Let students decide the course, college: Mannar Jawahar

Updated on: Wednesday, May 25, 2011

With several new engineering colleges and courses in the offering for students through single window counseling in Tamil Nadu these days, selecting the appropriate engineering course and college has become a tough task for students as well as parents.

To assist students and parents in the process of counseling, which otherwise many feel it as an arduous task, Dinamalar hosted a special programme, "Ungalal Mudium" on 21 May here at Chennai.

The programme briefed students and parents on "what to do and what not to do at engineering counseling" with top officials from Anna University addressing the gathering of students and parents.

Speaking first, Mannar Jawahar, the Vice-Chancellor told, “students should make the ultimate choice of course and college as he/ she is going to study in the college or course. All students should come to counseling with an “open mind”, as sometimes the choice of course may not be available in a particular college and otherwise”.

He also encouraged students on "firm decision making" in selecting colleges and courses after profound analysis and not to be carried away by others words.

Briefing on the entire process of counseling, Raymond Udyaraj, the secretary, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission, Anna University, said.“ Parents shouldnt pressurize students on the shortfall of marks obtained in Plus two. Everyone applying for engineering are likely to get a seat with additional seats and more new colleges getting affiliation this year.

Advise of educational counselors could be considered and that shouldnt be the decision of the student. In the end, the decision should be taken by the student in consultation with the parents without taking into consideration of strangers opinion. Decide the course of students interest among the choices available at the counseling”.

On the means to determine the colleges option likely to obtain, he told to work out a simple computation by adding or subtracting three to the students present cutoff and ascertain the colleges that were available for those marks in the last academic year.

Parents need to make a prior visit to the colleges of their choice that would give much clearer picture of the institutions. Talking to few final year students would reveal the exact status of the college. Infrastructure, faculty strength and academic administration need to be taken into consideration to assess the standard of the institution, he said.

The secretary, TNEA told that the parents need to periodically monitor students than nagging them after admitting them in a college.

Ramesh Prabha, an official from Anna University told that the students and parents need to compromise on the availability of the course in a college. Sometimes the course of ones choice may not be available in the desired college and similarly the other way around. Getting through the course is more important than getting a engineering seat.

With most of the courses interlinked, make a clear study on the course to opt and decide among the 50 odd courses available, he said.

Several parents lauded the efforts of Dinamalar, for bringing out such beneficial programmes to empower young students and novice parents.

Let students decide the course, college: Mannar Jawahar

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