The Most Difficult Situation for PCM students....

WHY CHOOSE ENGINEERING? 

Recently published reports call for an increase in the number of engineering graduates and suggest appropriate characteristics that these graduates should embody. Accomplishing such change first requires understanding why students choose to pursue engineering degrees. 

Looking at the number of engineering colleges in India and the number of engineers coming out of these colleges, the questions that form in everyone’s minds are, “does India need so many engineers?” Are they all employable? The negativism brought forth by such questions has crippled engineering education in India.

I will look at the Indian education scenario from the point of view of parents whose wards are applying for admission to colleges. As the trend goes, most students would like to pursue professional programmes such as medicine and engineering. Since fewer seats are available for medicine, getting an MBBS seat has become extremely difficult and the majority is left with the next popular option—engineering.

In the absence of proper orientation in the system, parents and their wards follow an inappropriate procedure while selecting their branch of study in the college. During counselling, we notice that the selection of a branch of study is based on the following:
 (1) The most sought-after branch in counselling,
(2) The branch having good job opportunities as seen by the previous year placements,
 (3) Parental pressure and
(4) Peer pressure.

This is not the right practice. The correct way will be to spend some time assessing one’s interest for a particular branch and check if it matches well with the aptitude one has and the chosen branch of study. 

It is because of such practices that we face problems of employability and dissatisfaction in existing jobs, which can lead to high turnover rates, low productivity and increase in the stress level of employees.

 Myth and reality 

Having understood the education scenario, parents should free themselves of a few myths that surround them, and make a fair decision concerning the future of their ward.

Myth :-

 1:- One should be a professional such as a doctor, lawyer or engineer to be successful in life.Other degree who has professional fetch a job programmes are not useful. 

 2 :- Marks scored in higher secondary are a true reflection of one’s intelligence, and the one who has scored 95 per cent is more intelligent than others.
 3 :- Those who studied higher secondary education in vernacular medium cannot shine in professional courses taught in English.
 4 :- Unemployment is high, so campus placement is everything.
 5 :- An engineering degree in the most popular branch, with 8.0 CGPA and above will definitely fetch a job.

 Is engineering right for me?  

 If you're thinking about pursuing a career in engineering but aren't entirely sure if its right for you, you may want to consider the following questions: 

• Do you like puzzles and solving problems?
• Are you curious about how things work?
• Do you consider new and better ways of doing things?
• Do you like maths and science?
• Do you like working with computers?
• Do you want to make a difference?
• Are you interested in global issues and challenges?
• Do you want to improve people's lives?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, the engineering profession could be for you and it may be worth further consideration. 

How to make the choice :- 

 There are some thumb rules to be followed in choosing an engineering education. 

•The interest of the candidate and his/her choice of branch should be the criteria for admission.
•Every parent should orient the child towards finding out their natural interest and the aptitude for the  particular subject or branch of study.
•Parents should avoid deciding for the candidate.
•For a strong-willed person, if the choice is made based on his/her liking and natural taste, then studying that branch will be the best thing rather than joining any other branch, for whatever reason.
•It is not wise to join a branch of study because it is popular or because the job opportunities are high.
•The choice of institution is also critical.

 "Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them." - James A Michener