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THE Indian higher education having emerged as one of the world’s largest systems of higher education with 14.6 million students enrolled in more than 31,000 institutions continues to suffer from the challenges of access, equity, and quality. Ironically, as enrolment in higher education grows, so does the problem of unemployment and under-employment making higher education a rather complex system. With skill shortage in several sectors, unemployment of graduates accounts for a much larger share than the overall level of unemployment. As the higher education sector grows, it becomes more diverse and the competition much fiercer. Against this backdrop, it becomes imperative for all aspirants wanting to enter the higher echelons of education to make a well-informed and judicious choice while selecting a college. Even in this digital age, where a large database of information is just a click away, students find themselves a tad uncertain, even confused about choosing a college. Keeping abreast of the dynamic changes, there is a dire need for students to step out of the comfort zone and check for new metrics while scouting for the best college that meets their personal aspirations. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Finding a good college requires time and thoughtfulness. Keeping this in mind, visiting a college website, learning about what events take place, who visits as guest speakers, and how one can get in touch with the current students and faculty is a good way to supplement a campus visit or one may also choose to make a personal visit to the campus. Let us look at a few important parameters that one should consider before selecting a college: Investigate & check Do not allow generalisation to direct your judgment in a world of super specialisation. Investigate and be sure to separate reality from often baseless opinions. Many will refer to a college as "good", "hard to get into", "a party school", "too expensive", etc. without really knowing the facts. Refuse to accept these kind of generalisations without evidence. Money matters For many students, especially in India, the biggest factor in choosing a college is money. However, do not let costs dictate your goals. While tuition is expensive, there is also the availability of financial aid. The real question is not how much a college costs, but how much one has to pay out of one’s pocket after taking into account scholarships and financial aid. It could turn out that with financial aid and scholarships, the most expensive college on your list would actually cost the least amount of money. Support staff The quality of faculty has an enduring impact on the overall quality of the institute. No college can help in the proper all-round development and aptitude development of the students unless the teachers and professors are experienced enough for teaching and possess the required qualifications. Highly qualified and experienced faculty with degree from stellar institutes and industry experience can be instrumental in imparting practical knowledge as compared to only theoretical. The non-teaching staff also has a great role to play in maintaining and regularising law and decorum in the college. Before making a choice, students must gather sufficient knowledge about the faculty, administration and managerial staff of the college. Attend a college fair Most colleges have brochures, catalogues and websites. While these are definitely valid places to begin the research about various colleges, they are just that — a good start. Before making a life-changing choice like the selection of the college, one should talk to experts, interact with some students, faculty, staff and counsellors and only then decide. Network accessibility With a paradigm shift in the education pedagogy, industry interface, industry exposure and experience have become an integral part of the course curriculum. It has almost become mandatory to integrate relevant work-related programmes into the academic module. In order to facilitate this, access to the network in terms of proximity, network and know how has become indispensable. For instance, a college located in the heart of a corporate area such as Gurgaon or Bangalore is in a far better position to allow and facilitate adequate exposure to the industry as compared to a college located in a small town. Thus, choosing a college based on its location should be a thumb rule. Check accreditation Accreditation is an easy and sure-shot method to determine standards. Accrediting bodies have comprehensive websites which are updated regularly. Recognition by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is mandatory for all technical courses. A visit to its website, followed by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) website, will give an idea about the credentials. If the college name does not appear on both these sites, it’s most certainly a bad choice. Placement statistics Placements play an important role in choosing a good college. While selecting, students should look for the companies that regularly visit the college and inquire about the placement percentage of the college. It is always wiser to inquire through former students or seniors. Remember zeroing in on your area of interest is only half the battle won. Before embarking on a new journey, investigate about the various facets of the college, consult the alumni and talk to the present students about the holistic experience the college has to offer It is essential to find a college that strikes a balance between hardcore academics and specialised industry exposure that finally paves way for a successful journey ahead. — Dr Pramod Kumar is President, International School of Business and Media, Gurgaon
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