Background: I had been allotted a seat in the ECE course at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) in the online counselling. According to my JEE mains score, I had to report at the TIET Patiala campus for in-person counselling on the 14th July.
Now, if you are wondering why I have been so particular about writing that Deemed to University on the top be rest assured I have no clue what it means.
I have heard my father mutter once, “I don’t understand the difference between Deemed University and Deemed to Be University when in reality they are the same. What does the Government actually want when they come out with such insubstantial differentiation?”.
Patiala is around five hour drive from Delhi, so we started on 13th July late afternoon from Delhi and on the way Mom and Dad called up few hotels and shortlisted 3 places. My grand mom was also travelling with us hence they trying to figure out a decent homely place to stay.
Honestly, having let go the options for BITS Pilani (B Pharm), few top Private Universities (Computer Sc.), I was confused with the options I had now with me. IPU (BVPCOE) and Thapar, both allotted me ECE ( and hopes were high for CS at both places) while DTU was also a good option and I was waiting for NITs – 6th and spot rounds to happen, with some hope in case, my choice of streams and choice of NIT clicks.
On 14th morning we reached the campus at around 9am, when the counselling had just started. The process was being conducted merit wise and the candidates were seated according to their ranks. JEE score 113 onwards was the first batch that was called and I was in that group.
Seniors students were all around the place in Maroon and Black T shirts who were managing the process and guiding students and parents.
They did not allow both parents inside the auditorium and I went inside with my Mom while Dad had to wait outside in a place where make-shift arrangements were made for parents to wait. It was well organised. Every few steps Maroon T-Shirt volunteers (boys and girls) were present and they were guiding, helping giving directions and responding to queries.
I took my place in the auditorium, while my Mom seated at the back. Also was present with me was a friend of mine. After filling a few forms regarding the hostel and mess fees, I noticed that there were still a few seats left in the CSE branch and filled my preferences accordingly, keeping CSE at the top.
The admission officials were on the stage where we had to complete the counselling procedure, while the student volunteers helped us fill and arrange our forms. Before going on the stage, I had to pay for the Hostel Fees through Cheque or PayTM (that’s what it was told initially) and was given a form to fill up. So my Mom went out and my Dad had to come since the cheque book was with him and the volunteers were strict with one-parent one-child entry rule. My father was about to write the cheque but he could figure out that the Hostel Fees were also being accepted through Debit Cards apart from the Cheque/ PayTM options but the Mess Fees has to be paid through Cash or PayTM options. So he gave me his debit card to pay the hostel fees and then rushed to the nearest ATM. One of the seniors informed there were many ATMs in the campus. The seniors were doing a wonderful job and with great proficiency.
After getting all my documents verified, the official asked me which stream I would like to opt for and I said CS. Fortunately, I got it. There were not many seats left at that point of time in CS. In the meantime, my father got the cash and I completed all the payments.
Since all the AC hostels were taken in the Day 1 of counselling itself, I got a triple sharing, non AC room in the Hostel H. The difference between the AC and Non-AC rooms were only Rs. 7000.00 per annum approximately.
The room was moderately spacious, but with three beds, almirahs and desks it looked smaller. It had a balcony and was right beside the football grounds. Mess was in the ground floor. Noticed some of the seniors were vacating the hostel H and were moving to a different hostel.
We took a round of the campus. I was excited to see the sports facilities the courts and grounds and the swimming pool. Hostel Mess Menu was a bit dampener as it did not offer any non-veg but later found that there are options in the COS where several eateries were present. COS had shops where one would find all the daily needs, including a book shop, a parlour, a bedding store – coir mattresses which one would need the day one shifts to the hostel were priced around Rs. 4000.00.
The campus looked great but that day it was too humid and hot. And I could not see any cooler in the balcony too, so was wondering how to survive in the Patiala summers. Recalled the hotel reception guy saying that the summer temperature can go beyond 45 degrees. And that moment heard my Mom saying, “Since the difference is not much they could have made more AC hostels”.
Will figure that out later, I thought. By then I had developed a liking for the campus and getting CSE made things a bit clearer. Thapar is definitely one of the top option for me. Look forward to going back to the great campus.
Submitted by Aritro Pal.
