Since a lot of you have been emailing me seeing last time’s thread and its not possible for me to reply to each email individually, I’ve decided to make this thread for this year’s applicants. Firstly, my name is Paras. And I’m a student of t…
Since a lot of you have been emailing me seeing last time's thread and its not possible for me to reply to each email individually, I've decided to make this thread for this year's applicants.
Firstly, my name is Paras. And I'm a student of the 2009-2011 batch which will graduate this year. Please keep the conversation limited to this thread and I'll try and update here whenever time permits. If any of you need more in-depth help, I could direct you to one of the juniors, but I'd have to ask them first.
A lot of you seem to be wondering what comes next now. I'll start off by reposting some tips from the previous year's thread.
Tips regarding DAF
1) EVERYTHING that you fill in the DAF CAN and WILL be used in the interview. Don't put anything that you cannot backup. Be it academic records, achievements, hobbies or interests.
2) The essays that you will attach with your DAF (there were two for us, a) Bio Sketch, b) Why do you want to pursue this course at TISS?), will be the focus of your interview. If you say great things about the course in why you want to pursue it, they wont be swayed, but would instead ask you specifically to describe which papers you like in the course. In general, be familiar with the course outline and don't try to flatter them. They know they're a premier institution!
3) Make sure you keep a copy of the filled DAF with you. This may help you prepare for your interview as you will know exactly what you mentioned in it.
4) When you come for the GDPI keep a blank copy of the DAF with you, as well as copies of the essays (keep it typed so u can make copies immediately) AND all the documents that you will attach with the DAF. Why so? Well you're going to send your duly filled DAF to them via SpeedPost. And that as we all know is not foolproof. Your DAF may not reach the institute at times. In case this happens, the blank DAF with the essays and marksheets will be your life saver.
5) Last year we received a call-letter for the GDPI after we submitted our DAFs to them. Note that this can get VERY delayed in some cases. I didn't have mine till two days before the GDPI. DONT PANIC though, the TISS admin department is very cooperative and will find a solution for it. For your own sanity though, call and confirm whether your DAF has reached them on the day the post-office tells you it will. And if the GDPI call letter does not arrive on time, CALL TISS!!
6) If there's a space provided in the form to write a particular essay, dont try to scribble your thoughts in that given space. Instead attach a separate sheet and write 'Please Find Attached' and number the essay accordingly.
7) Be precise, genuine, and non-cliched in your essays. Though its a helping profession, don't harp endlessly on how you're doing this course out of the limitless kindness in your heart. Make it sound like an INFORMED choice. Tell them how you over the years you decided to get into this field. If your decision is recent, tell them about the mismatch you felt with the previous area of work you were in and how this area fills that void for you.You are certainly expected to have a more intelligent and informed view of the counseling profession than the layperson. Be very clear on how its different from Social Work or even 'Charity Work'.
8 ) In the section of 'Why do you want to pursue this course at TISS?' pay attention to all parts of the question. Firstly why do YOU want to do this course. What is it about you that makes you feel eligible for this course. What is it about the course that aligns with your goals too? Secondly, why THIS course? Especially if you've applied for more than one course at TISS, and even more so if you've qualified for more than one GDPI. Your order of preference will definitely be questioned. Thirdly, why this course AT TISS? There are other universities offering Counseling courses. Why did you choose the course at TISS? Mention the papers in the course you find appealing, and mention the aspects of TISS that you feel you can relate to.
9) Try and include and 'IF NOT THIS COURSE THEN THIS IS MY ALTERNATIVE PLAN'. Though you dont have to state this verbatim, communicate it in a very subtle way to them that life does not stop for you if TISS doesn't happen and that you are going to pursue this profession whether or not they take you in. Though I had a back-up plan ready in a different field, I convinced myself before the GD happened that I was going to pursue this career regardless of whether or not TISS chose me. If the panelists see that your interest in this career is not limited to whether or not you make it to TISS, your chances improve!
10) Be very clear in the essay about how you are aware of the fact that this will not fetch you the same starting salary as say a course in HR at TISS. If you aren't clear about it and are in two minds, I suggest you do some hard thinking before the GD and ask yourself whether this is the field you want to be in. Once again, don't come across as someone who is doing this entirely out of the kindness of his/her heart. Make it sound like you know the situation, you've weighed its pros and cons and then you've made a decision.
About the GD
You are presented with a case and are given 5-7 mins to prepare for it and 20 mins to discuss it as a group.
Here is a sample of the GD as written by one of the applicants last year
There is a woman named Anuja. On the very first night of their marriage, she
is been told by her husband that she is not fit to be his wife and after 11
years of humiliation, she walks out of the marriage. Now, she is a single
parent to 2 children and his elder son is following his father's footsteps
and rebuking his younger brother who is getting emotionally disturbed. The
children want to be with their father. Anuja fears their congregation as his
husband humiliated their children as well. She is very afraid and insecure
about the whole idea. She is frustrated from life and comes to you for help,
so how would you help Anuja to cope with her problems.
We were given round about 5-7 mins to read the case thoroughly and GD
duration was 13 minutes. Negative marking if our tone is aggressive or
dominating. We were 8 in a group. In all there were three groups of 8 each
that had their GD/PI today.
Regarding the Personal Interview
Next comes the Personal Interview which lasts about 10-20 minutes. Again I'm posting an example from the same applicant's experience.
This was a student who came from a non-psychology background, so if that is your case, this should help
These are the questions i was asked by the panelists in the PI round:
I was also asked a lot about Spirituality and the link between Spirituality
and Psychology as i had mentioned that in my essays.
In the PI round, you will be grilled on what you have mentioned in the 2
essays. So one can anticipate questions and prepare accordingly. If you come
from Psychology background, you will be probed on what you know so far in
Psychology - History, theories, etc
My PI went on for approximately 15 minutes and the panel consisted of 4
interviewers (one male and 3 females)
Books for References
For Psychology/ Human development / Social Work students: You'll generally be asked about the subjects you study in your University and be grilled about theory in those specific fields as the panelists come from such backgrounds. So be familiar with your course material.
For Non-Psychology Students: Reading before the interview helps so try and pick up any introductory textbook on Psychology and counselling.
Introduction to Psychology
You can visit this very helpful link which offers a free legally downloadable book on the same. The range of topics is quite comprehensive
Introduction to Psychology - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Alternatively some of the authors whose intro textbooks on Psychology that are easy reads are Morgan and King, Baron and Atkinson & Hilgard
Introduction to Counselling
This link offers a helpful article on Egan's three stage model of counselling which is widely used in basic counselling courses.
You can find it here - www.mystrongfamily.org/downloads/.../SFP-EasyIntroToEgan.pdf
Great piece of info even for non counselling aspirants. Thanks!!! Any suggestions or info for disaster Management students?
Unfortunately I have no idea about DM, and dont have any friends in the course either.
paras can you lease request the SW students to come forward and share the same information regarding the social work course and what advice you would like to give in general for all the candidates shortlisted regarding the DAF ....thanks
Boond - Please refer to the section 'Tips Regarding DAF' in my first post. It contains info applicable to all.
i must thanku......PARAS its of great help:cheerio:. hopefully we could have sm1 fr SW....also!!!!!!!{{{{waiting}}}
paras sir i have another query regarding the DAF ..in it they have asked about S.S.C and mentioned from ( month and year ) to ( month and year ) ...are we suppose to mention only standard 9th and 10th and also if we have changed schools during this period are we suppose to mention the name of all the schools in institution attended section ..................and also can we exceed the word limit in bio sketch and other answers .....
hey paras... r u 4m the 1st batch of counselling??
whats the placement scenario of the course n future prospects??
what are the future prospects for counselling??... have got call letter for CL n SW..
Hey this is afreen... Thanks for the information. You have given an example for a topic of Group Discussion Case Study. My question is how are we suppose to approach this? and what kind of discussion is expected?
Had Counseling Interview on March 15th
GD : Case study.
PI :
1.Why Counseling?
2.Why opted for other courses(HRM)?
3.Interests.Books.
4.What have you done to prepare for this interview?
5.Why not Social Entrepreneurship?
6.Women Status in TN?Give some facts and figures.
7.What if you dont get any course here.
That;s all.Interview was cool.But you never know what they felt.:lookround:
Hi,
Can anyone tell me how r the placements at tiss for counseling? & wat is the avg & highest package ? thanks 😃
Anybody here converted M.A Counseling????
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Please continue here for 2012-14 season queries. http://www.pagalguy.com/discussions/tiss-ma-counseling-2012-2014-25070651