As of today, India has 659 universities, 33,023 colleges and 25.9 million students. More than most other countries, the fast-paced development of countries like India and China seems to lead to college enrollment as a necessary stepping stone to a career. While competition is rabid for the handful of great institutions that make up top ten lists, the top engineering colleges in India are the most sought after. The quality of education in India has definitely gone up over the years, so much so that we even have our very own coterie of developing nations with students scrambling for admissions to study in India. Sadly enough, however, in a country where regulation tends to get overwhelmed by both the numbers and corruption, one must do their research before joining any college, especially when the top rungs are precariously crowded.
Here are some tips to help students identify a good institution when there are so very many.
1. Attention Paid To Students
The calibre of a college can be gauged by their interactions with prospective students, including the recruitment process, the interview, whether you can tell if they are interested in you as much as an individual as in your scores, etc. More signs are made obvious on a campus tour, which is top priority for any student considering an institution. The existence of placement cells, student counselling centres, the ease of gaining an audience with the Principal or Dean, a rounded curriculum bolstered by the requisite infrastructure are all factors that define student experience. You can also figure out the value they place on good students by scholarship and endowment programmes, because most good colleges offer scholarships and will go to great lengths to ensure that exceptional students of low means are not hindered by their finances.
2. The Curriculum
The curriculum is of high importance, obviously, as, whether or not you are smitten by the college at first sight, it is the curriculum of your particular programme that you must follow. At any rate, a good college should offer a well-rounded programme with a decent mix of necessary, relevant, complimentary and optional courses. Do make a note of the examination procedures and the weightage given to projects and activities. Most good colleges push their students to be proactive and creative, for which they use projects as a tool.
3. The Classroom
Student-to-faculty ratio and classroom strength are some of the first things you must find out about the college, especially with regards to your curriculum of choice. These factors define the amount of attention you can command in class, and also the value institutions place on themselves. Do try to meet members of the faculty you are to get into.
4. Infrastructure
Any college worth its salt must have a lovingly curated library with a good mix of academic, reference and miscellaneous books. In addition there should be a computer lab with Internet, adequate facilities for each department, area for sports and recreational areas. College infrastructure not only enhances student experience, but also tells of the value placed on student welfare.