First Year

INTRODUCTION Entry to college from school is a major transition in one’s life. One enters college with a number of hopes, dreams and desires. Some have been waiting to enter the college to enjoy the new freedom in life, some to build a career and some to enjoy as well as to study, others simply take this as a chance to be away from home and experience the much talked about ‘hostel life’. So, first year in college is always very special. There are lots of changes: environment changes, classmates change, awareness level changes, priorities in life change and most importantly, personality changes. It is real making of a person, developing him in all spheres. The change is big: from being treated as a child to be treated as a grown up person. From childish things to practical aspects of life, they all are important. Earlier college life began with class 11 th but now it begins with end of class 12, so by the time one passes class 12 th, he is already quite grown up but real maturity time is only first year of college which brings one face to face with the reality of world. They shape tomorrow’s leaders and workforce.

There are various factors that affect our first year experience at college. They include teachers, infrastructure, conduct of general staff (such as library assistants), behaviour of seniors, ragging (which may be a different experience for hostellers and non-hostellers), food and other facilities at hostel and availability of entertainment sources etc. All these have substantial roles to play in how one finds his college as he is foreign to everything around him.

In order to find out what is view of year 2008 batch students about their first year experience at the college. A survey was undertaken involving various questions that involve most of the important things like teachers, infrastructure among others. So, the findings of the survey, that was conducted on 34 students from all branches are being analysed here. 1. As displayed, change from school to college has been described as good by about one third of the students, average by half and poor by the rest. 2. The results in ragging department are remarkably good and very positive. About 59% of them were not ragged at all. Rest confirmed that ragging was just introduction type, friendly and fun. This is a very good development as most feared factor in beginning of college life is that of being ragged embarrassingly. College, as a whole practically provides ragging free environment. 3. Participation in Minerva is good (about 3 quarters). Most of the participations was in form of volunteers which again reflects good relationship with seniors. 4. Questions about relative performance at college raises some serious concerns ,only 15-18% students say their academic performance has improved.56% of them said their performance declined after coming to college.

5. This is something serious. The reason for this is the usual teen excitement of getting into college and enjoying the life. The main aim of study is forgotten during the initials days as students feel like enjoying the ‘new freedom’. In response good about future.