AN ODE TO SUCCESS
The best engineering courses that one may pursue and what are the key objectives for one to keep in mind while making that choice
As another exciting academic year filled with hard work, anxiety, pressure and determination comes to an end, it is now time to reap the benefits that aspiring engineers have put into their cause. Although, many would consider clearing competitive exams with flying colours to be the sole aim, there is something more crucial that needs more thought. It is said that in order to nurture oneself, one does not only have to grow a fruit but savour its nutrients and should also have the capability to digest it. In an analogous way, the engineering entrance exams acknowledge the suitability of a candidate for a particular stream, however it lies upon the good sense of the candidate to make the decision of taking it up or not. This choice of stream is extremely critical as this classifies and pans out to a large extent, the role of the aspirant in his/ her career.
It is a hard decision to make, particularly when you get into the best engineering college and do not get a stream of your choice. Further, there are multiple aspects that need to be scrutinised and evaluated to come down to a suitable conclusion. In order to cut through the clutter, we need to seek answers to some crucial questions like “What is my long term goal?”, “How will this course propel me towards it?”, “Job prospects of the course?” and “Do I have the basic skill, interest and passion required to follow this stream?” Answers to these questions would allow the candidates to make a judicious choice.
Some of the popular engineering courses are computer science, electronics and communication engineering, civil or environment engineering, chemical engineering and biotechnology.
Computer science is one of the most sought after course in India. As modern India witnesses a large influx of foreign investment in this sector, the stream offers tremendous prospects for fresh graduates. The career opportunities are incredible for such young engineers with analytical ability and capability. Aspiring candidates should have a strong base in basic programming languages like java, mathematics and basic semiconductor physics. Candidates who are passionate about database management and application development should seek this as their top priority.
Electronics and communication engineering is another popular choice. Students with a strong base in calculus, probability theory and physics ( optics, electromagnetics and semiconductor) can perform well in this area. Like computer science engineers, candidates who are good at independent thinking and have a strong analytical ability could perform well in this field. This course opens the gateway to a wide array of industries like mobile development
“Some of the popular engineering courses are computer science, communication, electronics, chemical and biotechnology”
industry, telecommunication industry, hardware appliances and embedded systems. The electronics industry is already worth billions and offers lucrative opportunities for graduates.
Students who have a keen interest in structural engineering may choose civil or environmental engineering. A candidate should have astute skills in mathematics ( geometry) and physics ( mechanics), chemistry and material sciences. Engineering aspirants good at geographic technology can also do well in this
field. The field has wide scope with opportunites such as construction, maintenance and infrastructural facilities. A civil engineer may play the role of a construction engineer, hydraulic engineer or even a coastal engineer. With the green way of living gaining momentum around the world, the role of civil engineers plays a crucial role in planning facilities in an environment friendly manner.
Chemical engineering is for those students who have an interest in developing biofuels, modelling new ores or even some inclination towards devices. Students should have a strong base in organic/ inorganic chemistry. Apart from this, basics of mathematics and physics would be helpful. Chemical engineers are chiefly involved in the renewable energy sector, nuclear power sector, and industrial metallurgy sector. Ensuring safety and control for all the manufacturing plants is another important responsibility.
Biotechnology is a comparatively new engineering stream and is like a sister course to Chemical engineering, but is more specific in its realm. As one has to work with mass transfer and fluid mechanics in this area, chemistry, biology and physics are fundamental to this stream. Biotech inventions are widely disseminated in agriculture and allied sectors, health and sanitation, environment and biodiversity conservation, dairy and fisheries, integrated farming and pharmaceutical industry. This field would offer a lot to students who wish to embark on a career based on research in this field. In the process, as students will work on simulations and analytical tools and as a consequence develop skills in computer programming, they can flexibly switch to the software field as well. This proves beneficial as many of the civil, chemical and biotech firms outsource their software development work to the various IT companies.
No matter how infinite the choices may be, the mantra to success is to think wisely, be judicious and make the right start. Succumbing to peer or society pressure may only land you into an abyss of regret and disappointment for making the wrong choice.