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Hi allThank you for registering for ‘our’ classes. I hope you’ll have a fruitful year learning Physics with me. As a teacher, I’d like to know more about my students. Knowing you helps me to serve you better. I am sure you’d understand and appreciate the importance of knowing each other well. So, I thought I should encourage you to write to me before you join our classes. You are expected to submit a ‘statement of intent’ essay in not less than 1000 words (maximum two pages). If you might think this is ‘unnecessary’ or even as a ‘torture’, you shouldn’t be applying to my course. In my view, the essay is the most important communication to me from your side. I believe it is important to know my student. We are going to be working together for one full year and that’s a long time. Certainly, I wouldn’t be able to work well with strangers. I strongly believe you who’d see this as an interesting opportunity to express your thoughts and ideas and in that process introduce yourself to me. Some of you will be applying for universities abroad after class 12 and I am sure many of you will be heading abroad later in life for pursuing higher studies (in my view, you must). The admission committee considers your ‘Statement of Intent’ as a very crucial document to know about you. After all it’s important that your interests align with their interests. I am sure you’d enjoy this experience. For many this would be a first of its kind. In the past, I’ve had many students write to me on their own accord. Such students gained a lot from my course. It is also a part of ‘growing up’ into responsible adults. This is the first year am making the essay mandatory. You have the honor of being the first batch to be a part of my ‘experiment’. I love reading. From my side, I’ll eagerly await what you’ve got to write.In your essay, I expect to know the following: What are your interests apart from academics? Do you like Physics? Is it important to learn Physics? (Please give an honest answer. There’s no need to please me). Are you the type of student who’d actively interact in the class or are you one who’d prefer to be silent in the class? You’re expected to ask at least one ‘thought-provoking’ question through the year. Can you give me an assurance that you’d sincerely try to ask deep questions? Would you be regular to our classes? If you are / may have to be absent for a class, what you’d do? What are your expectations from Ravi Shankar? Will you be attending classes elsewhere for Physics? (Please note whether you learn physics elsewhere or not has no bearing on you being selected for our course)There are many teachers / institutes who / which offer to teach Physics. Explain very clearly reasons why you chose Ravi Shankar. Why would you want to ‘Learn Physics with Ravi Shankar’? Did you read my email and sms policies for our classes? Do you think email and sms etiquettes are important? Do you agree with the ‘dress-code’ I have advised for the classes? Is a dress-code important for classes? Please do not hesitate to express your honest views. You may disagree with me but you’ll be expected to stick to the dress-code in any case. Will you surely NOT enter the class unless you had taken bath? Did you consult your seniors who may have been my students before you decided to join ‘our’ classes? What are your goals for the upcoming year? What would intend to do after class 12? Did you consult your parents / elders before you decided to join our course? Kindly note this is not a questionnaire and that you’re expected to respond in the form of an essay. This is not a ‘test’ for any exam. DO NOT write the ‘essay’ as if you’re responding to a questionnaire! Your application will be rejected if you submit your essay is the form of a questions and answers. I am sure you’re all creative youngsters. Let me have the first glimpse of your creativity through your essay. A few guidelines: Be honest in your essay. If you have been doing ‘not so great’ in academics, then don’t hesitate to state it. Please note your exam scores in class 9 or 10 will not a factor which will decide whether I select you or not. In fact, any student who’s willing to learn will be given admission. Do not try to please me in your essay. Massaging my ego will be frowned upon by me and it may lead to your application being rejected. Proof read your essay ‘n’ number of times. Ask someone else to check what you may have written. Check for typos and spelling mistakes. Use of gentle humor is okay but it’s always better to stay on the side of caution. State your goals but be modest. Do not say ‘I am going to change the world’ or ‘I wish to win the Nobel Prize’. Do not blow your own trumpet by stating how you have been the topper in school from day one or that you’ve been preparing to get into IIT from LKG! Typing sentences in UPPER CASE means ‘shouting’. Please do not type the entire essay in upper case. Make sure you punctuate appropriately. Do not use ‘slang’. If you use short forms of words (the SMS language), I’ll reject your application. Use of short forms like ‘b4’, ‘ur’, ‘bcos’ etc will be viewed seriously and I’ll immediately send your application to trash. Languages are beautiful and let’s strive to preserve their charm. Make sure you introduce yourself in your essay. Finally, please note that this course is only for students who’ll be in class 11 in the academic year 2017-2018. Sometimes I get requests from parents asking me to admit their son / daughter who may be in class 8 or 9 into my course. Such requests will not be entertained. The student must have passed class 10 to get admit into the course. Note: Name the ‘Statement of Intent’ document as advised below. If your name is Krishna R, name the file as ‘Krishna R – Class 11 – SOP’. Happy writing! Ravi Shankar ................
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