Rochak Malhotra's Review on VIT University, [VIT] Vellore

I trained with the Production Department at Carrier Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration, Gurugram during my third year. I have also interned with two Ed-Tech companies, both having a stipend of Rs. 5000. I could apply via my Placement & Training (PAT) Office. Over 200 companies visit the campus, offering diverse roles (IT & Computer Science (Software Related), Core Sector (Mechanical, Electronics, Civil), Other sectors such as IT Services, Non-Tech (Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Business Development). The average package range from discipline-to-discipline. The Computer Science Related Branches would range around 5.0-6.5(INR) Lakhs per annum. The offers are split into different categories (Regular (Less than 5 Lakhs per annum), Dream (5LPA-10-12LPA, Super-Dream(10LPA+)). Other Branches average around 4LPA. The highest CTC would be a Super-Dream Software Company (Amazon, PayPal, DeShaw, Directi) about 20 LPA. The Alumni Network is excellent with the VITAA (VIT Alumni Association) day celebrated each year. The Alumni is approachable through Clubs and Chapters on campus, and also via Professional websites (LinkedIn). 

There are a total of 23 hostels (17 Men+6 women). Hostel Fee depends upon the room configuration (Single Bed, Double Bed, Three Bedded, Four Bedded, Six Bedded; AC & NAC). 

The mess available is Veg (North Indian) & Non-Veg (North Indian); Veg (South Indian) & Non-Veg (South Indian). 

On an average, the total cost of hostel and mess is about Rs 70,000(INR) per year. The library facility is fantastic with reputed e-journals and RFID tagging. The classrooms are also equipped with Smart Boards. There are Coffee and Juice Stalls on the campus. Further, The Food Court and Doughnut Cafe serve as a central place for recreation and eating out. The Adjacent Supermarket, ALL MART caters to all kinds of everyday needs. The Day Boarding Option is also available and rents are typically around 3k-4k per month, Tiffin facilities are also available in nearby localities. The place is also protected by the VIT Security.

For Undergraduate courses, the Entrance Examination is known as the VITEEE. (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination). The Eligibility criteria are to have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate in the qualifying examination (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics/Biology. The admission procedure is based on the rank obtained in the VITEEE and a counseling is held in the month of May. There aren't any cutoffs as such, but the counseling for most courses is done slot wise. A national rank of less than 10000 would imply counseling in slot 1. For coveted branches (i.e Computer Science related), the rank required is much higher.

A daily routine is dependent on the timetable. It directly depends on the FFCS Registration held prior to the semester. Also, the number of credits per semester also influence the structure of the timetable. At max, the classes can range from 8 am in the morning till 7:30 pm in the evening.  The assessment system is split into two- Internal & External. Both have an equivalent and 50% weighting. The Internals are as follows Quiz I, II, III (All 5% weight- Total 15%); CAT I & II (Both 15% weight- total 30%). The final Assessment Test has 50% weight. The above would be for a theory the only course. In a lab-embedded course, some weight (say 25% in a 4 credit course) would be allocated to the lab. The lab would have a similar weight internal and final exam system. Recently, a new Curriculum of Applied learning (CAL) has been launched for the batches commencing in 2015. The overall experience of teaching and learning is good, with research-oriented faculty motivating throughout the semester. Method of teaching also revolves around tutorials and projects. Also, some course is Project Based Learning (PBL) where a project is performed by a group of students.

My course fee is about 1.68(INR) lakhs per year. The fee actually depends on the rank obtained in the VITEEE. This was the status in 2014. As of now, various scholarships are available depending on the rank in the VITEEE. Scholarships are also provided to the financially deserving students under the Smt. Rajeshwari Scholarship (With Annual Parental Income less than Rs1,00,000). Loans are also available at nearby Indian Bank, CitiUnion Bank, with amounts payable after 4 years.

There are numerous Clubs and Chapters on the college campus. The Dance Club, Theatre Club, Debate Club, Photography Club also exist on campus. The BAJA SAE teams also help Mechanical Engineering Students exercise their theoretical knowledge in the practical scenario. There are primarily two festivals on the campus, Riviera (Cultural Fest) and GraVITas (Technical Fest). Riviera is held in the month of February and is a mega event involving many stars from the film industry and celebrities. The fests combine both management and technical activities, serving as an apt platform for social connections and recreation. The life in VIT depends on what you make of it. There all kinds of people, some locked up in their rooms watching TV shows, some utilizing opportunities in VIT to grow themselves. There is glamour on the campus, but you find it only when you look for it.