Got Selected for Summer of Code 2007
Posted by hatim
As I had mentioned in a previous blog entry, this year I put up four proposals to Google Summer of code. The final decision on these proposals was scheduled for April 12, 2007 5:00 am (Pakistan time). After a long night of waiting I finally received official word from Google Inc. that one of my application has been selected for Google Summer of Code. In total I had four (meaningful) applications. Oddly enough I had not received even a single comment on any one of them. During conflict resolution period I got a comment from Lanka Foundation( Sahana Project) saying that my proposal was comprehensive and complete proposal. It would have been accepted if it were if not for the alternative acceptance I had received. Alternative what???.
This came as a cautious but pleasant surprise. Sahana people were the first one to comment on my applications. Naturally I assumed that I had been selected by any of the other three organizations. I went to some SOC-irc channels and with the help of some (non related)mentors I found out that I was tagged by Internet2.edu. I then contacted the Internet2 mentor related to my project via email citing that I had no clue if I were being selected. He replied saying that there was no need from his side to post any comment on my application, it was good to go. No one had contacted them for any conflict resolution regarding me. It was the personal choice of SAHANA mentors to not contact Internet2 , even though they found my application compelling enough.
I suspect that this could have happened to my other applications as well. Where mentors were reluctant to contact me when they saw that I already have a mentor. Therefore I would propose the following additions to the SOC web application.
- There should be information in the webapp if some one gets tagged, is assigned a mentor etc.
- A stat showing number of unique views from within a mentor organization would also be helpful. This can also be applied for non organization people like Google SOC staff.
As for now I will start working on my project from tomorrow, just like I stated in my detailed plan :).
Here is an excerpt from the official email I got from Google.
Subject: Congratulations!
To: my address at gmail dot com
From: gsoc at google dot com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:15:43 -0700
Dear Applicant,
Congratulations! This email is being sent to inform you that your application was accepted to take part in the Summer of Code.Please check your student home page in the SoC web application at http://code.google.com/soc/student_home.html to determine which ofyour applications was accepted.
Thanks for taking part we are very excited to see what the Summer will bring!
Congratulations once again,
The Google Summer of Code Program Administration Teamem>
More detailed post to come, URL of application , proposal and some other links.
