The Need to Choose the Right Engineering College
Every one of us arrives at critical crossroads in our lives. One of the most important is choosing the career, and a lot of us decide engineering is the perfect career choice. We prepare for it, go through the required process and clear the mandatory tests. And we are ecstatic. But wait, is that the right emotion? Yes, right? Actually, no; it is at this point that we may end up making that one mistake that can cost us dear. You do the right thing by clearing the test, and then the absolutely wrong thing by choosing the wrong college.
Choose the right college and only then can you afford to take a deep breath and exhale. So how do you choose the right engineering college? That can be a tricky one, especially when you have the luxury of choice. It is not rocket science, really. Just do a few basic things right and you are on your way to the right career, the right way.
Common and Important Parameters about Searching for Engineering Colleges
Most of us look at 3 things when choosing an engineering college. Not only us; our families also look at these three very important parameters. That is because they are the foundations for the way we perceive an approach to education that gives a good job:
• A reputed college: We all look to get into a college with a solid reputation. A good reputation is good brand value, and that translates to good career opportunities when it is placement time.
• An in-demand field: The obvious thing to do is to look for a career option that pays you back well. We all are right in feeling the need to justify the time, money, and energy you spend in pursuit of your career goal by finally getting a good job at a reputed organization.
• Proximity: The best option for all is to get into a college that is in the same city or town that we live in. All of us strive to find a good college at least within our state. That is a perceived win-win: we get into a good college, in an in-demand field, and close to home.
It is a lot more to it than just getting into the nearest reputed college. You could be making a mistake if you do not do your research thoroughly. As we mentioned earlier, small tweaks here and there can mean the difference between a good rewarding career and a good career that leaves you somehow unsatisfied later in life. Here are a few things that you must do to ensure you pick the right engineering college.
Perform a Thorough Background Check
It is important to check the background of the college you are looking to get into thoroughly. Just a good name earned over years of being in the field is not a guarantee of a good education. It is important to take a close look at:
- The different streams the college offers
- The pedigree of the faculty in each of these fields, especially the field you are looking at
- The standing of the college with respect to the stream you are looking to get into
The last one is especially important. A lot of times it happens that a college has a good pedigree overall, but not necessarily in the stream you are looking to get into. A thorough background check becomes mandatory when you are looking at offers from various colleges. The pedigree of the colleges would not be the main criterion; there are a number of things that come into play.
Make a Comparative Study of the Different Engineering Colleges
A comparative study of the different colleges you have got calls from would give you a fair idea about which one works best for you. While this may have been quite a challenge in earlier times as the source for such information was limited, today it is not too difficult. There are many sources of information nowadays.
- In the digital age, a detailed check of the college’s website – all reputed colleges have their own websites – will give you a lot of information about the college.
- The prospectuses provided by the colleges are good sources of information too.
- You can check online at websites that offer information about colleges and the courses they offer.
- Some of the best sources of information are former and current students. Current students can give you updated information on the college.
- You can also tap into the teacher’s network to check up on the different colleges.
Cost Matters As Well
And finally, there is the financial angle; you have to look at the cost associated with each college. Education comes at a cost, in the form of fees. You have to be able to choose a college that is within the budget. Finance, nowadays, is not such a big problem. Financial institutions nowadays offer financial support in the form of educational loans that you can pay back once you get a job after completing your education.
Even then, this is an area you have to be able to look at. You have to be able to get into a college that is not only good and offers the stream you are looking for but also one that you and your family can afford.
Look into Yourself
While all the above will give you a good idea of the right college for the right stream of engineering, there is something, even more, basic that you need to do right at the outset. Take a look at what YOU want. What are your likes? Is the course that all are pressing you to get the one that you truly love? Or is it something else?
The sensible thing to do is to look at your career, and, therefore, your college, based on your need; or in other words, your true liking. Engineering is a stream that commands respect in society; the key to a happy and successful career lies in choosing the right stream – the stream that you feel is your true calling – and the best college for that stream.