This DU Student Has 10 Medals, 50 Certificates, Yet No Internship. Here's Why
Bisma Fareed, a first-year BA English Honours student at Hansraj College, Delhi University, is frustrated by internship rejections despite her academic achievements. She values practical experience
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Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Indian Express
Life in an IIT: My journey to IIT Madras and beyond
– Atharv Joshi I come from Bhopal, a city that holds my earliest memories and the roots of my academic journey. I studied at Mount Carmel School for both my Class 10 and 12, and by the time I reached Class 10, I had already decided to choose Humanities. History, political science, economics, and physical education were my core subjects, and I had a clear plan – to graduate from Delhi University and prepare for the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE). But as fate would have it, one random evening of internet browsing changed everything. One day, while randomly surfing Google, I came across the Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Exam (HSEE) conducted by IIT Madras. I was surprised to learn that IIT Madras ran a unique five-year integrated MA programme in Development Studies and English Studies. The idea of studying at an IIT with such a progressive interdisciplinary approach instantly appealed to me. I gave the exam, and to my surprise, secured an All India Rank of 18. And just like that, my journey with IIT Madras began. I am now in my fifth year. We joined during the pandemic – October 26, 2021, to be precise. Initially, everything was online, and it was only in April 2022 that we finally stepped onto campus. That was when college life truly began for me. Coming from North India, the shift to the South was monumental – different cuisine, climate, culture, and language. My department itself was a microcosm of India, with students from all corners of the country. The diversity was new, sometimes overwhelming, but always enriching. I learned to adjust, but more importantly, I learned to grow. To be honest, my academic programme allows me to think more than memorise. It's intuitive, discussion-based, and grounded in lived realities. We don't have equations to derive or formulas to memorise. Instead, we spend hours contemplating the society around us, discussing theories in class, and applying them to real-life scenarios. That learning never stops – whether I'm at a café, a debate, or even cooking with friends. So no, I don't have a rigid study routine. I attend my classes regularly, keep up with readings, and prepare continuously through lived experience. My day usually starts around 8.30 or 9 am. I take my time waking up, grabbing breakfast, and heading to class. Our schedule is based on academic slots, so some days are light, and some are packed. By 6 pm, the academic part of the day ends, and the other half of my life begins – clubs, student governance meetings, drama rehearsals, poetry meetups, and more. As the Speaker of the Student Legislative Assembly, I was deeply involved in student governance. In fact, I convened the Pan-IIT Student Governance Summit, taking delegations to Parliament and the Supreme Court, meeting with ministers, and conducting simulated sessions. Some nights would end with us drafting agendas and coordinating with my secretariat team well past midnight. Dinner usually happens around 9 pm, followed by catching up on news, reading for UPSC, or academic texts until 1 am. Hobbies, of course. I picked up crochet after coming to IIT and found it deeply meditative. I also love cooking. In our hostel, we have a kitchen, and cooking sessions have become bonding rituals. Once a week, we gather to cook a regional cuisine – sometimes I am the head chef, sometimes the assistant, and sometimes just the person fetching the spices. It is one of my happiest spaces on campus. Unlike school, the professor-student relationship here is less intimate, but the influence is no less powerful. For instance, Professor Vinita, a development economist, deepened my interest in gender and feminist theory. She has always supported me, both academically and personally. Prof Vinita, especially, has been a mentor I can always turn to. Chennai is a city I've come to love. From cycling trips to Thiruvanmiyur Beach, temple visits to Mylapore, or architectural walks through St George's Fort, we've explored it all. Food, temples, culture – there's always something new to discover. If I had gone to DU, I wouldn't have experienced this level of autonomy and exposure. Here, I decide my academic journey. Through the choice-based credit system, I can tailor my degree around climate, gender, and development — my core interests. IIT Madras has helped me evolve globally while staying rooted. From internships in Tehri and Mizoram to representing India at MITACS in Canada, and now preparing to head to the University of North Carolina for the Morehead-Cain Global Fellowship, my life has become a series of transitions – each one taking me closer to the person I want to be. I haven't been home in over 1.5 years – each vacation is filled with fellowships or internships. But I do meet my parents midway. We once visited the Maldikar temple in Andhra Pradesh – it was a short but beautiful reunion. IIT Madras isn't just a campus, it's a world. A world where you come in with a plan, but you leave with a vision. And somewhere between the debates, beach visits, governance meetings, and midnight Maggi sessions, you find yourself. Mridusmita Deka covers education and has worked with the Careers360 previously. She is an alumnus of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University. ... Read More
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
‘Appeared for exams without knowing if I passed last': 7 months after system shift, 50% of Gurugram University students still await previous semester results
Gurugram University's transition to the Samarth portal seven months ago has disrupted academics for thousands, leaving nearly 50% of students awaiting past exam results despite new semester exams commencing. GURGAON: A shift by Gurugram University to the govt-run Samarth portal around 7 months ago has resulted in academic disruption for thousands of students, with many still awaiting the outcome of exams held in Dec. Despite new semester examinations having started, nearly 50% of students have not got their results from previous terms. The issue began when the university moved its results management system from the EMS portal, run by a private IT firm, to Samarth, a centralised platform used by institutes like Delhi University. "The previous vendor exited in Nov 2024, and we had to migrate data of over 40,000 students from Gurugram University and affiliated colleges," said Ramesh Garg, controller of examinations. The delays have hit students hard. A third-year BCom student said she appeared for exams without knowing whether she had passed earlier ones. "Only my first semester result is available. I don't know the outcome of the second or third. Because of that, I couldn't fill out the re-appear form in time," she said, adding: "No one at the university has been able to help." BA graduate Anjali Jajoriya, who recently took her sixth-semester exams, is still waiting for her fifth-semester and re-examination results from Dec. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo "Last month, I was told the results would be declared soon, but nothing has changed," she said. "I couldn't apply for re-exams for multiple semesters because I didn't know my status. We're caught in a loop." Garg explained that in addition to system migration, delays in uploading marks by colleges also affected declaration of results. "The result depends on internal and external theory and practical marks. In several cases, colleges didn't upload all components. Once contacted, most complied, and those results were released," he said. Additionally, Academic Bank of Credits ID or Apaar ID is now required to access results. Students who haven't completed their registration cannot see their marks online.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
CUET vs Class 12 marks: Are board scores losing their value? Experts explain
It's a question thousands of students and parents are asking this admission season: with CUET now being the main route into India's top central universities, do Class 12 board marks even matter anymore?The then UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar had also announced back in December 2024 that students would be able to opt for subjects in CUET which they didn't even have in Class 12. He had said this decision had been taken in order to 'cross the strict disciplinary boundaries in higher education'.advertisementHowever, in April, Delhi University noted that while Class 12 results will not impact the DU admissions conducted through CUET, except for pass marks requirement in the exam, students must take the CUET exam in the same subjects they studied in Class 12. So, while CUET has certainly changed the game, experts say it would be a mistake to write off board exams just OBSOLETE, JUST REPOSITIONED'The introduction of CUET has certainly shifted the spotlight from Class 12 board exams,' says Avnee Khosla, Vice President and Director of Admissions at Shoolini University. 'But it would be both a pedagogical misstep and an oversimplification to consider Class XII board marks obsolete.'She's not alone in this may now be the gateway for most central universities, but Class 12 marks continue to play a big role in determining eligibility, breaking tie situations, and even deciding scholarships and admissions in private or state-run no, Class 12 marks aren't dead -- they've just moved to a different place in the admissions Shekhar, Senior Director of Admissions and Outreach at Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, puts it clearly: 'The relevancy of Class 12 marks has not become obsolete, it has merely been redefined.' STILL CRUCIAL FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TIE-BREAKERSFor most CUET-participating universities, students must still meet a minimum Class 12 percentage to be considered. That's the baseline -- even a stellar CUET score won't help if you're not eligible to apply.'Students could still be rejected for the university or course if their Class 12 scores don't fit the minimum requirement,' says Kanupriya there's the tie-breaker angle. What happens when two students get the same CUET score? Often, it's the Class 12 marks that decide who gets the seat.'Class 12 marks become the decisive tie-breaking factor for final selection, particularly in competitive courses with many applicants,' explains Enid Verghese Jacob, Deputy Director at Hindustan Institute of Technology and COLLEGES AND STATES STILL DEPEND ON BOARD MARKSadvertisementNot every college has jumped on the CUET bandwagon. Several private universities -- and entire state-level systems -- still follow traditional admission methods. In these cases, board exam results carry far more weight.'Private universities often give greater weightage to Class 12 performance,' Enid Verghese Jacob notes. 'Additionally, a number of states have retained their traditional admission methodologies in lieu of adopting CUET.'So, if you're someone considering options beyond central universities, strong board marks open more doors than you MARKS HELP MORE THAN JUST ADMISSIONSWhat many students miss is how their Class 12 performance can come back into play later -- even after they're admitted.'These scores continue to function as indicators of a student's academic consistency, work ethic, and domain competence,' says Avnee Khosla. 'They guide decisions on institutional cut-offs, merit scholarships, programme-specific eligibility, and even postgraduate admissions in India and abroad.'Vishal Khurma, CEO of Woxsen University, echoes this sentiment. 'CUET can assess aptitude, but it cannot replace the depth of learning acquired in senior school,' he says. 'It's important that we continue to value a strong academic foundation.' advertisementBOARD STUDY = CUET PREPHere's another twist: students often think preparing for CUET and board exams are two different worlds. But in reality, they overlap much more than they domain-specific sections are based directly on the Class 12 NCERT syllabus. So, doing well in boards actually gives you a head-start in CUET.'Strong fundamentals built in Class 12 are invaluable for success in CUET,' says Avnee Khosla. Kanupriya Shekhar adds, 'Class 12 acts as the base that helps the student develop the necessary skills and knowledge to dominate in their CUET scores.'The time gap between boards and CUET is also just about 1.5 to 2 months -- which means students must have a solid understanding of their subjects before they even start preparing full-time for REAL RISK: UNDERMINING CLASSROOM LEARNINGIf the perception grows that board exams are no longer important, it could have serious side effects. Experts warn that this could lead to even more dependence on coaching, reduced focus on school learning, and a decline in writing and reasoning skills.'Reducing the perceived value of board examinations will undermine classroom learning, writing skills, and year-round academic discipline,' says Avnee Khosla. 'It will also fuel a hyper-coaching culture.' advertisementA SMARTER APPROACH: DON'T CHOOSE ONE OVER THE OTHERSo, what should students do?The answer is simple: don't treat board exams and CUET as two different paths. Prepare for both – smartly.'Students should not adopt a dismissive attitude toward board exams despite CUET's prominence,' says Enid Verghese Jacob. 'Viewing them as complementary to CUET preparation rather than separate entities provides maximum admission opportunities.'Kanupriya Shekhar agrees: 'Don't treat board preparation and CUET preparation as two separate tracks. Most of the syllabus overlaps. What's needed is a smart, integrated approach that builds deep understanding instead of rote learning.'With the right plan, students can balance both. They can use board prep as a springboard into CUET, and come out stronger at the end of 12 MARKS STILL MATTER, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAYCUET may be the biggest headline in college admissions today, but Class 12 board marks still have their place -- in eligibility, in merit lists, in scholarships, and even as Vishal Khurma sums up, 'While CUET may have shifted the weightage in the admissions process, Class 12 is far from irrelevant. The knowledge and academic discipline built during these years form the bedrock on which higher education rests.'So to all students wondering if they can ditch the board exam grind -- the answer is no. It's still very much part of the a burden, not a side quest, but a solid stepping stone.
