How to select engineering branch and college?

By Nikhlesh Mathur

Are you an engineering aspirant still muddled about how to select engineering branch and college? If your answer is 'yes', then you shouldn’t give this piece a miss!

Addressed to students who are planning to take admission in BTech / BE courses in Indian colleges, this article requires you to focus on each of the questions mentioned underneath, understand each question in both letter and spirit, and then reply to them with the most appropriate answers that your mind generates. Please note that the answers should be without any influence from an outside source or without getting carried away due to any factor.

What next? Students can then jot down their answers in either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and then understand the inference of each question (typed in black and bold) in context to their reply. You are advised to read the questions several times before finalising the replies.

To begin with, let me say that if you are getting the desired branch of engineering in the desired college then go for it. There are no further questions and the matter ends as far as the decision about where to take admission and in which branch, is concerned.

If you are getting the desired branch at a lesser known engineering institute then make a true assessment of yourself based on the questions mentioned underneath and give true replies in ‘Yes’ or ‘No’:

1. Do you have a plan to take up higher studies after BTech/BE such as MTech/ME/MBA?

If your asnwer is 'yes', then the name of the BTech/BE college would not matter much and you may go ahead with any institute for graduation. Later focus on getting a highly reputed college for post graduation.

2. Do you think you have the inherent ability to grasp technical knowledge irrespective of the source?

If Yes, then what's the problem. You will definitely excel in your studies and then being technically sound, you can go on to make a career anyways.

3. Are you planning to get into business related to the opted branch of engineering?

If Yes, then how does the name of the institute matter to you. You will anyhow plunge yourself in business activities. Reputation of college generally helps in getting more interview calls as a fresher, which you anyhow will not really need much.

4. Do you have some family business which you would want to join after few years of working somewhere else? 

If Yes, then just go ahead with any college that is coming your way and offering you admission. Focus more on learning the practical aspects of the related business. Keep yourself involved in aspects related to your family business over your engineering branch background.

5. Do you think there are some benefits you may have of taking admission in a lesser known college?  

If Yes, then you may be right on aspects related to the fee structure, proximity to your home, approach to the lecturers, getting their personal attention etc. If that is true go for the desired branch irrespective of the college.

If you are getting the desired reputed engineering institute but NOT the desired branch then make a true assessment of yourself based on the question mentioned underneath and give true replies.

• Do you have a plan to do MBA after BTech/ BE?

If Yes, then how does the branch of engineering matter to you. You anyhow will divert your career after doing MBA. Pay more attention to improving your business sense, communicative ability, presentation skills and logical understanding during BTech.

• Do you think you have in you the ability to grasp knowledge of subjects even when the subject is not of your choice?

If Yes, then you can make your way in any field and since you are getting a reputed institute you can make use of its name also in your career. Go for it.

• Do you think you are studious in nature or academically good?

If Yes, then you can definitely shift to the branch that you are getting and will be able to study it well even though you have lesser interest in it. Just make sure that you can plan something ahead with that branch of engineering. If you can do so then go ahead with it.

• Do you think you have the ability to learn and understand any subject that comes your way or is imposed on you?

If Yes, then just go ahead with any branch that is being offered to you. Start giving more emphasis on learning the technology.

• Are you doing BTech more because of your parents' wish and later would want to do diversify in some other field of your personal choice?  

If Yes, then just go ahead with any branch that is being offered to you, because anyhow you will divert later. Make good use of the reputation of your college throughout your life.

• Do you plan to work only for MNCs or large reputed business houses and not for lesser known or medium/small scale businesses?

If Yes, then be happy that you are getting a reputed college which would matter more when getting a job in large business houses/ MNCs. Go for it without any confusion. In large business houses/ MNCs, you get to learn from several people and it is not necessary that you be perfect at the time of entry. Just master your soft skills, enhance your presentation skills, and communicative ability and make use of the reputation of your college.

• Do you have insufficient knowledge of what exactly you will be required to do in your career with the branch of Engg that you desire?

If Yes, then what is the point in targeting your desired branch. You might be going for it just because of your friends or at someone else’s insistence. Forget the branch and go for the college.

• Do you think that the reputation of the college you desire can help you in your initial career in a big way?

If Yes, then this is what you are getting. There have been instances where students wanting to do core engineering ended up being renowned educationist. Do not wait, get into the college.

There is no dearth of such questions, the answers to which can really solve the problems related to admission in any college in any branch of engineering. You can yourself create such questions and discuss your replies with the Shiksha experts to get the final decision.

I would request students to acquire knowledge about several cases  wherein the CEOs of companies have graduated from a relatively unknown engineering college or  a mechanical engineer goes on to become a director of an IT company.

If a student can keep himself/herself focused on his education in an engineering college there is no way that he/she can create a path of his/her own irrespective of the subject, name of college, place etc.

Engineering in any branch makes you an engineer and you can study well at any engineering college. So what is the fuss all about. There are several ways to make a career in any branch of engineering. It takes minimum four years to get an engineering degree. One can never correctly ascertain if a branch of engineering would remain as much in demand after a gap of four years.

Therefore, it is better to enjoy the fruit (engg branch) that falls in your lap from any tree (engg college), rather than to keep running around trees for a specific fruit and the time just passes by.

About the Author:

Nikhilesh Mathur

Nikhlesh Mathur is a chemical engineer from NIT Rourkela and has also done MBA with specialisation in Total Quality Management. He has over thirty years of professional experience. Writing is one of his main hobbies. Besides writing on management related topics and counselling students, Nikhlesh is also interested in scientific astrology, which he practices in leisure time.

Also read:

• Promising options for IIT aspirants who did not crack JEE
• Not getting the engineering branch of your choice? Here’s what to do