Summer of Code Interviews

Summer of Code initial interviews are over.  Now is time for all the companies to consider the applicants, possible 2nd interviews then ranking!

The process of matching students with companies is as follows

How does Company <=> Student Matching work?

The matching system we use for the allocation of students is based on the “Stable Marriage” algorithm. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stable_marriage_problem).

This is how it works….

If Company X picks Bob as their 1st pick and Bob picks Company X as his 1st pick then that is the best match possible.  Bob and company X are taken out of the pool of available matches.

Now what happens if a company doesn’t get their top pick.

If Company Y choose Bob and but Bob choose Company X then the algorithm will fail, and algorithm will and try match Company Y with their 2nd pick and it will continue until it can find a possible match. eg. Jim picked Company Y as his 1st pick and Company Y choose Jim as their 2nd pick then thats a match (Given Company Y’s first pick was already allocated) , and both are taken out of the pool.

The ranking of BOTH companies and students is taken into account by the algorithm. The algorithm will allocate the “best” matches for both students and companies.

Why is it called stable marriage?
Well the concept is this.  If you have 10 males, 10 females, and they rank each other.  The matches which result from the process should give “stable marriages” in that, there should be no male, who wants to be with a female other than his wife, who would want to be with him, more than her current husband.  In which case, his desire for another woman is left only at that.  The other woman prefers her husband over the would be stray.  Interesting concept eh…  Obviously doesn’t take into account for general dislike for the current spouse and leaving… Nor for people outside the control population… but you know, it’s a concept.

Back on topic, I was late to the interviews.  I apologise for the inconvenience of my blunder.  Totally snowed under and hadn’t set a reminder for that morning.  My fault entirely!  So I was late, which added students to the bottom of our list, keeping them longer.  I am sorry.  THEN the fire alarm went off sending us outside for 20 minutes.  Well done to Raja and Ruth for keeping it all under wraps.

We have submitted our ranking and will be waiting on the algorithm to give us the good news!!