{"id":5309,"date":"2013-01-05T01:55:02","date_gmt":"2013-01-05T01:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/blogs\/naresh\/?page_id=5309"},"modified":"2026-02-05T18:39:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:39:27","slug":"1995-onwards-ntu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/timeline\/1995-onwards-ntu\/","title":{"rendered":"1995 onwards: ntu"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/\">timeline<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/simmons\/\">simmons<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/nus\/\">nus<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/industry-2\/\">industry<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/1995-onwards-ntu\/\">ntu<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/tna\/\">tna<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/index.php\/timeline\/growing-up\/\">growing up<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>MY UNIVERSITY IN EQUITORIAL SINGAPORE<\/h1>\n<p>Jul 1995 &#8211; May 1999 Bachelor of Applied Science (Computer Engineering) &#8211; Honors (2nd Upper), <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ntu.edu.sg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nanyang Technological University (NTU)<\/a>, Singapore<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SIA\/NOL 100% scholarship for undergraduate studies in Singapore (1995-1999)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sce.ntu.edu.sg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"paintingframe\" src=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/northspine.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 8px;\"><em>Source: CED, NTU Website<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/106036997884600551473\/UndergradDaysNTU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/ntudays.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As one of the world&#8217;s largest engineering colleges with 14,000 students and 1,600 staff, Nanyang Technological University<em>(NTU)<\/em>&#8216;s academic and research excellence has helped place it among the top 10 science and technological universities in Asia.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I was in NTU on a scholarship sponsored by Singapore Airlines-Neptune Orient Lines for Undergraduate studies in Singapore. I was enrolled in the Computer Engineering Course in the School of Applied Sciences, studying towards the degree of Bachelor of Applied Science. I graduated with Honours.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The four years in NTU were memorable, filled with loads of fun in between exam-times of stress.<\/p>\n<h1>MY UNDERGRADUATE LIFE<\/h1>\n<h1>SIA\/NOL SCHOLARSHIP<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Getting to know \/ Applying <\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I had never really imagined that I would be studying outside India, nor did I really crave for it. I think it was just meant to me.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">One day around Jan\/Feb 1995, my elder brother Ajay picked up a book from Community Centre Library and borrowed it for me. The title was, &#8220;Scholarships for Study in India and Abroad&#8221;. Those days I was preparing for my ISC (Indian School Certificate) pre-university examinations.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I casually looked through the book and liked what I read of a few scholarships. One that I found interesting was a 100% scholarship for undergraduate studies in Singapore in Science\/Engineering\/Computers that came with a 6-year bond. Candidates were to have excellent scores in Classes X, XI and XII and be good in extra-curricular activities. The scholarship was co-sponsored by Singapore Airlines and Neptune Orient Lines. Applications were to reach the Singapore Airlines Robinson Road address by April of that year.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I was mulling over the time and effort it would take to apply, when each day was important towards my exams. Plus, it seemed far-fetched. It was then that I visited Siddhartha. I showed him the book and the page on SIA\/NOL Scharships. He said, &#8220;This scholarship is meant for you. There cannot be a more suitable candidate. You MUST apply for it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">Encouraged by his words, I spent the next 2-3 days in making sure I prepare my application well. Ajay daju helped me prepare a type-written &#8216;bio-data&#8217; (didn&#8217;t know the word resume then). I photocopied all my important certificates and got them attested by the TNA Principal. I even included photographs of my paintings and craftworks. A nice thick application, with a postal charge of Rs 200-300 (huge, considering a post within India cost Re 1 or Rs 2) made its way to Singapore.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">One or two months after the application, Mr SK Pandey, my Chemistry teacher in TNA, gave me a newspaper clipping showing an advertisement of the same scholarship. Mr Pandey, a veteran long distance runner who used to run 5 kms a day at the age of 55 in 1995, still believes I applied from the clipping he gave me. He proudly tells this to anybody I&#8217;m with, whenever we meet in Gangtok \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I had applied and forgotten. There were the ISC in March, Rajasthan Prefects&#8217; Tour in April, my trip to Delhi in May to give the DCE\/BIT Mesra exams. On May 29, I took the train back to Gangtok from Delhi.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><strong>Shortlisted<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">On June 2, I received a letter telling me that I have been shortlisted for an interview and two short tests at the Taj Bengal, Calcutta on June 8. I couldn&#8217;t believe it. It was too good to be true. I thought I had to do my best in the interview. Ajay daju suggested I make a new formal sky-blue shirt and trousers for the interview. I did. I reached Calcutta on 7th morning.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><strong>The Interview \/ Tests<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Getting to know Kunje chachaji&#8217;s family<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Discussing possible questions with Chitra<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; The interview at Taj. Form filling. Being dropped in the mercedes.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Two short tests. Miss Ong. Reimbursements\/passport<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Unofficial news of the offer from Miss Ong<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Happiness or disappointment<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Chachi&#8217;s suggestion<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><strong>Computer Science in NUS Vs Computer Engineering in NTU <\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Going back next morning<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Happy: Computer Engineering in NTU<\/p>\n<h1>COMING TO SINGAPORE<\/h1>\n<p align=\"justify\"><strong>Passport Pains<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Long queues<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Happier getting the passport than getting the scholarship<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Back home for a few days<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><strong>First flight \/ First trip abroad <\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Preparing<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Meeting Prateek, Parimal, Ranjot and Gagan at Calcutta airpot<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Landing at Changi: flabbergasted<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Bus trip from Changi to NTU<\/p>\n<h1>ORIENTATION \/ IG CONCEPT<\/h1>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Chris at Hall 4 Gate<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Carrying Vasu&#8217;s luggage<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; IG Concept<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Bharat Mata ki Jai \/ Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Questions round<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; 18 girlfriends &#8211; running on the SRC tracks<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Fresher&#8217;s Night<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Baaja Parties<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Hall 4 Orientation<\/p>\n<h1>UNDERGRADUATE YEARS<\/h1>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; First Year<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Second Year<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Third Year<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">&#8211; Honours Year<\/p>\n<p>&#8212; as written in 2004<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>timeline &#8211; simmons | nus | industry | ntu | tna | growing up MY UNIVERSITY IN EQUITORIAL SINGAPORE Jul 1995 &#8211; May 1999 Bachelor of Applied Science (Computer Engineering) &#8211; Honors (2nd Upper), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore SIA\/NOL &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/timeline\/1995-onwards-ntu\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":52,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5309","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6325,"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5309\/revisions\/6325"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slis.simmons.edu\/naresh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}