I’m currently in my final year at IIITDM Jabalpur, where I’m studying Computer Science and Engineering. My college adventure began in 2020, bringing with it its own set of challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. The first three semesters were conducted online, but fortunately, I’ve been able to experience campus life for the past five semesters. Overall, my time at IIITDM has been positive, though the atmosphere largely depends on the person in charge, particularly the ‘Dean Students.’ If they’re strict, the college can feel a bit restrictive, but otherwise, it’s a place of freedom and joy.
About institute :
IIITDM Jabalpur is one of the oldest IIITs around, with a current NIRF ranking of 97 as of 2023. The institute offers a range of undergraduate programs, including Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Smart Manufacturing (SM), and Design (B.Des). Nestled across 260 acres, the institute is situated between Dumna Nature Reserve and Jabalpur Airport.
My experience in the first year :
Starting a new chapter in life is always exciting, and I couldn’t wait to make new friends and create lasting memories in my first year. The pandemic changed everything, and our first year was conducted entirely online. While I initially hoped for offline classes, we adapted to the virtual mode. Despite the challenges, our professors were incredibly supportive. They patiently communicated with us, making sure we didn’t miss out on our education. Labs were conducted online mode, providing us with a chance to gain some practical knowledge. In these difficult times, our seniors became our guiding lights. They helped us learn basic programming languages and encouraged us to dive into the world of data structures and algorithms. Despite the unexpected circumstances, our college journey continued, filled with new experiences and learning opportunities.
My experience in the second year :
In my second year of college, we had a combination of online and offline classes. The third semester was completely online. The third semester was done in online mode, it felt similar to my first year’s experience. But in the fourth semester, we went to the institute and classes began in offline mode . During this year, we got to enjoy the campus again, meet friends and interact with seniors . It was the time when our focus was on personal and academic growth. We studied things like data structures and algorithms, web development, and data science. This year gave us the chance to explore different fields and choose what we were really interested in.
My experience in the third year :
My third year at college was really great. We didn’t have too many classes, so we had plenty of time. The fifth semester was especially cool because we focused a lot on doing projects and building up our resumes. We even had enough time to balance our studies and go on trips. The fifth semester flew by because we had sports tournaments and technical , cultural events happening in the college. Then, the sixth semester began, and the placement cell told us that companies were coming for summer internships. That made us a bit nervous, so we started getting ready for interviews, connecting with people on LinkedIn, and feeling the pressure of placements. Despite all that, the third year was the best because we had the most free time compared to the other years. The professors and the placement cell were really helpful, answering all our questions and giving us confidence. It was a good time to work on personal skills and goals.
My experience in the final year:
In the last year of college, we were all excited about getting good jobs because most of the seniors before us got placed in good companies with good salaries. We thought we would do well too. However, this year, things didn’t go as planned because of “recession.” It’s a difficult time for the economy, and it affected job opportunities. We heard rumors that the number of companies coming to hire students would drop by more than 60%, but we didn’t believe it until it actually happened. Not just our college, but all colleges in the country were having the same problem. Only a few companies were interested in hiring students. Our college’s placement cell did a good job, but it was still tough. There were very few job opportunities, and students were feeling a lot of pressure. The placement team worked really hard, even day and night, to bring in companies. Our seniors supported us during this tough time because everyone was worried about finding a job.
In conclusion , I can say that overall experience depends on interaction with seniors and connections. Being part of various clubs , being active and interacting with people regularly can give the best experience .