| Monday, July 07, 2008
Making counselling work for you
The countdown is almost over and the task before the applicant
is to make the best use of the counselling facility
Online info: Some preliminary idea of one’s
prospects is available based
on last year’s admission statistics
For the 1.2 lakh students who have applied for an engineering
degree course under the Anna University system, the countdown
is almost over. While the counselling and seat allotment process
has already begun for students from other states, vocational
streams and other special categories, general category students
will get their turn, starting at the end of this week on July
11.
Despite the natural anxiety on the part of students and their
parents as they approach this important step, there are a few
things to remember to make the process smooth and less harried
so that students make the right decisions at this critical juncture.
By now, many students will have a reasonable idea of what course
and college they are interested in. However, the former director
of admissions at Anna University, P.V. Navaneethakrishnan, offers
some sound advice to those who are still dithering about their
choice.
He suggests that the choice of a course can be mapped out with
some “concentric circles.” The outer circle, and
the first thing to consider should be the aptitude of the student,
what subjects and career prospects he is interested in. Next
comes the student’s capacity and ability — the subjects
that he or she is actually capable of doing well in, often reflected
in which subjects he or she performed well in at school. Among
the subjects which meet both these criteria, comes the innermost
circle of scope, says Dr. Navaneethakrishnan. “There is
no point in selecting a popular stream if the student neither
enjoys it nor is good at it,” he says.
While selecting the right college, Dr. Navaneethakrishnan says,
the factors to keep in mind include infrastructure, both academic
and non-academic facilities, the number and quality of faculty,
the attitude of the management, the placement record, collaboration
with industry and the quality of alumni. “If the institution
is every good, the college can be moderate,” he suggests.
Of course, all this only helps the student figure out what he
would like to choose, not what he is likely to get. A look at
last year’s cut-off marks can be helpful. Education consultants
may help, but the website www.collegesintamilnadu.com
has attempted to make it easier for students and parents to
deduce their options on their own. It has loaded a programme
based on the 2007 Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission (TNEA) cut-off
mark and rank of each college in the State, affiliated to Anna
University.
According to R.V.Srivatsan, Director of Adroit
Techno Solutions, Chennai, who has hosted the site,
the candidate should key in his aggregate mark, course interest
and reservation category. The site comes up with colleges where
he has a chance to get admission. The result is expected to
vary slightly because of the rise in the number of colleges
and some changes in reservation policy. “It can still
prove to be very useful by taking into account plus or minus
five to the candidate’s aggregate. This will reduce the
time and narrow down the options the candidate will have to
give when he is sitting in front of the terminal at the time
of counselling,” adds Mr. Srivatsan.
TNEA itself updates the current status on seat allotment daily
between 7 and 9 p.m., says Anna University vice chancellor Mannar
Jawahar. “There is nothing to worry about. Just be ready
one day early. If you are from out of town, make sure you come
to Chennai one day early and check the current status of what
is available,” he says.
Dr. Navaneethakrishnan agrees that students should not try to
figure out their exact prospects using the current status until
at least two days before counselling. “If you worry about
it too early, checking the status constantly, you are simply
worrying about other people’s seats. They will be gone
by the time it is your turn,” he points out.
Students should make sure that they arrive a few hours early
at the Anna University’s Guindy campus when it is their
turn for counselling. Turning right from the main gate will
lead them to the makeshift display hall, with large screens
projecting the constantly changing status. Further on is the
University’s Examination Centre which is being used for
counselling. “An hour before counselling, students must
pay the [counselling] fee [Rs. 5,000] either by cash or demand
draft in the bank counters at the Examination Centre building,”
says TNEA secretary Rhymend Uthariaraj, outlining the counselling
process.
The next step is to wait for the announcement of your counselling
session, and then follow the arrows behind the examination centre
to the briefing hall building to make the actual choice. One
parent or guardian will be allowed to accompany the student
and will not be allowed to leave the hall until counselling
is over. As soon as the student enters the briefing hall, he
or she must register attendance.
“At the hall, select three branches or colleges in order
of your choice from the projection screen. Then go for certificate
verification,” says Mr. Uthariaraj.
Students will then be called to make their final choice of college
and branch, after which no change will be permitted. Students
will then return to get their allotment order and bank challan
to pay the remaining fee.
It can seem like a stressful process, but sufficient preparation
can remove the tension.
Courtesy: The Hindu - Education Plus
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