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“Better to choose college over course”

Reflective:Students seeking admissions to engineering, medical and related courses at

What is the difference between CSE and Electronics and Communication Engineering?

Hardware that is deployed for CSE areas for development is based on electronic hardware. To that extent there is a part of electronics in CSE. In ECE, there is networking and communication in physical media. It has specialised areas such as Telecommunications, Radar system engineering and Embedded system engineering.

College is more important than the branch. If the colleges are more or less equal in their reputation, then go for the branch. It is important to choose the right educational institute and right environment. When it comes to educational institute, you should get value for money. Every institute has to disclose its resources to AICTE and you can go through it. Don't be carried away by institutions that claim their institute is accredited. No, institutes are not accredited; only courses are accredited by AICTE. Recently, it was found out that out of 600 engineering colleges, about 200 were found to be maintaining good quality.

It is a common complaint in universities abroad that Indians are very good in theory but poor in application part. This is one problem foreign universities are finding with Indian students. You should have application-orientation for any branch of engineering.

It is only an indicator. Final allotment will be based on State rank. In each university, 85 per cent of the seats are reserved for local candidates and the rest for non-locals and locals. Both of them have to compete for these seats. It is a misperception that the 15 per cent seats are reserved only for non-local candidates, but that is not the case. Based on the merit, the seats will be allotted.

There are killer technologies that come up every 75-80 years. It started with printing technology and the last century was the age of information technology.

21st century has been identified as the century of nanotechnology.

It is the ultimate in technology and science. Any advancement has to be made through nanotechnology. Unsolved mysteries can be solved through nanotechnology, nanobots can be used in Medicine, further computing power can be established through nanotechnology. One can specialise in nanotechnology from any field, be it Computers, Biotechnology or Electronics. If you are interested in nanotechnology in medicine, it is advisable to go for B.Pharm and then M.Pharm and then specialise in nanotechnology.

Pharmacy Council of India has started six-year Pharm-D course in tune with the requirements for students preferring to move abroad. This course exposes students to clinical pharmacy and they need to spend the final year in an hospital under the supervision of a doctor. If B. Pharmacy is industry-oriented Pharm-D additionally gives them clinical exposure.

Recently, a top official of Accreditation Body in USA said Pharm.D is a new course and we still do not know the performance of the students. Their performance can be known only after the first batch comes out. Job opportunities are few in India for graduates of the six-year Pharmacy course. If you want to stay in India, it is better to go for B.Pharm and later do M.Pharmacy.

Jobs are always there. It is up to you to see where you can fit in. Biotechnology is a subject that will be long-lasting. However, you will have to have interest. B.Tech (Biotech) is first step in right direction. B.Techs are preferred only in production cycle. I suggest you do post graduation. Then you can go for Quality. If one is really interested, then you should go for research.

One of the subjects in Biotechnology is Informatics. However, it will only give you a basic idea of the subject. One can always shift to IT field. All big IT companies have Life Sciences division and they are looking for people with basic awareness of computer programming and a background in Life Sciences. B.Tech (Biotechnology) graduates are preferred here.

Avionics is a subject that involves lot of knowledge in different systems of an aircraft. Students study all aspects of electronic technology in an aircraft. Mechatronics is a field where students study electronic systems in mechanical engineering. All equipment nowadays is basically being controlled by electronics. Mechatronics graduates will be equipped to handle such equipment. Thankfully, JNTU is awarding these degrees under Mechanical Engineering as in, Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics), Mechanical Engineering (Production), etc.

Civil Engineering has become much sought-after. Graduates are selling like hot cakes due to infrastructure development in both public and private sector. They will be in demand at least for some more time. But there are no adequate faculty in the colleges.

You can go through an article on web counselling in Education Plus that was published on July 26, 2010. An entire page has been dedicated to this. You can also read the article in The Hindu's website - http://www.thehindu.com/education/article534892.ece - Even the admission notification of the Government will contain details on the procedure.

Dual degree system has come from for IIT system. It enables one to get undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in one go. Based on the statistics the top rankers are preferring four year programmes over five year programmes although they can get another degree. Those who have got lower ranks are getting into five year programmes. It is a general trend among students to get employed after under graduation, gain work experience and then go for higher studies.

We don't require artists. We require people with passion for architecture. You have tools to translate your thoughts. Architecture course is an elitist choice. Civil engineering is inbuilt into architecture. You have 72 subjects in four years (8 semesters) and the last year would be dedicated to an internship with an architect, where you will be paid stipend of between Rs.15,000 and Rs.20,000.

A candidate who is weak in physics is not fit for engineering.

Every branch in engineering is linked to physics, analytical ability logic and mathematics. A whole world is mathematical background and physics is engineering.

If you are strong in maths you can go for any branch of engineering.

If you are weak in physics and mathematics, it is better to go for B.Sc. (Maths) or MCA course.

Chemical nanotechnology and Chemical engineering with specialization in Petrochemical engineering have practical applications. It is advisable to go for these branches.

You are lucky! You can join Pharmacy and study hard and see for yourself where you will be placed after 15 years compared to your friends in MBBS. Plan out your career carefully and you will definitely succeed. MBBS is not the end of the road.

Yes, you can definitely go for Biotechnology.

Any good engineering college must have a robust engineering laboratory infrastructure available. Even with mediocre faculty, you can come out with a good degree, if you have good infrastructure available. There are three different areas in Mechanical engineering: thermal, design and production or manufacturing engineering and these can be supported by good labs only.

It is a specialization and is mandatory globally for further sustenance of the world. In the next five years, just like a Chartered Accountant certifying our accounts, there will be an environmental specialist to certify every walk of our lives.

Even today all industries have to take environmental clearance, for which environmental engineers are useful. There are a couple of colleges offering Re-Environmental Engineering. But its always better to do this at the PG level after acquiring the basic B.Tech degree.

Should I opt for Metallurgy Engineering and Material Science?

There are two areas in Metallurgy Engineering: Extractive Metallurgy and Physical Metallurgy.

It will be preferable to go for Material Science at postgraduate level. This is what most of students are pursuing in universities abroad.

ABHIJIT DEV KUMAR AND YOGENDRA KALAVALAPALLI

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