-Secured Admission to Engineering #GoodLuck

This goes back to the year 2004, when I passed out of HSC exam. As everyone’s parents dream, my parents wanted me to go for either Medical or Engineering. I was interested in Computer science, does not matter which degree.

2004 has been the first year when AICTE declared CET for engineering admissions and there were only 15 days we had to prepare for the CET, everyone was in a state of panic. HSC results were already out and everyone was sure that to get into Engineering 50% of the fate is already decided by their PCM score. They needed to prepare for 50% within 15 days and along with it, they needed to also go to colleges to secure admission for BSc. in case they do not get seat in Engineering colleges. I was sure that I will go for Computer Science so whether it is BSc. Computer Science or BSc. IT or B.E. Computer. So, I was at peace as I knew I can easily get admission to BSc. Computer Science as well as BSc. IT. Engineering wasn’t something appealing to me, not because I could not do it but because it was heavy on my pocket. 

I filled up forms for every college from Mumbai, which was offering B.Sc. Computer Science and B.Sc. IT.  As per my expectation wherever I applied, I was one of the first list students who secured admission. So, I took admin to S. K. Somaiya college for B.Sc. Computer Science. And started to attend college regularly.

Along with this because of my parents insistence, I applied for Engineering CET. I studied for whatever time I got for CET but was not tense thinking what if I don’t get it. After appearing for CET, I was sure that I will clear out with above 100 out of 150 and I did. I got 120 out of 150. This was a clear sign that I will get admission into Engineering, so my parents were happy. During first round of seat allocation, I secured seat in Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, which was costly during that time with Rs. 56k per annum fees. So, I declared at home that I do not wish to go for Engineering and continued my B.Sc. Computer Science. 

After around 20 to 25 days later, my cousin called me and said that her college, BVCOE Kharghar, has organised a vacancy round to fill vacant seats in Engineering and there is one seat left out in Computer Engineering, so she has already applied for that on my behalf. I was reluctant to go since I was happy with B.Sc. and told her “I don’t want to go for Engineering”. But she and my parents insisted me to go for it. So, finally I decided to give it a chance.

On the day of Vacancy round, I reached to college one hour late and found my Rank was 85th in the list. Considering one seat left in Computer Engineering, I was sure I won’t get it. So, I told my cousin that “I won’t be getting it because of my rank among students. So, lets not waste our time, we can go home”. But she made me sit there for next one hour and tried to change my mind with options of other engineering streams like Mechanical, Electronics and Telecommunication, Chemical, Industrial automation, etc. But I remained firm with my decision that I want to only get into Computer Science and no other stream. 

When my name was called for face to face interview, my cousin told me to just accept any branch they give. I entered the conference room where Directors, trustees, principal and few professors were present for interview. I took a vacant seat which was exactly opposite to Director. I kept my file on table and glanced to everyone in the room. I was waiting for someone to speak. Everyone was going through my profile present with them, so there was silence in the room for around 30 seconds or so.

Then suddenly director asked me “Which branch you would like to go for?”.

My answer was fixed. I said “Computer Engineering”.

To that director suggested other options like Industrial automation, mechanical, chemical, etc. And he mentioned to me that “Choose any one of these and seat is yours!”

I said “No! I don’t want these branches.”

On that director asked me “Why only Computer Engineering?”

“Because I want to!”, I answered with confidence by looking straight in director’s eyes.

On my answer director smiled and said, “You are the first person today who knows what he want to do. So, the only seat we had in the computer engineering is yours.” And everyone congratulated me.

I was in a state of shock that how can this happen? I was 85th in rank and no one in first 84 students asked for Computer Engineering? How can this be possible. I was thinking about all this and came out of the conference room.

I looked at my cousin, smiled and said “I got it!”

She jumped off with excitement and asked me “Which branch?”

I said “Computer Engineering!”. To this she also had a shock and said “how?”. I had no answer. 

Well, I secured my seat in Computer Engineering. Everyone in the family was happy because I will be an Engineer and I was happy because I am going into Computer Science.

Till date I could not get answers to that, how come I got that single seat? Whether it was my luck?

@srahul07

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You can also WIN Ashwin Sanghi’s book ’13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck’
by posting your #goodluck story on trhs!

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