The Selection Process
Every year we receive thousands of applications requesting financial help for higher education. We have a rigorous scoring system in place to identify deserving students. We assist students with the Application and Admission processes. We also help them with other logistics operations like accommodation, mess fees etc.
The Stages of Selection Process
Receiving Applications
Agaram receives applications from students across Tamil Nadu. These applications are reviewed and the deserving students who come from Government Schools and are first generation College goers are short-listed.
Personal Interview
The shortlisted students along with their parent or guardian. are called for a personal interview. At the personal interview the student is assessed for his/her aptitude and willingness to study further. The genuineness of the details provided by the student/parent or guardian is also verified during the interview.
House Visit
The purpose of house visit is to assess the information and verify the facts provided by the student and their parent/ guardian. The financial background and the life style of the student’s family are also assessed during the visit. Volunteers doing the House visit, fill in forms to mention whether there is electricity facility or not, residing house is hut/tile roof/concrete, educational qualification of the parents and siblings, father alcoholic or not etc. Weightage points are given to these parameters at a later stage.
Final Selection
The final step is awarding points for various criteria – personal / socio-economic, and lastly, the volunteer’s observation. Students who ‘score’ higher are thus selected. The parameters for selecting them includes:
1) Marks [10th and 12th ]
2) Socio Economic Score (SES) is arrived based on the following parameters:
- Parent Related Factor (Literacy levels / Single Parent, Orphan or Both Alive)
- Living conditions • House category – Hut / Tiled Roof / Concrete
- Location – Town / Village / Remote village / Hill village
- Availability of Electricity • Asset – Land / House / Gold Ornaments
3) Volunteer observations are based on the following parameters
- Parents Monthly Income
- First Generation Student (or not)
- House Visit Observation