Now that the intermediate or its equivalent board examination results and as well as the EAMCET results are declared, it is time to sit down and work out a plan on how to choose a good professional college, especially in the engineering stream, as the choice is numerous. This could be one of the most important decisions in one's life, as there is no turning back after joining a course or college.
The major influence that plays a negative role in this aspect is the ‘herding concept', as most the students and to a certain extent the parents tend to follow the road taken by the friends. Resist the temptation and decide on your own after considering a few factors.
NBA Accreditation
All India Council for Technical Education established an accreditation agency by name National Board of Accreditation (NBA). The primary duty would be to check whether the course and the college is accredited or not. The accreditation is basically done discipline-wise and not institution wise, though the institution plays a major role for accreditation grade.
College or course, which comes first, is an open-ended question. Many senior academicians feel that preference should go to the college, as the brand image plays a major role in the placement arena. There are a few basic things that one should look into before joining a college. Here are a few tips:
Do some homework by visiting the websites of the colleges and talking to seniors of the colleges where you intend to join. Try to get in touch with the alumni association of the colleges for a first-hand feedback. Check on the basic infrastructure such as lab facilities, library, classrooms, language and communication skill labs, recreation and hostel facility. Building or equipments do not make an institution, it is the faculty that makes up an institution. Assess the strength and experience of the faculty before joining an institution. Check on their academic qualifications and their contribution in the field of research.
Also verify the student-teacher ratio. Run a check on the training and placement records, and facilities for inter-collegiate and industry interactions.
Students keen on sports and other activities like dramatics should have a look into the extra-curricular activities of the college. Check on how frequently the college organises or participates in tech fests and national-level seminars, as they play a major role in building up a student's profile. The encouragement shown by the colleges for project works also plays a vital role.
Prefer a college, which is located close to a city or industrial hub, as this could facilitate easy entry for summer internship.
In the case of medical and dental colleges, the choice is limited as there are only a few colleges, but one should not forget to verify whether the college is recognised by the MCI (Medical Council of India) or DCI (Dental Council of India).
The choice of course always depends on the inclination of the student. He or she should assess one's strength and passion for subjects before taking a decision. Experts feel that any discipline in engineering is good, so long as the students take it up dedicatedly and does it from a good college.
