ITER, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Campus Experience

Currently, I am pursuing my BTech in Computer Science and Information Technology at ITER Bhubaneswar, and I am in my 6th semester. Overall, there have been ups and downs during my college days, and we have spent nearly three years here on campus, as COVID took six months from our campus experience. Our classes and exams are completely virtual, but it is fun to experience both virtual and real campus life.

About the Campus:

The campus area is very large, but it is scattered among the 4 campuses which are scattered across the city within 3-4 km distances. The main Campus for the BTech student is Campus 1, where all the academic curriculum is done. It contains a huge library, Bansuri Guru Auditorium, E block, S block, Indoor game stadium, C Block, F Block, Cricket net Practice field, Volleyball Court, a huge Cafeteria which Contains a lot of food stalls As well as restaurants and saloon. Besides BTech, several other courses are offered on this campus, including BCA, MCA, MSc, and PhD. However, the percentage of BTech students is higher compared to all other courses.

First-year Experience:

During the pandemic, we only attended a few offline classes, and then, due to the second wave, all our classes shifted online for the first semester. Consequently, our friend circle didn’t grow much during that time. However, starting from the second semester onwards, our classes became offline, allowing us to interact with other students and seniors, thus expanding our friend circle. Fresher parties were organized by our seniors for us, but they were celebrated outside the campus at different venues. Keeping up a 75% attendance record is crucial for academic performance, which can be quite a hassle. There were several hackathons and cultural events organized by the clubs. Being a part of these clubs is essential for campus life. There are numerous clubs like CDH, Codex, Danza, Robotics, etc., engaging in various activities throughout the campus.

Second-year Experience:

Now that the pandemic is over and we’re in our second year, there’s no academic pressure on us, and we’re having a blast! There are fun events like the SOA Cup held in Campus 2, where we participate in various sports events. We also take part in various hackathons. An interesting IPL-like cricket game called box cricket is held on our campus, and it’s awesome! We even had the chance to attend Nit Raulkela’s fest, which I attended through the robotics club where we emerged as winners. Attendance is a bit of a concern, but hey, sometimes it’s okay to compromise a bit for the sake of all these amazing experiences!

Third-year Experience:

It is crucial for all of us a lot of pressure on us as pre-placement classes start with our academic curriculum which sucks all my energy. As I am in my 3ed year, I have to study throughout the year and improve my CV. But it is interesting and fun to challenge some difficulties in life. Despite this, we went on a picnic on the hill with our classmates which was an amazing experience.

Final-year Experience:

I observed that by the seventh semester, most students have either secured placements or internships. Their class schedules are lighter compared to the third year. They may have offline or online exams and classes, depending on the college’s management. This flexibility helps students balance their academic and professional commitments effectively.

College Fests:

It’s disappointing that our college hasn’t organized any festivals during my entire three years here. Although there might have been some events in Campus 2, they weren’t quite what we were hoping for. It’s a shame that we’ve missed out on the fun and excitement of college festivals.

Placements:

Placement and internship opportunities start pouring in towards the end of the sixth semester. Big names like Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco, TCS, Infosys, Deloitte, and many others visit our campus to recruit students. With over 1500 students in just the CSE and CSIT departments, competition for placements can get pretty intense. Unfortunately, due to the recession, our seniors’ batch placements are still ongoing, and around 60 to 70 per cent of them have already secured placements. The average CTC in our college hovers around 6 to 7 lakhs, with the highest package reaching a whopping 32 lakhs.

My Opinion:

During my time in college, I’ve learned a lot about behaviour, making friends, celebrating, teamwork, and handling tough situations. Looking back, I realize that I could’ve learned even more if I hadn’t overthought things and just enjoyed the learning process with good friends. It’s a lesson I’ll remember going forward.

The college campus isn’t as exciting as I had hoped. There are no festivals or student engagement activities, and the extracurricular scene is practically non-existent. It’s a bit disappointing, to be honest.

The academic curriculum and recommended books are solid, but not all teachers are great at teaching. However, they are supportive, and in the end, it’s up to us to put in the effort to truly grasp the material.

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