How do I prepare for an MS interview at IISc Bangalore?

My brother attended two interviews for the MS program at IISc Bangalore. The two departments in which he got interviewed were Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. He cleared both interviews.

Here are a few tips to remember during your interview for MS at IISc Bangalore-

1. Be clear with the basics.
2. Be genuine and firm in your answers. Give the impression that you know what you are talking about.
3. Be well-dressed and look confident.
4. Use illustrations and examples for your answers where needed, and make use of the blackboard.

For his Mechanical Engineering Interview at IISc Bangalore, my brother was interviewed by a panel of 7-8 professors in a conference room. After the introductions were done, he was asked to explain some basic concepts on the blackboard. One such basic question was to plot the stress-strain curve for aluminum and rubber and to explain the difference. He was asked about his strengths among the topics covered in Mechanical Engineering. He was also asked about his final-year project.

For his Aerospace Engineering Interview at IISc Bangalore, he was first asked to fill out a form in which he assigned preferences to the four specializations offered by the department. He was also asked to choose between an M.S. and a direct Ph.D. The interview went on in a classroom, in a similar manner as the previous one. He was asked to solve a Heat Transfer Problem. After a few questions, he was asked why he chose to go for an M.S. instead of a direct Ph.D.

Both interviews lasted for 40 minutes. The interviewers at IISc Bangalore test your curiosity for learning new things and your aptitude for applying them. Remember never to sell yourself during such interviews, always seem eager to learn more. Prepare well and you will ace your interview.