How to Choose a College for Career - Top Factors to Consider

Now once the foundation is established in school, it becomes easily manageable to build upon and further strengthen the base at college. This is when a child grows into a young adult and starts making independent decisions. It is a big responsibility as well as a realisation of accomplishment. Therefore it is vital for students to receive the right college selection guidance, in order to join the institution that suits their goals best . 

At the same time, this stage can feel like a maze of challenges, therefore guidance from a genuine and trustworthy source regarding college admissions in India becomes essential. This guidance could range from credibility and reputation of institutions to the importance of NIRF ranking for colleges and other important statistical data. In addition, you may even enquire about the infrastructure, placements and basic amenities in the campus as well. However, if you are someone who still feels confused on this subject and have come online looking for an answer, then fret not. We got you covered. Continue reading this blog to figure out the steps to choose the right college that can help you to achieve your goals!

Researching

To put it simply, this process includes conducting an in-depth exploration that covers various aspects (infrastructure, affiliation, courses, location, faculty, placement etc). This is necessary as knowing the core information will help in determining the right course for a student, thereby helping them to find the best college to study in India.

Now, let’s explore each and every aspect:

• Infrastructure

A student is shaped by their experiences at college and that is best expressed by their access to amenities, facilities and infrastructure on campus. Now, this can range from classrooms to hostel and campus facilities. Keep in mind that a poor presence of such facilities will hinder the experiences of a student. Therefore, it is essential to keep an eye out for the right College Infrastructure.

• Affiliation

It is essential to check if your college is affiliated with a University that is authorized to grant degrees. This is important as it makes sure that the college follows an approved curriculum, maintains academic standards and that the degree awarded is valid and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Without this, a student’s degree may not be accepted by most employers and universities (to pursue further studies). So, make sure to check the university affiliation details of your chosen institution.

• Courses

You must check if your intended college provides the course which you are interested in. Also, make sure that the course is recognized and accredited by UGC and if there are adequate placement opportunities. There are too many misleading options out there, so always go for recognized Courses in colleges that are verifiable.

• Location

You must also take the College Location into account, as it greatly influences the kind of exposure you receive. Some cities provide better opportunities for certain careers while others may limit your options. Important factors such as daily commute and cost of living needs to be considered to make your college life hassle free and cost effective.

• Faculty

Students are shaped by the faculty of their college as they play an influential role in moulding the skills and personality of their students. This further aids in the career development planning for final year students as it's important to curate a road map for the career that lies ahead.. Hence, it's vital to learn about the faculty of the college you plan to join. This can be done by visiting the college’s official website or talking to its students.

• Placements

If your intended college can help in getting you job opportunities, then you can kick start your career immediately after graduation. So, make sure to choose a college that has a good Placement record as that will be vital in landing a good job.

Entrance Exam

Nowadays, many colleges and universities have started conducting their own entrance exams. An entrance exam is a standardized test to determine which student is proficient or suitable enough to join a course. In addition to that, the central government has introduced exams which most popular colleges and universities have accepted as a mandatory part of their application and registration process. Therefore, it's important for the students to figure out the specific entrance exam which is essential to enroll in their desired institutions. Once specified, the students can begin their preparations to ace the entrance exam.

With that said, below mentioned are some of the popular entrance exams conducted in India:

• Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)

• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

• National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)

• NIFT Entrance Exam

• Pearl Academy of Fashion Entrance Exam

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) MBA Admission Test

• Common Admission Test (CAT)

• Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

• National Aptitude Test (NAT)

• Xavier Admission Test (XAT)

Budgeting

Setting aside a budget for your college admission process is of grave importance to avoid unexpected expenses and financial stress . Various colleges have different fee amounts and this varies from course to course. Therefore, it is important to check the official college website in order to determine their fee structure. If the fee amount is within your financial budget, then it would be wise to continue with the application process. However, if there are financial constraints, then you can either - a) look for another college that offers the same course or b) check out various scholarship details in colleges and find out if you are eligible for any.

Conclusion

In conclusion, research well and make an emphatic study of all the important factors before choosing your college. Along with that, go through the above mentioned tips for choosing the right college in India. All in all, you’ll gain a holistic outlook on education, thereby helping you set out on the right path to achieve your goals in life. Just be conscious of the mistakes to avoid when choosing a college especially when looking for your preferred choice. So, go forth into the world and put the best foot forward on your academic journey!