There are many challenges that students face when they want to decide on a career. Once they opt for engineering, students and parents may think they have made the easier choice. On the contrary, engineering is one of those streams where there are plenty of engineering branches one can choose from. It is probably the first and most important step that can make or break a student’s career. This depends on the interest of the candidate. If a person is interested in automobiles, he/she can pursue automobile engineering. Likewise, if a person is fascinated by machines, he/she can take up mechanical engineering.
Here are a few tips you could use to choose the right stream in engineering.
Future Career Options
When a person chooses an engineering stream, it is wise for a student to know what the future career prospects he or she has. Core engineering streams like electrical and mechanical engineering are always in demand both in India and abroad. However, there were times when the job market was flooded with graduates from computer science and information technology, which led to limited career options for them.
Research and Academic Contributions of The Faculty
There are a few factors that students look into, like location, faculty members, and the number of research papers published. As a student, you need to pick a course that is relevant and has demand. If you have faculty who are constantly contributing to the academic advancement of the course, it shows that you would learn a lot more than what the textbooks provide. An academically active faculty might also inspire you to join academia after your course.
Placement Rate
One of the most important criteria for students to look at while choosing a college is their placement rate. Placement rate can be defined as the number of students who are getting a job opportunity due to the campus placements that happen in the college. Campus placements are the best way for a student to enter corporate life. So, it is important to understand the placement history of the college and the course being signed up for! Knowing that you might land a job as soon as you complete your course is reassuring and would make your course period less stressful.
Accreditations Received
Accreditations received from various boards, institutions, and chambers are also an important criterion, as they can reflect the college’s true nature. They will be evaluated on various parameters like faculty, number of doctorate holders, number of papers published, number of students placed, the lab facilities, the syllabus, etc. This will help the students and the parents know the kind of institution they are evaluating and whether it is a right fit for them.
Better Course vs. Better College
Deciding whether one has to go to a good college or pursue the course he/she likes. This is always the toughest decision that a student or a parent has to make. The peer group may not be up to their expectations, the lab facilities might not be good, and most importantly, the placement opportunities are not so great. However, if there is an opportunity to study in a good college, all the above mentioned points are taken care of.
So, make sure you take into account the five points we have mentioned in this blog before you pick your engineering stream. If you found this blog useful, do not forget to like it, and do share it with someone who is trying to decide on their engineering stream.