Q Is it better to opt for a mediocre institute which offers good campus placement or a well-known college which does not offer placement?
Name withheld
It is not the college you go to but how you utilise the time spent there that decides the success of your career. Before choosing a college, do a little research. These days it is possible for a college to become well-known through advertising even if it is not accredited or recognised.
So, first check if a college is recognised or approved by the University Grants Commission or the All India Council for Technical Education. Next, try to find out the quality of faculty members. A good placement cell can make a difference but if the other college is better in many other respects, then you can always establish a placement club with like-minded individuals. No matter which college you choose, pack your college experience with internships, part-time jobs and social activities.
Research helps
Q I am a final-year student of BTech in computer science. I want to know about the requirements for pursuing an MTech course in the US or in any other foreign country. Is it too late for me to start preparing? Is there any other exam apart from the GRE and Toefl that I need to take before applying to universities abroad?
Name withheld
If you want to study abroad, first decide your budget, the course you wish to pursue and your long-term goals. The budget is the single most important factor as it helps to refine your research. International education can cost between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 30 lakh a year. Just applying to foreign universities can eat into your savings as the cost of application is high. Thus, choosing universities appropriate to your field of study and budget is vital. While researching universities ensure that the qualification is recognised or accredited in the country you are going to.
Many a time students are duped by educational institutions because they have not done proper research about accreditation norms in the host country. If you are studying computer science, choose universities that can help you specialise in human-computer interaction, Internet security, gaming or cloud computing.
Very often, students make the mistake of choosing a course that is popular in India and assume that it will be in demand overseas too but that is not always the case. Thus, understanding the job market in the country you are planning to study in will help you make a better decision. The GRE and Toefl scores are required if you are planning to study in the US. A score of 90 percentile is generally considered good. It will be better if you gather some work experience before proceeding for a master’s degree abroad.
