With the arrival of the new year, the final-year students of colleges across the City have started making future plans. While some are applying to different institutes for further studies, others feel that it is time they became financially independent.
Most of the final-year degree students say that they are planning to study further and hence, are busy preparing for entrance exams.
"I want to pursue a postgraduate course in English and I have already started applying to colleges abroad. Let's see where I get a call from. I have also applied to many universities in the country, like Delhi University, for a postgraduate programme. Right now, I am preparing to pursue this," says Diksha, a final-year degree student.
Many final-year engineering students are waiting to join the companies that they have been placed with.
"The companies started recruiting during the second half of the year and almost all the final years have been placed. We can't wait to join. I am aware of the fact that joining work will be a new ball game, but all of us are ready to face this challenge. I think we will all take a while to settle in and then go with the flow. It will be a learning experience, I am certain," says Aditya Punjani, a final-year engineering student.
Akhila Krishnamurthi, who has already been placed with an IT company, is satisfied and feels that her hard work has paid off.
"My parents are very happy and I am looking forward to starting work. The placements have been good this year at my college; all of us have been offered good pay packages. It has been a tough year since we were under pressure to do well academically as well as get placed.
But now that is over and I am glad it has ended on a good note," she says. Nikhil, a mass communication student, says that he wants to apply for a course abroad and that requires him to prepare a dissertation and a report on which he will be assessed.
"I have to work hard on the dissertation and report and hence, I need some time. I had started working on them last year and am trying to meet the deadlines. Many of my classmates are also applying for similar courses. We share ideas and help each other out. I hope we will get admission into the colleges we want," explains Nikhil.
Students in the City are focussing on achieving their goals. Clearly, the future will be full of challenges as well as a learning experience for most of them.