn’t India win?Me: Sir, we don’t have the institutional set up to train for such events. We sent class 10 students for a class 12 level Olympiad. The Chinese team had very rigorous training.CM: What else? Do you think planning has a role?Me: Yes, we did not plan ahead for the event. The Chinese team trained for two years.CM: You are an NTSE scholar? What is this?Me: Sir, this is the National Talent Search Examination Scholarship conducted by the NCERT.CM: You have worked with the Reserve Bank of India. What is this RBI Young Scholar?Me: This is was a summer internship program, at RBI, for young people. It was based on a national exam conducted by RBI. We were each given a topic to study. My topic was financial inclusion. (I mentioned financial inclusion, even if not directly asked, to keep the conversation on a topic I was comfortable with)CM: What work did you do? What were your findings?Me: I studied the status of financial inclusion in three villages in Panchkula district of Haryana. I found that while most households had a bank account the usage of these accounts was very low. I also made some recommendations, some of which have now been incorporated in the PMJDY.CM: What are the features of the PMJDY?Me: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna is a financial inclusion scheme to ensure that every household has a bank account. Banks have been mandated to open accounts and banking correspondents are also being used. XX number of bank accounts have been opened.CM: Do you think it can happen? Will illiterate villager understand?Me: Sir, currently the awareness level among villagers is not as much as it should be and there is a fear towards formal banking institutions. But, I think, the juncture at which the country is, it is apt time to make the transition. Slowly people will understand the importance banking institutions. (I remained positive)CM: I see you have been active in college. You were a coordinator in rendezvous. What is this?Me: Rendezvous is the annual youth festival at IIT Delhi. I was the publicity coordinator.CM: And you have been active in debating also. What is this Model United Nations?Me: Model United Nations is a format of debate where each participant represents a country and a global issue is discussed.CM: What is this Sarva Shiksha Netra?Me: In my summer vacation I worked for an NGO on a project called Sarva Shiksha Netra. This was a project with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Haryana. We screened all government school children, from class 1 to 8, for eye defects in seven districts.CM: What is Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan?Me: Sir, it is a scheme started in 2001, aimed at universalization of primary education. It has now been supported by the Right to Education Act which makes education a fundamental right.CM: What do you think are the problems in school education system in India?Me: I think the most important link in any school is the teacher. In India, teaching needs to be perceived as a respectable profession so that we are able to recruit the best people. There recruitment should be more scientific. Teachers should have a defined career progression to keep them motivated. Teacher training can also help improve their capacity. Sir, other problems in our education system are infrastructure and funds. (Focused on one core issue, instead of giving a laundry list of issues)Member 1: Ok Nazuk, can you compare India and Pakistan? Give marks to each based on performanceMe: Sir, I would like to divide this into economic, political and social aspects. Politically, India has done well. It is the world’s largest democracy. Elections are conducted in a smooth manner and each citizen has a voting right. On the other hand Pakistan is a very unstable state with multiple power centers, leading to inconsistent policies and even internal security issues. (The question was very open ended. It is better to structure such open ended questions into parts)Member 1: How many marks would you give?Me: Sir, I can analyze the issues in both the countries but I don’t think I have the expertise to give marks. (I was hesitant to give marks as that may have lead to a value judgement)Member 1: No, go ahead, give marksMe: Sir politically I would give India 7/10 and Pakistan (still hesitant)Member 2: (laughing) Don’t worry you can give Pakistan less marks.Me: Sir about 3/10. Next I would compare the countries on the economic front. India has shown impressive growth in the last decade and we have withstood the global financial crisis well. However growth in India has not been very inclusive. It did not lead to mass employment generation. Sir, I am not aware of the exact growth numbers of Pakistan, but as far as I remember they were not very impressive. I would give India 6/10 and Pakistan 3/10Member 1: Ok that’s great, can we move on to the next question..?Member 2: No, I want to hear the social aspect also.Me: Sir, socially I think India has done well. The constitution of India recognizes right to equality and rule of law. In India, atleast on paper, women are given equal rights and many protections. There are many areas of potential improvement like the caste system that still exists. However the situation in Pakistan is much worse. I would give 7/10 to India and 3/10 to Pakistan.Member 1: You were talking about education. Do you think you would take out time to teach children, if you are posted somewhere?Me: Sir, I would definitely take out time to teach children as I think it’s a great way to unwind and to learn.Member 2: Nazuk, you went to Carmel Convent School in Chandigarh. Why did you not go to the government model school?Me: Sir, that decision was taken by my parents.Member 2: Why do you think parents send their children to convent schools and not government schools?Me: Sir, in Chandigarh even the government schools, like 16 model, are very good. However parents feel that their children will learn English better in a convent school. Further they feel that the quality of education would be better.Member 2: If you were to improve 16 model school, what would you do?Me: An important difference between a convent school and a government school is the awareness level of the parents. When parents form an effective pressure group, education quality improves in a school. Parents also help students perform better. Thus, I would empower the parent community. For example, in Delhi, they have started a simple initiative, where a question is sent to parents by SMS, related to what is taught in class that day. Using this the illiterate parents can also get involved in their child’s education. Other measures would be around teacher training. (Focus on one core issue rather than laundry list)Member 2: Can you recall any famous saying by Gandhi and how is it relevant today?Me: Gandhiji said that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. It is especially relevant today in the context of the nuclear arms race. If all the countries develop nuclear arms and in case these get used, it would lead to destruction of the whole world.Member 2: Very good. What is Gandhiji’s trusteeship principle?Me: Gandhiji said that the rich are the trustees of the wealth of the society and should use it for the betterment of the whole society.Member 2: Ok. I will say a sentence, tell me what you understand by it – “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far take everyone along with you”Me: Sir, I can relate this to sociology, which was my optional. If you want to go fast, go alone. Legal changes imposed top down create fast change, but this change may not be sustainable or widely accepted. If you want to go far take everyone along with you. To create durable change, it is important to create a bottom up consensus for that change. For example, in India we see that Dowry is prohibited by law but socially accepted custom. Similarly corruption is technically illegal but there exists a latent social acceptance for it. (Gave concept and supporting example)Member 3: You are a sociology student, what are the major problems in India?Me: Sir, some of the major problems are poverty, patriarchy…Member 3: What else?Me: Sir, caste is still a problem in India…Member 3: What else? Do you think drugs is a problem?Me: Yes SirMember 3: You come from an engineering college. Was it an issue in your college?Me: Sir, it was not a pervasive issue, but the problem did exist among some students.Member 3: What do you think can be done about this?Me: To curb the drug menace the enforcement machinery needs to be strict. Police officers mostly know where and who is dealing with drugs.Member 3: What about education?Me: Educating the youth is equally important. It has to be a dual strategy of prevention and cure. Awareness generation is the more sustainable solution. As we have seen, in the case of smoking, now people’s awareness has increased and they are voluntarily not taking to smoking.Member 3: When a bill is passed in the Parliament, it is sent to the President. The President can either assent to it, withhold it or return it. Can you give an example of each?Me: The President can assent to the bill, for example the Right to Information Act. The President had withheld the Office of Profit Bill. Sir I am not very sure of the third one..(I was not sure of the answer to this, but luckily I remembered it)CM: Take a guess…Me: The Gujrat Bill against organized terror is one bill that the President has repeatedly returned.Member 3: But that is a state billCM: I think we can give that to her. (I was very relieved!)Member 4: You have done textile engineering. Can you describe the whole process of textile manufacturing?Me: We start with ginning of the cotton followed by carding and combing. Next steps are roving and drawing to make yarn. This yarn is sized. Weaving or knitting then gives us fabric. This fabric is desized and finish treated. Finally the fabric is dyed and colored and then stitched.Member 4: Between 10 and 20 tex yarn, which is finer?Me: Sir… (I knew the concept but was double checking the answer in my mind)Member 4: Do you know what is tex?Me: Yes Sir, tex is defined as mass in grams per 1000 metresMember 4: All right, I am satisfied. There are many textile dying units in Panipat, which create a lot of pollution. What do you think can be done about this?Me: Sir, the pollution laws should be strictly enforced. The dying units should treat the waste, separate harmful heavy metals before discharging.Member 4: Do you think consolidation can help in this?Me: Yes Sir, a common treatment plant between units can effectively use economies of scale reducing cost of treatment.Member 4: There are a lot of skilled artisans in the textile sector, who are not getting their due share as remuneration. What can be done about this?Me: Artisans can form a cooperative to collectively bargain for better prices.Member 4: What are the problems of textile industry in India? Why are we not able to compete in the international market?Me: Sir, in India the average size of a textile unit is smaller than those in China and Bangladesh. Thus economies of scale are not that effective in Indian units, translating into a cost disadvantage. China has followed a cluster based approach which we are now starting with. Other problems hindering growth of textile sector are erratic power supply and labor union problems.Member 4: Good. One last question. You spoke about education. There is a famous Indian origin economist who talks about the importance of education in growth. Do you know who am I talking about? (I was very happy to hear this question)Me: Yes Sir, Amartya Sen. In fact I recently read his book, “An Uncertain Glory”.Member 4: Which states does he talk about?Me: Kerala and Tamil NaduMember 4: Thank youCM: Thank you very much. You can leave(I thanked everyone, put the chair back and left)Out of the box' questions asked in IAS interviews:Q 1. What if one morning you woke up and found that you were pregnant?A. Girl: I will be very excited and take an off, to celebrate the good news with my husband.Q 2. Twins(Adarsh and Anupam) were born in May but their birthday is in June. How's this possible?A. May is the name of the town.Q 3. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?A. Very large hands.Q 4. Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived; kept before the candidate, then he asked what is before you?A. Candidate: Instantly replied "Tea"He got selected.Wondering why he said tea when he knows very well that coffee was kept before?The question was "What is before you (U - alphabet) Reply was "TEA" ( T - alphabet)Alphabet "T" was before Alphabet "U"Q 5. How can a man go eight days without sleep?A. He sleeps at night.Q 6. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?A. It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with one hand.Q 7. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?A . No time at all as it is already built.Q 8. A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.A. What. It stated 'WHAT' was the mother's name.Q 9. what is the opposite of Nag panchmi?A. Nag did not punch me.Q 10. James bond was pushed out of an airplane without any parachute. He survived. How?A. The plane was on a runway.PS: I know that y'all think questions (out of box) are extremely silly and meaning less, but earlier when CSAT wasn't just qualifying they used to ask some questions like these, I also can't believe they have asked these kind of dumb questions but sources say, they had!Source: Check out the list and InsightsonIndia.comIf you want to check real transcript of GUARAV AGARWAL interview, check This: Praveen Kante's answer to What are the interview questions for ias?