Walking the Admission Line

Walking the Admission Line

How it’s important to go beyond the brand name to choose a campus and college that caters to your specifications and fits into your scheme of things
You are 18. The very idea of going to college excites you. Choosing where to go however can be disillusioning. You don’t know where to begin and what to eliminate.
Firstly, you must have, by now, some vague or defined idea about what you want to do. Your course perhaps is already decided. Some back up plans have also been made. So now you might be able to shortlist some colleges.
This is not as simple as you might imagine.
You have to sort colleges in tandem with your priorities.
First, decide on the pragmatic aspects of a college education and get these factors out of the way.http://www.rsyinfo.blogspot.in/

1. Decide whether staying at home is important to you. Once you come to a decision, the field of research becomes that much narrower or broader.
2. If you are a city person then take care to apply to colleges located in bigger cities. Likewise, if you are not fond of big cities then also apply to non-metropolitan cities or towns. You will be living here for three to five years, so make this choice carefully.
3. Make a list of high ranking and average ranking universities for the course of your choice. On an average, pick 5 high ranking and 5 average colleges.
4. While deciding on a college, take into account the academic merit of the faculty of the concerned department and the performance of its students. Also check who the resident faculty is. If few professors live on campus, chances are that classes won’t be that regular.
5. Try and research the placement record of the departments. Draw up a comparative chart.
6. Next in line is the question of finances. Most central universities in India are inexpensive. The fees are affordable for all. But the cost of living in that particular city may turn out to be several times more than the university fees. The cost of your education will ultimately depend on the cost of living in such places. However, if you are enrolled in a management, engineering or medical college the education fees will tend to be considerably higher.
7. Following from the above, in the case that your course ends up costing you a lot look at scholarship schemes floated by the University Grants Commission and national banks in the country. You can get loans between Rs 4 to 15 lakhs.
8. In the absence of hostel facilities, you will need to find private accommodation. In that case, it is important to have an idea of how safe the city is and other related issues.
9. Remember that a campus is also a place of freedom. You are excited to be free at last and it will be disappointing if you end up in a place that hosts few events or is low key on co-curricular. Be sure to pick a campus that is vibrant. No point turning up all geared up at a funereal neighborhood. It should offer you a space to grow – societies for extracurricular activities like drama, film, music and so on.
10. Make sure it is a socially and politically sensitive campus. This is important as college is probably going to be the first place where young people from diverse backgrounds encounter each other. Your three years in college should make you not only a culturally sensitive adult but also aware of the condition of the world around you.