The moment I say that I am a final year engg. student (technology student to be precise… Too much nitty gritty? thats an engineer!), everybody ranging from my relatives, well- wishers, friends and strangers ask this same question, ‘how is your project work going?’ and follow it up with ‘have you got a job?’. Though one can understand the significance of the latter question which does play a major role in life, the frequency of the former amazes and tickles me at once.

For one, when was the last time somebody failed in their project work? Ninetynine percent students get somewhere between 170 and 200 no matter how their efforts in the six months had differed. And for two, how much or I daresay what (if any) weightage does a final year project hold on our first job. Its obvious that from our second job, only experience counts.

And this brings me to the dilemma that students face when choosing what to do for their final year project and how. One can choose a company internship which can either be a great learning experience or end up as a waste of six months(some might want to differ here) depending on the firm you choose. Some might just get a letter from the company without even bothering to be present there.

But all students are not lucky. Some might not get a company internship and some might even be prevented from giving such a try(like us.. We are implementing only IEEE papers). So what are the other options? Either you trust yourselves(or your friends in some cases..hehe) and start doing it at your home and college or you go for buying out entire projects from the so called project centers(i have always believed project center is where you do research rather then buy projects before coming to engineering).

And what does the second option cost? Anywhere between Rs.6000(if you are extremely lucky) to Rs.20000(if luck is not your cup of tea). Though you share it between say three, still I think this is too much of your parents’ hard-earned money on something which you can manage yourselves(and something that is not too consequential). For one can always get 140 even if your project is some crap and you can get above 160 if you can just convince the external that you have tried something. Sometimes staff’s favourites might get more than a real breakthrough project.

Also what does this extra marks you gain from spending so much give you? Not even 1 aggregate percent even if you gain a whooping 40 marks. The project centers make use of the students’ dilemma to make more than a lakh a year for two to three weeks work. Its no wonder that some of my friends are thinking of opening one after some years.

So what I would suggest is believe in your ability to code and complete your project or atleast talk yourselves out of trouble during the review if you fail to complete the project in the first place. Even if both the above strategies fail, what you are going to lose is nothing significant. But if you succeed in your mission, that great satisfaction you get on completing the project will be worth more than what you gave for it(proved by personal experience!). So like all self-believing, high-sounding professionals,”Its my way or no way”.