HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A COURSE AND A COLLEGE?

Principal,Miranda House, Delhi University

Celebrate: Board exams are over and it is time to step into the brave new world. University education is a great leveler and in the long run it is not marks but your innate aptitude that will determine success in the workplace.


Unfortunately, the process of admissions is a traumatic game of numbers. It is critical to gather in advance accurate information and be prepared to take decisions tuned to your individual traits, expectations and aspirations. Make use of information available in the media and the internet as you embark on mission admission.

Reality check: One size does not fit all. Think of what you really want to do. Do you want just any job or a specific profession? What gives you joy, beyond the classroom? How would you contribute to your college and society at large? What are your skills, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses? View the answers in the framework of your social support structures and what family and friends say, sifting sage counsel from bias. Create a priority list but do not fret if you find few unambiguous answers to these perennial questions. It takes a lifetime to know.

Course first: Contemporary career paths are increasingly non-linear and often require inter-disciplinary inputs that can be acquired from a wide variety of courses. For instance, if you want to do an MBA, just any course will get you there. Studies in environment and development can be approached from several perspectives. On the other hand, if you want to be a physicist, you do need to pursue physics from the outset. A strong foundation in traditional core subjects will allow you to move later to a wider range of application courses or softer disciplines with ease and greater ability. If the choice of a course is critically important, find the college that will offer this to you. Make sure you check if they have dedicated faculty to deliver the promise.

College first: If you have a special talent or are flexible about what course to pursue, choose a college known for its vibrant commitment to holistic development. Broad-based liberal education in a good college will provide numerous opportunities to discover your interests and develop your innate potential. Choose subject combinations and electives carefully; join add-on courses; participate in extra-curricular activities and community outreach programs; make the most of college life, peer interactions, collaborations, network with other institutions, internships and placements. In the fast changing workplace, employers lay greater emphasis on your portfolio of multi-faceted achievements and soft skills are considered far more important than early specialisation in a particular domain.

Be the change: It is indeed a flat world and no longer is formal education constrained by physical boundaries. Whichever college and course you make it to, have no regrets. The reputation of a college is made by its students and you could very well be the one to elevate it. Do not view the choice of college and course as a make-or-break point that will affect career prospects. The majority of population is able to carve productive career paths in directions quite different from those flagged and coveted at the threshold.