Engineering at your fingertips

Updated on: Monday, December 20, 2010

As you prepare to embark on your engineering journey it may be wise to be aware of what you can look forward to in these four years. What wonders and horrors do four years of education in engineering college comprise? And who better than an actual engineer to clear your doubts? That would be me.

First of all let me tell you that how much or how little you enjoy and learn from your engineering course is more or less based on how you approach it. Approach it with too much cynicism and you are going to make things extremely painful for yourself. Get overly kicked and enthusiastic about it and your spirits will normally get dashed in months.

But take a Buddha-like middle path and you should do very nicely indeed.

For most people engineering is the first time they’re going to be away from home, make entirely new friends, get spending money and not have to stick to curfew times. In short it’s freedom without the ridiculous strings that parents attach to such things. Go easy on it. As long as you remember that getting a degree with some respectability is one of your top priorities you should do okay.

Most colleges in India, outside the IITs, NITs and some national colleges, have poor infrastructure facilities. Labs will be outdated, sporting facilities will suck, hostels and messes will seem extreme even by Guantanamo Bay standards and the less said about the faculty the better.

There will be the stray exceptions. But by and large what you make of your degree is entirely up to you. Don’t expect the system to rise to your expectations.

The first year academically is all about getting a lot of basic things in place. Language, maths and some basic engineering courses will take up all your time. Ragging is illegal in India. Much like corruption, smuggling, dowry and bribe. So you could spend some time grappling with that.

The first year will also make you go through a dreadful array of workshops, design and computing courses that most of you will never ever use again in your lives. Carpentry, smithy, foundry and such arts are throwbacks to styles of education that date back several decades. When an engineer basically made bridges, buildings or boilers and heavy machinery. Times have changed. Curricula haven’t.

Doing well in the first year is good for your resume. In some colleges this might give you a chance to make branch changes. In any case being good in communication and maths makes solid sense.

The second year is when you first get thrown into the intrigue and mystery of your department. For the next three years everything you do will revolve around your department. And departments are unique in temperament and atmospheres. Some will let you take things easy. Others will fail you in a paper at the drop of a hat. But by and large the second year, and to an extent third year, are walks in the park. You have lasted the pressures of first year, and you still have time to go before the madness of placements in final year. Chill out. Take the time to do a few internships. Indulge in extra-curricular activities. Third year will see a little more focus on academics. You will also start thinking about CAT, GRE and placements. Start early whatever be your exam of choice. Don’t leave it till final year. By now you know how your department works and who the good faculty members are. Network. You will need their help to apply abroad.

You are also into your major by now. Choosing electives. Doing projects. Seminars and symposiums. The actual load your course will have depends largely on your major. The circuit branches (Electronics, Electrical, Computers, IT, Instrumentation and such like) normally can get heavy loads by third year. The non-circuit (Mech, Civil etc.) less so.

The final year is normally spent entirely in the frantic madness that is placements. Don’t get rushed into it. Spend some time thinking about what you want to do. But also remember that you are so early in your career that you can make a few mistakes without really changing your long term prospects.

Most people will also have to submit a final-year thesis. Again starting early is the key. Or getting a project-mate who is a topper. And then it all comes to an end. After a few farewell parties and tears, life will go on. But all is not lost. Orkut and Facebook will ensure you stay in touch with your buddies forever. Net-net you should have a fantastic four years. I certainly did!

Engineering at your fingertips

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