The problem with the two 'Cs' during college admission

Just a night ago, Delhi University declared its cut off for various courses offered by its different colleges. When Ramjas College went to set a new record by setting the cut off for Economic Honors at 98.5 percent, it is a sure possibility of every student or at least most of them, referring to their seniors who are already a part of DU, regarding their queries of which course to opt for under which college.

While someone will suggest that what holds most importance is a course, many others would be of the opinion that the course does not matter as much as the college. Honestly, when I was unable to get the course of my choice in the first two cut offs last year, I went ahead opting for a course which I had never really wanted to pursue before. My reason of taking such a drastic step of opting for Maths honors at a prestigious college only because I was unable to get Journalism Honors in the same,the course of my choice, did not make me feel better about myself, as I had been assured by many others, who claimed that it is but only one's college which matters in their life.

Math Honors does have a huge scope and a lot of opportunities lie in this field to make money relatively more easily as compared to Journalism Honors, however, what I clearly remember is the feeling of few doors shutting up for me than many doors opening because of Maths Honors. Whereas it was true that it would make me capable of applying for Actuarial Sciences, the fact that I would not be able to work for media agencies distressed me more. It was exactly then when I realized what matters more is the course that we opt for and not the college that we go in. Reason being that it is the course which will provide us with life time happiness while the college will just give a tag to show off to the rest of the world.

I am not saying that a college does not matter at all. Certain set of opportunities, exposure and experience differ from college to college, however, in the long run, when we will finally sit for placements, it is but the course which will hold a larger value than the college. Studying the course of our choice not only brings us peace of mind, as we are not studying something under compulsion, but because we genuinely want to pursue it, it also makes us capable to sit for placements of specific organizations. For example, there is no point in opting for a course like Journalism, if consultancy firms attract a student.

I have had friends who had opted for a specific course at the college that I study in, leaving the course of their choice in some other college, only because at that moment they give more preference to a college name.

What we all must remember is that there should be a 6:4 ration when it comes to placing value to one's course and college. One should give 60 percent weight-age to the course of their choice and 40 percent weight-age to the college name. This will ensure that we do not end up making the abrupt decision of going for a course that we never even thought of doing just for the sake of college name, and end up getting ourselves admitted in a college which will provide us with the right kind of exposure that we need.

You might still feel that college name matters more. Talent and skills are present in every college. Opportunities vary but for most of them are the same. A better ranked college is good at making you aware of those opportunities. But when a company will come to offer you a placement, what they will look for is whether or not you hold knowledge of the subject that the company is looking for, and would not simply offer you the placement if you haven't studied it at undergraduate level only on the basis of your college name.

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Link to the source:https://www.google.co.in/search?q=du+cut+off&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimwLDczc_NAhVHLI8KHchUDdsQ_AUICSgC&biw