Standing at the threshold of teenage and adulthood, choosing a college affects our life for
long and the memories of college life remain evergreen. With varied options available for
studying across India, choosing a college tries our life’s skills. Of course, parental advice has
a big role to pay and their considerations of finance and location of the college cannot be
overlooked. Despite centralised admission procedures in many universities and marks
obtained decide your college to a large extent; students are always asked for preferences
while filling forms.
If you have decided which stream to opt, here are some of the tips which help you in
choosing a college:-
1. Accreditation and Affiliation
Check that the college is recognised by the statutory authorities like UGC/AICTE/DDE etc.
and affiliated to a recognised university. These affiliations ensure that the colleges have all
the minimum requisites laid down by the government. Similarly accreditation from agencies
like NAAC or NBA can help you decide the quality of education imparted in the college.
Students should check all statutory approvals and authencity of colleges especially the
private ones. Some colleges get grants from government and students should check
availability of scholarships.
2 Reputation 
Next, you should check that college has its own standing. Naturally if it is old and
established quite long ago, it will have a name than the newer colleges. Colleges tend to
glorify their achievements during admission season. Students should choose wisely and
clarify all that has been claimed in the prospectus.
3 Facilities available and quality of Staff members
A college is not just a building. It always has an atmosphere which helps a student grow in
all directions. A large playground, an updated library, an amphitheatre for cultural
programs, seminar hall, career guidance cell, good internet connectivity along with expert
and well-experienced staff add five stars to your educational journey in the college. Too
many students in one class reduce the scope of personal attention.
4 Student-friendly activities and exposure facilities
Besides just imparting syllabus-bound education, the college should be able to give you
exposure to other academic and extra-curricular activities. It should organise conferences,
expert talks, arrange field and industry visits. Promote activities like NCC, NSS and
participation in inter-college competitions. A tie-up with national level laboratories like
CSIR/ ICAR/NCL, etc. or industries or firms for internships or consultants gives the students
an added advantage for placements. Collaboration with a foreign university, for spending a
part of the course there, adds weight to your degree. We often hear about students
inventing new things. If you have that knack, then you should look for a college which
supports such things.
5 Placement or Employability Record
If you have joined a professional course such as engineering, then placement track of the
students is very important. Check which companies hire the students of that college or what
percentage of students is placed every year. In non-professional courses, you should check
how the ex-students have fared in their endeavour. Where are they working and how much
exposure have they received from the college will help you in deciding your future.
Last, but not the least, the location of the college, tuition fees, interest of the students also
matter. Students should take into account advice from parents, senior siblings and experts
before deciding finally.
College is a refuge from hasty judgment. Robert Frost