Steps to select the right branch at IIT, an OPEN MINDED APPROACH

Choosing a branch in IIT can be a tough task. It is indeed one of the most important decision to make in life since it'll shape your future. 

You'll be hearing all sorts of advice from your friends and parents. Even your distant mausi will not hesitate in giving you her holy advise. The net is flooded with sites like quora, engineeringclasses blah blah where you might develop more conflicting thoughts (contrary, my blog is also one such web-page). Reading on the internet why one branch is better than another, is futile. Unfortunately, most of them are based on campus packages that few people in "those" particular branch get (you know the hype about CS).

Confused? Still figuring out which branch/IIT to chose?

God created all humans equally but all branches aren't equal. Some might suit you, some might not.

The following steps will develop an open-minded approach for selecting the right stream:

1. Remember packages aren't everything. Follow your interests. Choose what you feel passionate about. For instance, Civil Engineering means a lot of field-work and if you are not suited for that, you better not choose Civil Engineering in the first place.

2.  Don't chose PHYSICS ENGINEERING if physics was a nightmare during your JEE preparation days. IITs have ample amount of time to explore new things and courses. Later you'll find METALLURGICAL guys choosing COMP. SCIENCE electives. It's the way the institute runs. IITs allow one to study beyond their disciplines. Most people do not even pick jobs of their major department.

3.  There is no such thing as NO/LESS scope in the future. The reality is, every branch has good scope and opportunities if you perform well in it. It's your determination that'll shape your destiny. Engineering provides opportunity to specialize. Find out about the Post graduate courses and which branch can get you there. You might want to pursue a non-core career (MBA, IAS, advertising, marketing, ) for which META, MECH, CIVIL are considered better.

4.  Talk to seniors who are presently studying at IITs. This is the most important step. Almost all seniors are on Facebook, trouble them a bit. Ask them questions about what they are studying presently. Follow related groups on Facebook.

5.  Gather information about campus life, professors, facilities (some new IITs still don't have complete labs, services, faculty etc.) and further opportunities.  Start finding about life after your stay at IIT. You need to have a basic idea about what is expected from the course you wish to pursue. Run through the college websites and the course material they offer under the branch you aspire for to make the right decision.

6.  Your 4 years of college life should be memories to cheer for lifetime. Old IITs are far better in making this statement meaningful. Compare hostel and academic life, sports facilities, clubs and committees in IITs. Search for the best college fests and IITs organizing it. Metro cities provide more exposure, while IIT Kanpur's professors are considered one of the best in the country. Distance of the IIT from your city might be a point to consider for some.

7.   Don't just run for an IIT tag. BITS-PILANI is equally at par with most IITs.  Getting a branch of your interest in BITS must be favoured compared to opting an IIT just for sake of it.

8.  Chances of branch change (BC) is close to nil. You'll have to be a topper among all toppers. Don't pick an IIT keeping BC in mind.

Important links:

1. UG Programs, IIT Bombay

2. Branches overview, IIT Bombay : Look for similar Brochures of other IITs.

3. Student Mentor Program, IITB

Take a few days to figure out what's good for you. Patience is rewarding.

If you are unable to find your interests, chose branch by opening-closing ranks.

That's what the majority does, shoots in the dark *_*

Hope you make a wise decision and be responsible for what you chose. 

Mumbai: City of Dreams for all??

Well, hello guys, I’m Naman Kasliwal, an IIT BOMBAY student. I’m in my first year and have recently moved to Powai. From my very first day in the so called “CITY OF DREAMS”, I observed a huge economic gap between the rich and the poor. It is not that slums aren't present is the backdrop of other Indian cities. But Mumbai holds special in the sense that slums are clearly visible amidst the luxury.

Dazzled by this, I thought of writing my first blog…

Mumbai is one of the most busiest and luxurious cities of India. Colossal apartments with numerous facilities, magnificent malls and of course beautiful beaches, it has them all. Abode of affluent celebrities and extravagant businessmen, Mumbai has always been fancied by the rich. On the other side of this ornate world, one can see uncountable slums, tent houses tightly packed with people in a primitive state. Think how these slum-dwellers manage a living with such a meagre income in India’s most expensive city??

Returning from my aunt’s house in Kandivali, I crossed by a subway. I was horrified seeing people sleeping on littered floors, no roof over their heads, lost malnourished children and rainwater aggregated  all around (it had rained then).

 Isn’t it a matter of concern??

Let me put up some facts.

1.   In India’s financial capital Mumbai, which boasts some of the country’s most expensive real estate, approximately eight to nine million people (or over 40% of its households) currently live in slums, which the Indian Census succinctly defines as “residential areas unfit for human habitation.”

2.    Tellingly, Mumbai’s slums are estimated to occupy only 6-8% of the city’s land mass. In some parts, 50,000 people are said to be crammed into each square kilometre.

3.   With an additional 80 million people  projected to move to Mumbai in the next two decades, the problems are supposed to be worsened.  The World Bank estimates that 22.5 million people will be living in slums in Mumbai by 2025.

Some links:

1.  http://infochangeindia.org/poverty/news/54-of-mumbai-lives-in-slums-world-bank.html

2.  http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-rich-poor-divide-in-mumbai/20111019.htm

3.  http://borgenproject.org/10-facts-poverty-india/

The question arises… what can we do to provide a better living to these people. Can we get them out of this penury state?

Some noteworthy measures taken/being considered are:

1.   The Society for Nutrition, Education & Heath Action (SNEHA) in Mumbai, which is scaling a community-owned and -led resource center. It serves as a repository of child health and nutrition needs and public healthcare referrals.

2.   Subsidized grain is provided to 75% of the rural population and to 50% of the urban population considered “too poor to eat properly.”

3.   Gabriel Project Mumbai - Working for children living in Indian slums.  http://gabrielprojectmumbai.org/Poverty_in_India.html

An interesting TED TALK on poverty: http://www.ted.com/talks/sendhil_mullainathan

Certainly these are not enough.

Being at IIT BOMBAY, I have got an opportunity to bring a change. The NSS Buddy Program has been initiated to work towards the upliftment of IITs construction and maintenance workers. It aims at improving a poor family’s condition by mentoring their kid and indirectly the family.

Buddy Program YouTube Video:

Such steps need to be taken by up other colleges and institutes. More funding, proper policies and controlling inflation must be given priority. We got to provide them a just and equal lifestyle. Addressing this issue is one of the key steps in the regeneration of the India story and will have a highly positive impact on the success of the Modi’s government.

This economic gap must be abridged!!!

Please feel free to comment. Suggest some measures that can be taken up at individual or institute level so that we can contribute to bring a change.