Factors to be considered while selecting an engineering college for admission.
My request: Please read this completely before taking any
decision. Not only students but also parents should read this.
1.
placement
quality and percentage
Main
objective of studying engineering is to get a good job. So, one should know the
placement activity of the college for the previous 3 to 4 years. In some
colleges, placement percentage will be high but most of the students will be
place in low salaried, low quality jobs. Also, core branch placement is
important, that is, a mechanical engineer must get a job in mechanical industry
and so on. If a mechanical engineer goes to software job, almost all the
knowledge that he had acquired in four years of engineering will be a waste.
Also, he cannot perform better than a student who studied engineering in
computer science.
2.
laboratory
facilities
Before
finally selecting a college, one should see the laboratory facilities in the
college. Engineering is more of practical than theory. If the laboratories are
not up to the mark, the knowledge gained by the student will be less. This will
finally reflect in poor performance in the campus interview and also in the
job.
3.
transportation
facilities
If the
parents can provide vehicles, it is ok in one way. Otherwise, or for one or two
years till the student will be able to manage with the vehicle, a good
transportation facility is a must. Otherwise, most of the time will be wasted
in travelling.
4.
Quality
of education and examination result.
For
understanding most of the engineering subjects, fundamentals are very
important. So, experienced teachers are required to teach some of the difficult
subjects. This information can be had from the students who are studying in the
college. If the teaching is not good, whole infrastructure is a waste.
Examination
pass percentage and overall grade is very important. But in some autonomous
colleges, syllabus is made very simple so as to get good result. This is
because the autonomous colleges are having freedom to modify the syllabus. But
some autonomous colleges are having very good syllabus and having good overall
result.
Note:
Getting knowledge is more important than getting degree certificate.
5.
canteen
quality
Many
times students will have to depend upon canteen for lunch of for coffee and so
on. A good canteen facility is a desirable thing. If all other things are good,
then one can think of giving less importance to this and manage with lunch box.
6.
Infrastructure
It includes spacious and ventilated
class rooms, good quality desks, advanced teaching aids like LCD projectors,
good toilets, play ground, big auditorium, seminar halls, grass lawns and
trees, places to sit and relax, computer internet facility for students and so
on.
7.
Braches
(engineering streams) availability and selection.
In some colleges, only few branches
are available. It is better to select an established college having many
branches. This will automatically ensure good infrastructure and other
facilities. Selecting a branch has been discussed later in this article, under
the heading ‘misconceptions’.
Note: Do not sacrifice your favourite
branch for the sake of college. But if you are not particular about any branch,
then give preference to college.
8.
Hostel
facility: If you select a college away from your hometown, you have to consider
the facilities of the hostel, availability and such other factors.
9.
Library:
a good library normally gives an indication of a good college. With the new
technology, e-books and online facilities are there in many colleges.
10.
Distance
from the house: Some students do not want to go to a college which requires
about two hours of travelling daily. It is understandable, but if the college
is very good and if you can get a seat, you can think of selecting such a
college.
11.
Fee
structure: this varies from year to year, college to college, but in a broad
sense, it will be as follows:
-Government engineering colleges –
lowest fee
-Aided engineering colleges- little
higher fee
- Private engineering- still higher
fee
- Donation seats – donation + private
college fee.
In case of donation seats, one should
consider affordability, against the quality of the college. Donation varies
from college to college, branch to branch, year to year and time to time in the
same year!
12.
Reputation
of the college: If the college is having good reputation, placement will be
easy. Also, if the student wants to go for higher studies in other countries,
then it is the college name that counts.
The procedure:
(i)
Filling
the form to select the college and
branch:
This
varies from year to year. All the colleges will be listed and therefore, it
will be a big confusion.
Shortlist
the colleges based on the factors which are discussed already. If possible, go
and have a look at some colleges, before selection. Then select the colleges.
Selecting
a branch has already been discussed.
(ii)
Second
and subsequent rounds.
If you
are not satisfied about your seat in the first list, do not worry. Fill it for
the second round. Many seats in many colleges which were
Not
open earlier, will be available in second round. You can always have the chance to select
better
colleges in the second and subsequent rounds.
Misconceptions:-
·
Getting
transfer to required branch or college
in 2nd year
This is the biggest misconception. In
some colleges, seats for some branches will not be easily filled. To fill those
seats which are otherwise difficult to fill, some people will assure you that
you can select those branches and later in the 2nd year, you can get
a transfer to your desired branch. In some instances, they even assure you to
get a better college. Remember there are conditions for branch transfer or
college transfer.
As an
example, say, if you are in mechanical branch and want to get computer science
in 2nd year, then:
a] You
must be in the top 10 rank in the
college result of your first year, because the transfers will be considered on
merit basis.
b] At
least one student should get a year back or change his branch in computer
science branch, so that there will be a vacancy in that branch.
c] In
case of other college, there must be another student willing to come to your
college against you going there, with the additional condition that both the
college principals should agree.
These
are all the very remote chances. It is better not to think of it. So, it is
always better to select the required branch initially itself.
·
Any
branch will be good
Some branches are not suited for you,
say, marine engineering. It is a very good branch for having inclination in
that direction. Therefore, depending upon your interest, select a branch first
and then the college.
·
Scope
of a branch
Most of the parents will ask this
question,
“Which branch is having scope?”
Never ask this question to anyone.
This is because of the fact that scope will be changing. As an example, civil
engineering, which was not having that much scope about 10 years ago, is now
having too much of scope!
Now you are joining for 1st
year and by the time you complete, whole scenario of the world will be
different. So, no one can correctly predict the so called ‘scope’ of a branch.
It should be selected by student’s own interest. Parents should never force
their children to any branch or any course.
·
Trends
of friends are good
Normally, students say “all my
friends are joining to a particular college or branch and so i should also join.
It is similar to getting down from the bus in a stop where your friends are
getting down, even though your stop is far away! Become a leader and not a
blind follower.
·
If
I cannot get placement in the college campus, I will not get the job:
No. This is not fully correct. There
are many of campus open interviews and many will get jobs in such places. But only
thing is, it will be more difficult to get jobs in such places, compared to in campus
interview.
·
It
is a big turning point in life and any small mistake done at this stage will be
disastrous and irreversible.
Parents will normally tell this too
many times to their children, especially in 12 standard or 2nd PUC.
This will actually make the student nervous and thus results in getting low
marks.
In my experience, it is not the only
turning point. Life is a long journey and there will be many turns that one has
to go through. This stage is also one such small turning point. Many
engineering drop outs whom I know, have achieved many things even a good
engineer cannot do. You should not neglect the procedure but you should not
worry, if you cannot get the best. There are thousands of ways of leading a
success full life in this world, other than getting a popular degree.
If you have any quires you can mail
me for the email Id : surya.jayaram@gmail.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)