Parameters to consider while choosing a college
Are you confused about which college to select after passing class XII? Is the question, "In which college I should get admission?", still there in your mind? You will get answers to such questions in this article. The article gives detailed information of the factors to be considered while choosing a college after passing class XII examinations.
Choosing a college is not an easy task. After all, your entire career is influenced by this decision. You need to scrutinize each and every factor with great care. You can start your research by checking out college websites. This will give you a fair idea of the contributing factors. A visit to the college campus, interaction with staff and faculty can also make your task easy.
Here are the major parameters to be considered while choosing a college-
1. Courses Offered : Make sure you check the list of courses offered by the college. Read their brochure and evaluate the curriculum. You should get admission in the course of your choice. A college generally follows the curriculum prescribed by the University, however, you can check upon the electives, teaching methodology, learning strategies, and evaluation criteria according to the course.
2. Location : Decide whether you are willing to relocate or you prefer to study in a college near your home. There are many factors to be analyzed if you wish to move to a different city such as cost of living, accommodation, hostel facility provided by the college, safety, weather, food, and transportation. Moreover, if you decide to stay in your hometown and get admission to a college near your home, you can get feedback from local students and check about the local transportation facilities.
3. Accreditation : Another important factor while choosing a college is accreditation. It refers to the certification given by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). NAAC evaluates the institutions for their conformance to the standards of quality in terms of its performance related to the educational processes and outcomes, curriculum coverage, teaching-learning processes, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organization, governance, financial well being, and student services. You can visit the NAAC website for more details about the rating process. Further, for long-term growth and opportunity check the NAAC rating and accreditation before finalizing any college. Such details are generally available on the college website.
4. Cost : This is one of the most important parameters to be considered. Cost not only includes the tuition fee but other expenses such as transportation, hostel, and personal expenses. Additionally, if you are relocating, there would be more expenses in terms of other essentials. Discuss these factors with your parents. The educational loan facilities can also be evaluated if you wish to pursue education in a college with a slightly higher fee structure.
5. Infrastructure : A college having proper facilities and infrastructure generally enhance our experience. Check about the amenities provided by colleges such as laboratories, auditoriums, cafeteria, digital classrooms, hostel facilities, computer labs, digital libraries, sports & fitness equipment, playgrounds, audio-visual rooms, internet network, and research facilities. These facilities support academic learning.
6. Extra-Curricular Activities : Extra-curricular activities play an important role in the holistic development of students. Many colleges have students clubs and societies that provide a platform to contribute to overall growth. The students are involved in organizing various festivals and events. Such exposure can imbibe certain skills in you, mainly teamwork, leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
7. Faculty : A good faculty is one of the most important aspects of any college. A faculty is not only responsible for imparting education but also assists the students with the learning process and application of knowledge. We all want well-qualified teachers. If possible, find the faculty qualifications. Further, look at the student-teacher ratio and average class size.
8. Placements : All of us wish to get a job right after the completion of the course, though some of us might go for higher education. Many colleges invest heavily in providing placement opportunities and career guidance facilities to their students. Check on the placement records of the college and the average package offered by companies.
9. Industrial Exposure : It is generally preferable to get a fair exposure to the industry you would be working in after completion of your course. This can be achieved through field visits, workshops, seminars, conferences, internships, corporate and global collaborations, and other training experiences provided by colleges. The industrial exposure supports practical learning and gives an insight into working methods and employment practices.
10. Alumni Network : It is advisable to have a look at the past records of the college. Try to find out the college alumni groups. They are a rich wealth of experience and may provide valuable feedback about the college.
Most importantly, bring other people into this process of choosing the college. Don't hesitate in asking for the details from the college officials, parents, friends, and alumni. Such detailed research can be time-consuming but keeping in view these points can help you make the right decision in your career.
It is not an easy task to choose the right college and this is the area where much attention is required for an aspirant prior to taking up a final decision in the selection of a college for the persuasion of his course. All the parameters while doing the course are important but at the same time, it would be better for the aspirant to assess the value of the course in the current time. The aspirant should remain in touch with the industries giving him insight into the scope of Geology, Chemistry or Physics at a later stage. Though the structure of the course in all the colleges of the same university would be the same, it makes sense to review the competence of the professors engaged in a particular college. The teaching faculties should have abundant interest in enriching the knowledge of the students.
It is a good write up containing different valuable points which could be beneficial to the aspirants prior to selection of a college for their ongoing studies.