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First Semester as an English Honours Student

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Being one of the most sought after courses in Delhi University, English Honours crests up the expectations of every literati who seeks admission in this course. The idea of meeting Shakespeare, Jane Austen or George Eliot everyday makes it nothing short of exciting. But how is the journey actually like, well, let’s find out here!

After braving the cut off crisis, entering college on the first day as an English Honours student is bound to elate any literature enthusiast who is looking forward to an expedition of the literary world! The initial days of study in this course certainly blurs the boundaries of literature exploration. Meeting great authors, playwrights and critics through their work takes some time to be familiarized with, yet, makes one feel like delving deeper into the sea of literature. How can we forget the joy of purchasing those new books that never fail to bring a wave of happiness with the smell of their new pages!

Seeing all that happiness, our dear friend – the syllabus, starts pouring us some more love with endless discussions, chapters which seem to never finish and, motley range of timeless drama and poetry. This is when we feel like telling this friend of ours to calm down! With the ever increasing number of texts and background readings, at times it starts getting difficult to manage academic reading and leisure reading at the same time. Adding on to it, friends from different courses keep envying us for reading mere “stories” in the syllabus and having an easy course structure. This is the moment when we feel like enlightening those friends about the difference between reading Blake and Swift for leisure and reading them as part of one’s syllabi. Thus, we join the brigade that breaks baseless myths about the course being a mere cake walk!

Just after the crest phase comes the road to the trough. The teachers expecting students to read their respective texts completely and “critically analyze” everything that comes our way starts getting a little too tricky! This is when we start shifting from mere readers to critical readers of literature. But the road doesn’t seem all that easy in the first semester of the course. With loads of narratives and analysis to remember, one definitely gets overwhelmed with the amount of reading to be done, while being unaware of the questions that can be asked for such study. After putting in much effort, we’re forced to rely on help books to help us sail through the semester. However, the ultimate test of literature love for a first semester student is the semester examination. A study loaded with truckloads of texts, the first semester exams of the course resurface the general emotion for studies in no time.

Nonetheless, English Honours sure makes every seeker a thinker beyond the average one. Despite the initial hiccups, this course is not a mere study, but a leap ahead in the understanding of the world.

 

Feature Image Credits: www.flavorwire.com

Priyal Mahtta

[email protected]

 

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Top Picks

Off Beat Delhi Experiences that every fresher must catch

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With the pressure of studies and society activities slowly building up, DU Beat brings you some must have Delhi experiences that every fresher must catch.

1. Cycling trip to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Pick up the bright green bicycles from the Patel Chowk Metro station and go for a cycling trip to the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan with your friends. You can also combine this with a picnic in the India Gate lawns. Delhi being the heart of power of the country and this being a powerful location of the city, the trip might give you a feeling of being closer to power and will be a good memory to go back to any day!

Cyclin trip DUB

(Image Credits: Alex Arthur for DU Beat)

 

2. Midnight exploration of the Ridge
Having spent quite a few days in the college, your seniors must have filled your ears with the stories of the crying woman in a white saree or the monkey which hunts people at night, all of them residing at a common address- the ridge. Why not explore it yourself with your friends at midnight?
The silence of the night and the street lights combine perfectly to give you a feeling of someone who’s been waiting for long and is beckoning you. (Try this at your own risk and have a strong heart throughout!)

NC Ridge
(Image Credits: www.holidify.com )

 

3. Photoshoot at India Gate
With the Independence Day approaching and a patriotic fever rising all over the country this is the best time to plan a trip to India Gate and obviously click a picture of yours to set as your Independence Day cover photo on Facebook. What better way to display your patriotism and flaunting being in the capital at this time of the year?

India Gate
(Photo Credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

 

4. Going for a theatre experience
The capital is home to some of the best auditoriums of the country which play hosts to lots of plays. If you’re a theatre enthusiast then Mandi House which stations the National School of Drama, Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture, Bharatiya Kala Kendra and many more literary avenues can become one of your most visited locations in Delhi.

Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture Delhi
(Photo Credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

 

5. Catch the light and sound show in Red Fort
The great red building has been a witness to the rise and fall of the mighty Mughal Empire and the rise of Modern India. They say it right when they say that the red sandstones of Red Fort narrate history, for one trip to the Fort will take you back in time to the glorious days of Mughal rule in India. You can catch the light and sound show in the evening which would take you through a beautiful journey of history.

Red Fort
(Photo Credits: www.flickr.com)

 

So whether you are of the adventurous kind or prefer artful displays, there are many things you do to keep yourselves excited and amazed. This list is just a preview. So buckle up freshers! Delhi has tonnes of adventures in store for you!

Feature Image Credits: Alex Arthur for DU Beat
Srivedant Kar
[email protected]

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QWERTY

QWERTY: Must have tech for freshers in DU

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College life is driven by a lot of factors. Although, technology is not a very major one, it helps you to keep tab on various aspects of your college life. So, here’s the first part of the list of the hardware that we think would really help you in your undergraduate journey:

  1. Smartphone 

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    Source: pixabey.com

With time changing more swiftly than weather, a smartphone is a must for all new fuchchas out there unless you want to get on back foot for losing out on the random WhatsApp chats and latest class time updates and last minute changes declared by your popular class representative (CR). From taking a perfect selfie to calculating your monthly expenses, your smartphone can be the gateway to the world.

 

 

 

2. Earphones

Source: www.publicdomainpictures.net
Source: www.publicdomainpictures.net

From the drum beats of the theatre society to the noises of students bunking classes, you have to face a whole new level of distractions while trying to concentrate on something in college. In this situation a good earphone can come as a great rescue in time. With a great combination of right volume and right music it has the power to shift you to a different world where you can focus on your work in hand. No doubt some awesome companies like Google, Facebook and apple have earphone vending machines on their office premises.

 

3. Power Banks

Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org

From waking you up in the morning for the 8:30 classes to satisfying your soul with music during break within classes, your phone works harder than you. With WhatsApp and Facebook notifications pinging up in every ten minutes your phone’s battery life is going to get tired like you at the end or even middle of the day. A good power bank can ensure that your lifeline i.e. – phone doesn’t go out of its life and make your life more difficult. Go get one, before you decide between whether to make a last call of the day or to play your favourite song.

 

 

 

Having the right hardware is just not enough. One needs to know how to use it. Else it’s just dead weight that you’re carrying. So here’s the first part of the list of apps and software that would really help you in your undergraduate journey:

  1. For Social Needs

WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat – These are the four pillars of a good social life in not just DU, but in any university across the nation. Most of you, are already on Facebook and WhatsApp. Instagram and Snapchat are the ones on which many of you still aren’t. For an all-round social life, you need to be on the other two as well. You’ll realise their importance once the fest season comes. So register yourself right now and like the DU Beat pages (Yes! That is essential for a very cool social life as well. True Story!).

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2. For Documentation and Project Needs

Open Office & Libre Office – These three are free license office suites which will help you to do all your digital assignments, presentation, reports and projects on Laptop or PC. Microsoft Office suite is one the best but it is paid. These are the best free alternatives.

53. For Utility

Truecaller – If you have an active social life in college or you’re involved in various co-curricular activities, you’ll need to filter out the incoming calls. This app comes in handy. It’s a universal caller ID which gives you the name of the person along with some additional information. User can also block numbers, making it an excellent ‘pervert management tool for girls.

ColorNote– The app is one of the best apps for taking quick notes and messages on your phone. You can make check lists and can even pin your TODOs in the notification bar. It’s available for Android and Windows phone. Similar variants are available for Apple iPhones easily.

Pocket– The ultimate apps for bookmarks. There are various links leading to articles about plethora of things on various social networks which will resonate with your personality. This app helps you save such links so that they can be read anywhere, on any platform or device. You can even save them offline and load it later. All you need to do is save them under your pocket account.

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We wrap up the first part of our tech list here. Stay tuned for more. Do tell us about your personal experiences with apps and software in similar categories.

Image credits: natashascrazylife.blogspot.com

Kavach Chandra and Srivedant Kar
[email protected]
[email protected]

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Admissions 2016

DU Freshers- What to expect from college?

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First of all, you made it. Congratulations. That’s bright enough! Second of all, Delhi University is going to be everything you imagined. Okay not everything, but it’s going to be nothing less than three maddening, crazy and heartening years for you! But before you stop reading and start texting with anticipation and excitement, let us (your humble seniors) clear some of your misconceptions.

What to look out for:

  1. Jam Packed Social Calendar: Of the many things students will need to sacrifice this year, their social life is not one of them. With the new found freedom, the newbies can now go have a ball with their new found friends!
  2. Better societies and awesomer fests: As ECA and sports activities are as important marks, fests and societies will get a boost and improve drastically. With the fucchas working even harder to prove their mettle, it’s safe to expect each college putting up a grand show!
  3. College protests: As the hand of the ABVP and NSUI still looms large over DU, most freshers will be witness to their spectacularly conducted and overly dramatized protests. With political connections, there students will definitely try to bring the house down.

Busting Some Myths:

  1. Ragging: Contrary to the common belief of – ‘Tu kyu kar rha hai? Fucche se karwa lenge!’ DU isn’t exactly a frame out of 3 idiots and you will definitely not have to perform crazy stunts or walk around pretending to be James Bond just because a senior told you to do so. With strict anti-ragging laws, your worst nightmare should be cranky teachers and definitely not your seniors!
  2. The Ladies/ The Studs: For all those who stayed single to find their soul mates in DU, you’ll be waiting some more time. Contrary to popular beliefs, the girl’s colleges are not a pond of budding super models. And not all boys look like they were ripped off magazine covers. They too are humans, give them some credit for looking perfectly human and not like porcelain dolls.
  3. Equality Among Colleges: Okay so you’ve probably been expecting this all the way, but suddenly your best friend from the other college will become ‘them’ and your newly found united college buddies will be ‘us’.
  4. Completely Fudged up Timelines: If you had been cursing your friends, family, associates etc. for not being punctual all this time, you are about to experience a whole new level of procrastination. The University declares results exactly a month after its due date, if you’re lucky. Be glad that’s the only thing the university does. And if you have any other issues to sought with the administrative department, then god save you!

By Raghav Chopra ([email protected]) and Akriti Gupta ([email protected])

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Arts & Culture

How to deal with ‘I feel like a nobody in college’ syndrome

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Yes, it’s the first week of college. Yes, it’s nothing like you imagined. Yes, you do feel a little lost. Here’s a revelation: you’re not alone.

Typically, the first few months of college require loads of patience from your end. And every senior who looks well settled in her/his place right now has been in your shoes at one point of time. Everyone may seem like a ‘someone’ right now but no one walked in to college all popular and confident!

So while you’re still in your ‘figuring out’ phase and are getting depressed over the fact that you’re just one of the crowd, here’s how to deal with the ‘Nobody Panic Syndrome’:

  1. Join a society: College will offer you a society for whatever suits you the most. As clichéd this advice may seem, you’ll bear the fruits eventually. By the time the first semester ends, you’ll realise that not only your teachers identify you as a member of that society but also your friends and peers from different departments.
  2. Chisel those conversation skills: The first few months in college will bring you the friends that’ll stay with you for a lifetime. Talk about chicken, Big Bang Theory, Sky-diving, exploits in parking lots; whatever sails your boat! It’s easier than you think because everyone is as awkward and confused as you are.
  3. Hanging out should be a priority: Go out with your peers, explore areas in and around college. This should be your top priority (side note: even more important than attending classes!). Not only do you get to know about the food you’ll survive on the next couple of years, you’ll bag loads of memories.
  4. Associate yourself with activities outside college: You want to be a go-to and contacts person? Know your business outside college too. Capitalise on your skills and be open for new ventures. Join organisations that work outside the ambit of your course.
  5. Most importantly, make your presence felt: Don’t want to feel like a nobody? Participate in fests, volunteer for department and college work. Keep up that enthusiasm; you are being slyly observed, you don’t know it!

 

Arushi Pathak
[email protected]

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DUB Speak

5 College lessons to learn at the start of your first year

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College life initially feels like a slow brutal transition from a cushioned environment of importance to an equal platform and everyone’s ready to dive. It’s important that you know that everyone around you is feeling the same way, watching everyone else’s steps and calculating how they’re handling it.

Here are some lessons that you can probably learn before you take that first step into campus unlike a lot of other people who only had these epiphanies once they were done with their first year.

1. Can’t win ’em all, my friend:

Image credits: Indian Express
Image credits: Indian Express

School and College are too very different institutions of education (unless you went from a Christian girls school to a Christian girls college), so attacking exams is not going to be the same. About three months into college you’re going to be very confused about course structure and sadly the professors’ jaded monologue will not give you closure. If you were some inconceivably thorough kid in school, those days are over. Studying for exams in DU is concise and precise. The professors will scare you about an array of topics (do not lose sleep over it). When you find yourself fairly acquainted with the subject, search for past year papers, go through about three papers for the subject, pick the common four or five questions and target them as your syllabus (trust me, with all the chilling, you won’t even have time to reach out for the 6th question).

FYI: A Delhi University paper usually offer you a lot of choice – attempting 4-6 out of 8-10 questions.

2. Present:

Image credits: huntercuny.edu
Image credits: huntercuny.edu

Most of the times we get so caught up keeping up with all the partying after school that we kind of carry it with us to college too. (Never a bad thing!) However, a lot of us take a bullet at the end of the year when we get our mark sheet and there is this beautiful column of loops under our attendance or well our internal exam marks. In colleges where attendance carries marks, it’s crucial to assert that 5 additional marks in each subject can really turn that frown upside down. Calculate what constitutes 85% in your college and then limit your weekly holidays accordingly. This way you don’t fall short and you also don’t compromise on those much needed holidays to just sleep in.

 3. Compulsory what?:

Image credits: cliparts.co
Image credits: cliparts.co

There is this ominous period at the end of the year in college where literally every student runs around campus like there’s a clearance sale and their favourite Zara top is going for 200 bucks. This grief is brought by a college clearance slip that calls for signatures, approvals, a lot of pleading and it also really gets your creative juices flowing. At the beginning of the year, students are asked to pick a compulsory society (DO IT!). Go and register yourself with whichever society interests you or brings out the philanthropist in you because when the clouds are overhead and everyone’s begging for clearance, you want to be the one that gets a straight signature. Most of these societies involve NGOs and very modest work. Pick a day in the week, stay back for an extra hour and do the work. Bee very smart when you’re picking a society. Do not go for complicated societies which require you to work outside college and also require more than 10 hours per semester for clearance. At the end of the day, this is gratifying, feel-good work and you get a shiny certificate at the end of the semester.

FYI: Incase you don’t complete the requisite 10 hours you can make up for it next semester, if you’re a few hours up or actually more likely to be down, then be a likeable person so that society convenors do you some favours.

4. Societal Pressure:

Image credits: Divik Gupta
Image credits: Divik Gupta

When you first enter college, there are waves of students being swayed from one society’s auditions to another. It’s great to try out all your options but if you’re actually looking to join an additional society to showcase your talents, make sure it’s really what you want to do. Society Members tend to attract quite a lot of grief from professors (Don’t fight back). Your professors are looking out for you because you’re going to be missing a whole load of classes. Just make sure it’s worth it. If you choose well, it can be one of the most enterprising decisions you make in college and can really shape your growth but entering societies or external organizations because you think you can get to higher levels in a shorter time is not worth the effort. All societies have wacky culture, you have to make sure you keep your personality separate from it and not merge the two. You don’t want to try and fit in; you need the society or organisation to fit you.

5. Communicate and Elucidate:

Image credits: Hindustan Times
Image credits: Hindustan Times

One very important aspect of college is the part where you actually build a database for life. Make yourself open to conversation if you aren’t because these people that you associate with are the ones you want to keep in a lifelong contact book. Our generation tends to find people with common interests and form interest groups that have issue or topic related discussions and we have a separate group of friends for our affectionate rendezvous’. This is a great quality to have because people with the same interests will help each reach greater heights within their field. Always keep one eye on their endeavours and seek to be inspired by the people around you. A lot of people were stars in school but everyone you meet in college worked just as hard as you, so toss that ‘know it all’ attitude and seek to be inspired. Fellow students might be involved in projects you never knew existed. It’s a two-way street so surge to inspire as well, help people grow and don’t be afraid of giving other people opportunities that you might have turned down. It definitely makes you look pretty damn good!

Feature Image credits: Vibhana Kanwar for DU Beat ([email protected])

Baani Kashyap
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DUB Speak

Busted: The truth about life in college

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As rosy as the picture may seem, college life isn’t all about bunking, sleeping or partying. For all 12th grade graduates who are looking forward to this enthralling college life, here’s something to burst your bubble. Movies have painted a very misguiding image about college life where it seems to be just about  hanging out in canteens, going out with friends or sleeping if there’s nothing better to do. And since we believe that you have the right to know what it actually is like, we bring to you the truth about the much-hyped and much talked about life in college:

1. Studies don’t matter a bit!

This. Is. Not. True. There’s no more or no less to add to it. Whether you’ve enrolled yourself in an arts or science course, studies do need to stand in your priority list. Sadly, the fact is that competition doesn’t cease to exist in college either. So one does need to be in the game to sail through. Though whether you do these studies throughout the semester or towards the end is another issue (and choice) all together.

2. Bunk college, nobody is going to care.

Well, guess what, you’re going to care immensely when you’re required to sign a monetary bond in case of your attendance being short. Certain colleges are no less strict than schools when it comes to attendance. So, the next time you plan to bunk college to catch a movie or go out to your favourite restaurant with your friends, think about the money you’ll have to let go of towards the end of the semester.

3. Girls’ colleges and the stigmas attached

Okay, let’s get it straight. Girls’ colleges are no unending Lakmé Fashion Weeks. No, girls don’t dress up to colleges; no, there are no cat-fights and no, they definitely are no boring places with gossiping girls all around. Quite honestly, girls’ colleges are as fun as co-educational ones; with equal opportunities and avenues. One can witness girls in all sorts of apparels- from pyjamas to dresses. (Get over this myth, please!)

4. You’re all grown up and have it all figured out.

Apart from all the fun college has to offer, there certainly are times wherein you miss being younger. Taking decisions independently, working out your finances on your own (there are going to be lots of debts) and the idea of living alone does intimidate one. It’s natural to mess up a bit in the beginning but one does figure it all out eventually. You do grow up through the course of college.

5. The crowd college has to offer

It’s very easy to adjust; given that everyone is new, everyone is in the same boat as you are. You’re likely to meet multiple people before you belong yourself to that one group. With this, college has a very vibrant and dynamic cultural life to offer wherein you meet people from all across the country. So no, there are no snobs. People are quite friendly on the other hand! Also, since everyone is trying to fit in, there’s a rare chance for you to find that ‘someone’ within a few months of joining college. Try to not look, in fact. You’re likely to have better chances then!

No matter what anyone says, college life is genuinely the best time of one’s life. Explore your possibilities and opportunities. You’ll go places. And even though it may seem than college has no rules at all, there certainly are a few which one should adhere too. Also, things might go a little rough on your pockets at times, but friends are the best debtors after all, aren’t they?

Feature image: campus.ie

Arushi Pathak

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

The 7 Cardinal Sins of Applying to DU

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So here you are, Little Fresher. A bundle of happy and excited nerves as you wait for your dream colleges to declare their first cut-off list on the 27th of June. You’ve done yourself and your family proud by clearing your board examinations with flying colours and securing an enviable percentage.  So far, so good. However, if you think that the worst is over and the biggest hurdle (of getting stupendous marks) has been conquered, you are sadly mistaken. You’ve only just begun on your struggle to get admission into the country’s premium university. The journey ahead will not be an easy one, and you must tread with caution, pragmatism and confidence.

The thing is, Little One, that applying to college is like a capital budgeting decision. It requires an investment of a huge chunk of your time and effort. Also, it decides and seals the coming three years of your life. In most cases, it is irreversible, except at a huge cost. Therefore, when you apply to colleges, you must be careful not to commit, what we call ‘The 7 Cardinal Sins of Applying to DU’.

Let me lift the cloud of naivety and walk you through these deadly mistakes that you’re likely to commit out of your haste, ignorance and prejudices:

SIN #1: Choosing ‘College over Course’

It’s appalling to see people settling for courses which are not of their choice in colleges of their choice. A rational human being will tell you that at the end of the day, it is your skill and knowledge set, acquired vis-à-vis your course that will make your career, not the name of your college. And for all those who continue to live in the abyss of oblivion, let me tell you, the brand name that you so desperately hanker for won’t even matter once you graduate. What will, however, is your course degree. So choose wisely.

SIN #2: Preferring campus colleges to off-campus ones

Aah, the lure of campus! The winding lanes that connect colleges, the street vendors and their carts of yummy food, street shopping, fests, and just the convenience of being able to hop out of one college and get into the other. All these things might sound like such a treat to the unaware outsider. But believe me, campus is not the paradise that people make it out to be. Sure, it has its pros. But it also has its cons (eg: traffic, election ruckus, etc). So don’t let your specious perceptions colour your mind. In fact, by preempting off-campus colleges, you might miss out on some wonderful institutes of learning.

SIN #3: The Herd Mentality

You had a great gang of friends in school, whom you love to the moon and back. But does that mean you’re going to follow them into any college they may choose for themselves? No sir! Grow up, for God’s sake!  What is good for you may not be good for others and vice-versa. So make sure you put your needs and priorities ahead of everything else and pick a college that best meets your goals, not those of others.

SIN #4: Ruling out all-girls colleges

We’ve all heard things like, “Co-ed institutions offer a more natural environment” and “All-girls colleges stifle overall development”. It’s absolute bunkum! An all-girls college gives you the same, if not better, college experience and exposure: a liberating environment, a nurturing and sensitive attitude, a spectacular education and add to that, some great placements (since most companies today prefer women workers). If you’ve never studied in such an ambience before and are scared of having adjustment issues, then you’re simply a victim of your own bias. DU has some brilliant all-girls colleges and not applying to them because of what you’ve been told by detractors is foolish.

SIN #5: Taking advice from every Tom, Dick and Harry

Too many cooks spoil the broth, and the broth is an absolute disaster if the cooks aren’t even trained to make it! When you apply to colleges, you’ll attract advice from all quarters. Make sure to filter out the opinions of those who are actually knowledgeable on the subject. If you listen to too many people, you’ll get extremely muddled and that will just complicate your life even further. So considering the advice of your teacher may be a better idea than letting your ‘Ludhiana-wale door ke rishtedaar’  tell you where to go and why! 

SIN #6: Failing to account for specialized faculty

Certain colleges in DU are known for their reputed faculty for a particular course. So it’s possible that in overall rankings, a college may not feature high on top, but has great professors for the course you wish to pursue. This criteria is important if you wish to actually learn something from college and not just waste away yourself at first parties and then at tuition centres just weeks before your exam.

SIN #7: Lack of holistic evaluation

Finally, it’s important to make a list of all the evaluation criterias that suit your needs, prioritize among different factors and then apply them to your evaluation. Your evaluation must ideally be a holistic one, based on not just a few superficial factors like brand value and placements, but also factors like course timings, societies, faculty etc.

Hopefully, Nino, you’ve been adequately enlightened.
Here’s wishing you all the luck for a successful admission. See you at DU!

Feature image credits: Aditya Rathore

Kriti Sharma
[email protected]

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DUB Speak

Freshers, it’s time to pop the bubble!

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Congratulations to you, freshers! You’re now officially a student of Delhi University in spite of its skyscraper like cut-offs. And by now I am guessing you must have had a taste of the LONG metro rides, the dreaded Rajiv Chowk crowd, lectures at 8:45AM or the trouble to manage the  limited pocket money because let’s be honest, there are way too many places to eat and shop and very little money.  But there are many more important and grave changes that you’ll experience in your first year at college which your school didn’t really prepare you for.

  • The diversity at DU

Everyone is aware of the fact that because of Delhi University’s reputation as one of the premier educational institutes, it caters to a large variety of students from all over the country. This sort of diversity may or may not have been present in schools. And, because of the usual habit to stay in our comfort-zones, we often don’t expand our social circle to include these out-station kids.

But, trust me, take a chance. Talk to them and make them feel comfortable. They are not only dealing with the anxiety of stepping into a new college but also the anxiety of living in a completely new place often without the warmth of family and homely-cooked food. Thus, don’t just reduce them to stereotypes but rather rise above them.  Try to know more about them and their culture. You can make them experience the ever so famous “Dilli-life” which can range from trying golgappe and chaats to exploring and visiting different places and monuments.

  • Just scoring marks isn’t the motto anymore

You’ve given your boards and got a percentage which is soaked in your sweat, blood and the numerous cups of coffee that helped you burn the midnight oil. But, it is time to make peace with the fact that you’ll hardly ever see your college mark sheet with a percentage above ninety percent. In the next three years you’ll see people participating in innumerable events, building a CV or more importantly, building a personality.  And a personality is something which will set you apart from the crowd. Thus, PARTICIPATE.  Audition for the various different societies at your college, participate in college or departmental elections or join a not-for-profit student run organisation. Make use of the fact that college is a place where no one knows your history and you literally have a clean slate which makes it the ideal time to explore aspects and fields you never knew you’ll develop an interest in.

  • Adopting an open-minded approach

With time you’ll realise that the classmate you started hanging out with has a starkly different set of opinions and moral code than yours. Or you might start comparing this newly formed bond with the bond you share with your school friends, who are now spread all over the country in different colleges, which gives rise to expectations which may or may not be met. It is okay. Everyone is different and handles situations differently. Accept this subjectivity. We might have gotten used to our circle which makes it sometimes difficult to understand the other person’s perspective but learn to agree to disagree and still maintain the friendship. It is a part of growing up to be more open-minded and non-judgemental. And adopting a broader perspective to look at and handle things is something that college teaches you most definitely.

All in all, you have the agency to carve this phase in any way you like. So, get out of that comfort zone, take chances, make proper use of your freedom and welcome the change with open arms!

 

Nishita Agarwal

[email protected]

Image credits: www.pgm-blog.com

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Admissions 2015

Survival Recipe for an Outstation Student

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Now that the Board exams are done, have you already started day-dreaming about your dream college in India’s top university? At the same time, are you apprehensive about moving to a new city altogether? Here’s a little something for all would-be outstation students wishing to be a part of the University of Delhi in the upcoming academic year- a survival recipe exclusively for outstation students, by an outstation student.

 (Author’s note: ‘survival’ is just used for a dramatic effect; you’ll sail through college here!)

All about Delhi

First things first- Delhi is NOT the rape capital of India. It’s as safe and as unsafe as any other city in the country. There are people on the road that will help you; there are shopkeepers and auto-waalas who won’t rob you of your money, so clear your head of all these clichés about Delhi.

 The plus points? Easy access to all landmarks across the vast city via the city’s lifeline- the Delhi Metro. Delhi-ites swear by the efficiency of Delhi’s metro system. Other than this, exceptional food joints with as much variety as you wish to have on your plate along with being a shopper’s paradise, an art-lover’s heaven and an observer’s utopia., just when you start thinking you’ve got to know it all, the city throws something majestic at you to ponder upon!

Essentials for an outstation kid

Find good accommodation

Finding good accommodation is one of the most essential aspects you need to focus on once you get into the college of your choice. Many colleges across DU don’t have adequate hostel seats and hence alternative accommodations such as flats and PG (Paying Guest) accommodations are popular. Confused about what to choose? Here’s something to make your life a little easier-

Hostel– While many colleges have inadequate hostel seats, it’s still considered the first choice for most outstation students. The safety of the accommodation and lesser rent in comparison to flats and PGs are the main benefits hostels have to offer.

With this, hostels do come with certain guidelines and regulations to comply with. These maybe in the form of curfew deadlines and leave regulations. Food is also an issue in certain cases since all of us spoiled, in-love-with-home-made-food kids might find it a little difficult to adjust to the hostel mess’ food. It is a myth though that hostels are all about regulations. The mid-night parties, studying and staying together, sharing food (the list goes on till where your wishes can take you) will bring you a lifetime of friendships and irreplaceable memories.

PG Accommodation– One of the fastest growing businesses in Delhi (it’s not IT!) is of the Paying Guest Accommodations. You will have hundreds of PGs to choose from as per your own preferences. PGs in Delhi come with both rigid and flexible curfew deadlines. The food issue one might face in hostels is a rarity in cases of PGs given that you have the option of demanding the food of your own choice.

However, higher rent, difficulty in adjustment with fellow PG-mates (yes, that’s a term!), curfew deadline issues and safety concerns at times are a few negatives tagging along.

Flats –  As rosy as the thought of owning your own flat may sound, it’s a mammoth task. Unless you’re willing to bargain with the subzi-waalas and relying on the wishes of a maid to turn up and get you some food, flats is not a good idea.

But, you surely cannot ignore the benefits of having a house party or calling your friends over whenever you wish to. Your parents will certainly have a lesser control over your activities since there’s no deadline issue and they’re often cheaper than PG accommodations.

The only advice is to think thoroughly before choosing your accommodation and consider all pros, cons and worst case scenarios for all options. Ultimately, your comfort (and survival!) overrules all other factors.

Wish you could be home…

Homesickness is something every outstation kid feels at some point of time. We understand how close you are to home but always think of the time you were earnestly waiting to get out of your home and explore. Well, the independence a new city gives you is your perfect chance to live your dreams. While doing all your work yourself might seem to be a burden initially, it’ll eventually become something you’ll be thankful for and proud of.

There are ways to get over the feeling of homesickness, of course! Take an early morning walk, go on a shopping spree, explore historical places in and around the city with your new found friends- the more you try to get your mind off the thought of home, the more at-home you’ll feel!

Adjustment issues often crop up when you come across unfamiliar people. The key is to see this unfamiliarity as a part and parcel of growing up and becoming your own person. It’s also important to understand that every kid in your hostel/PG is in the same boat as you are, and is facing similar issues.

The best part about Delhi is the fact that you will never run out of ‘things to do’. With its historical and cultural importance, the city in itself has a lot to offer. You might feel a little lost initially but embrace the change with open arms. Within no time, you’d be a part of this cross-cultural hub making a mark of your own. (Too much philosophy? Well, you’re getting the first hand experience of an outstation kid!)

Feature Image Credits: thedisneyden.com

Arushi Pathak
[email protected]

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