Study selectively and smartly to crack Engineering entrance tests: Rahul Kumar Roy

I was a brilliant student. In my childhood, I wanted to become a scientist. But during my school days my aim was very clear in mind. I was very much interested in Computer Science and in class 11^th, I had already decided that I would pursue BTech in CSE after 12^th. So I started preparing adequately for that. But I started preparing for Joint Entrance Exams from class 12^th. As I was from a poor family and my parents couldn’t afford the high cost of coaching institutes, I decided to prepare on my own without taking any tuitions. And after giving my exam, I clearly understood one fact- If I had started preparing on my own for JEE exam from class 11^th itself, I could have easily scored above 220 marks in the exam. It’s not that hard.

Study selected chapters which are easy and which come frequently in the exams. If you have doubts, you can study from home, watch YouTube videos or buy online study material and videos. They are much cheaper than coaching institutes but are equally good.

I was focused more on my Board exams and that’s why I got 95% in my class 12^th Boards. I got 33592 rank in JEE Main and 761 rank in WBJEE. As I had decided to take CSE as my stream and didn’t get any good NIT or IIT, I tried WB counselling and made a big mistake there. In my first round, I got CSE in Haldia Institute of Technology (HIT). I had placed Kalyani and Jadavpur above HIT but I got HIT in the first round. My mistake was that I didn’t wait for the 2^nd round and fixed my college in the first round only. With that rank, I could have easily got CSE in a better college in the subsequent rounds.

So, my readers, I hope you don’t make the same mistake. Always wait for the last round before finalising your college. The seat that you got in the first round will be reserved for you till the final round, so never be in a hurry. Mark my words, I have seen many students making mistakes during counselling. Don’t repeat that mistake. Always consult someone who has proper knowledge, always. Always do proper research when selecting the college, and don’t trust the internet completely. All the things you will find about any college on the internet is not 100% true. There are many things that are hidden. So always keep those things in mind, especially for private colleges. I would suggest that before taking admission, one should always visit the college oneself, ask the seniors there about the reputation of the college, the placements, etc. Don’t rely on the internet for these things. But if you have taken admission in a college and it’s not very good, don’t regret your decision. Always try to be optimistic, try to move forward. See what can be done now and try to be the best in your college because talent is always appreciated and talented people are always in demand, irrespective of their caste or colour or college. 

Always try to develop your skills even after getting a job, if you want to do something better in life. Remember there is no end to learning. And if one wants to go for higher studies after BTech, then I would definitely recommend that you start preparing for it right from the first year. GATE isn’t so tough but it needs a lot of practice. Its syllabus is vast, so always keep in mind that you need to study selectively and smartly. Create a timetable and start following it from the beginning, because generally people waste the first two years of college life and after going to the fourth year, start regretting it. So my philosophy is simple- never regret later, always start working from the beginning.

How I spent my college years

Now, let’s come to my college life. My college has the best infrastructure in West Bengal. So, that’s one thing I would never regret. The weather is very pleasant and there are many playing grounds and sport clubs. They are necessary as we all know that physical activities are equally important for our health. My teachers are very good and friendly. They are always there to help me if I have any doubts, whether they’re related to my studies or career. They are always helpful to those who seek help. So readers, I want to say that in college, if you have any problem, always go to your teachers and they will definitely help you. But don’t go at the end when there’s not much time left. Always go when you have time in hand, so that you could take benefit of their advice.

In Computer Science, even after coming to the college, we have different fields that generally people go to. For example, someone goes for coding or hacking, someone for android development or game development, etc. Personally, I chose to be a coder, so I always try to code and code and create and learn new things. People think that C/Java programming is outdated now and they think of heavy terms like AI and Machine Learning. But after doing much research, I found out that if one can be a good coder in C/Java/JS/Python, there is much demand in the industry for those who are the best.

Now, as I have to support my family, I am currently focused on hitting the industry instead of going for higher studies.

Now, the big question is whether I have chosen the right career for myself. Well, I have no doubt in that. I love coding and programming. I am not among those who hate to code. I enjoy coding, and that’s why I don’t think there’s any other career option that would be better for me. You should always make your career in the field that you are interested in and you don’t get bored in. If you forcefully choose any career, then after hitting the industry, you will feel pressurised and you won’t be able to handle the pressure well. Work becomes very easy if you enjoy doing that work. The same thing applies to studies also. Always try to enjoy your subjects. Study them in such a way that you don’t get bored. That’s the best shortcut to success in any field. Always enjoy your work or study, whatever it is that you are doing.

Now, one thing I would like to tell is that these days, the syllabus of most colleges is not adequate, especially for the IT industry. If one thinks that college studies are enough, then he/she is definitely wrong. For the IT field, you always have to work extra and gain extra knowledge, because in the industry, if you have that bit of extra knowledge and if you are smart, then only you will get promotion. Another thing I learned is that speaking English is also very important for the industry. Please note that when I am saying industry, I am referring to software and IT industries. Your speaking skills, your way of standing, talking, your personality are very, very important for the interview as well as in the industry. Everyone will want to be with someone who is positive minded, is smart enough to handle all the jobs given to him, and is helpful and friendly, not someone boring and dull. So, I think the students should also start working on their skills and personality right from the first year, as it takes time. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or a week. And yes, don’t be a bookworm. These four years of college aren’t coming again, so don’t forget to enjoy them and make some good memories. What else, I think I have already given the best possible advice, so it’s up to you now. 

About the Author

My name is Rahul Kumar Roy. Presently, I am a student of Haldia Institute of Technology, a college situated in Haldia, West Bengal. I am in the 3^rd year now and pursuing BTech in Computer Science and Engineering. My hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, and at the same time, coding. I am particularly interested in becoming a great ethical hacker.

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