Dilemma of course or college

The Telangana State EAMCET counselling is set to begin on the June 22, bringing with it an air of tension and uncertainty. As Oscar Wilde said, “Who wants a critic who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing?” And as somebody who has been there, done that just two years ago, I believe that the most fundamental question to answer is “Do I go for the course or the college?”

Understand the courses: Review your Intermediate years and determine which chapters you had the least trouble with or were naturally inclined towards. This will help you hone in on the course/branch you might want to pursue.

Understand the syllabus: Go through the JNTU or OU prescribed syllabus for a particular course including lab experiments. You will find that for the first two years, all branches have overlapping subjects. This will give you a clearer balance between college and course.

Understand opportunities: Research employment predictions four years from today. In most cases, if the college is good enough, IT companies hire irrespective of branch. But keep in mind that the IT boom cannot last forever and is in fact declining right now.

Understand the atmosphere: Even though you are confident that you will get into a particular college for your chosen course, the college atmosphere may not suit you. In the long run, this will affect you no matter how interested you are in the course.

Understand being holistic: In a world of scarce employment, it is important to stay ahead of the pack. If a college offers opportunities for extra curriculars – including technical fests – opt for the college irrespective of course, unless you have a strong course fixation.

Understand appeal: Placement offers are not the only appealing factor. If other colleges are not interested in associating with your chosen college for workshops etc., you lose out on valuable experience.

Understand real talk: The facts given to you by people already in your place mean much more than the statistics that the college website gives you. Make sure you visit, take a look at the labs, and talk to students. Had I not made a personal visit, my life would be completely different now, for the worse.

Understand all other factors: Think about travelling time, transport facilities, dress code etc., which are often overlooked but are very important. I travel 3-4 hours a day in heavy pollution, which affects my health sometimes, and more importantly the time I have left for other activities. You have to be happy and healthy enough to study, after all.

Understand the path ahead: Depending on whether you want a job or higher studies after BE/BTech, choose the college with better placement opportunities, or choose the course you are interested in to shine in your GATE/GRE exams respectively. Even the converse can be true, depending on your abilities.

Understand yourself: Think about your abilities and preferences. Ultimately you will have to live with the decision.

By:Devayani Reddi