As a first year student at MNNIT Allahabad, I have had a fair share of good and bad experiences on campus. 

I am listing down all the major elements of life at MNNIT, and my experience of each-

• Campus- The campus is not very big, and one can easily cover the entire area on foot. Many people use bicycles, but it is not a necessity. Everything is a 10 minute walk away. The campus size is perfect according to me. Also, the campus is covered in greenery.

• Classes- I have heard that the classes become more interesting from second year onwards. But I can tell you that the first year classes are quite boring, and almost everyone attends them for attendance. There isn’t much to learn from those lectures, and one has to rely on self studies during the exams. 

• Fests and Cultural Activities- ‘Culrav’ and ‘Avishkar’ are the two major fests of MNNIT. Our college fests are pretty average. 

• Senior-Junior Interaction- MNNIT is among the very few engineering colleges with zero ragging (both on paper and in practice). The seniors are very helpful, friendly and approachable. There’s a practice of addressing the seniors as Sir or Ma’am, but it isn’t really bothersome.

• Food- The messes and canteens serve strictly vegetarian meals. Thus, non vegetarians have a tough time finding non veg meals inside and around the campus. As far as food quality is concerned, the canteens serve good and affordable meals, and are open till late night. The mess food is below average, and many students prefer canteens over messes. 

Living at MNNIT Allahabad has been a mixed experience. But I hope to learn and grow during the remaining years of my stay at this college.

My first year at IIEST Shibpur was full of new experiences. 

I arrived at the campus on a Sunday. I had to share a room with three other B.Tech students. One of them was from CST like me, and the other two were from Mechanical. I was quite nervous about sharing a room with so many other people. 

I was careless enough to not have checked the class schedule. On learning that our morning classes start at 8 am, I was a little shook. I wasn’t a morning person, so the thought of waking up that early was an unpleasant one. 

For my first academic day at IIEST, I woke up by 6 am and got ready by 7:30 am. My friend and I attended the electronics class, mistaking it for our English lecture. We laughed a lot on our silly mistake, and went on attending the rest of the classes as per schedule, till 5 pm. 

The seniors were friendly, given that one remained in their good books. My hostel friends and the time spent with them, is the most precious take away from IIEST for me. The first year schedule is quite grilling, and added to it are the PT classes. Regardless, I’ll always cherish the memories I made at IIEST Shibpur.

One of my friends studied in NLSIU Bangalore, before that she lived in Bangalore for 28 years. According to her, the first thing to mention is yes, it is absolutely safe. 

Do not get influenced by the media when they talk about a certain place, there could be other intentions for claiming that. But as she lived there she knows that it is perfectly safe for women.

The location might make you feel lonely because the campus is next to Bangalore university and there are few other central government offices. On the other side, it is completely residential. 

The culture of Bangalore is very welcoming and it has given homes to lakhs of people coming in from other states and it is capable of delivering a good livelihood.

It is suggested that you do not come to any conclusion just by information provided in the media. Analyze every aspect and make your decision accordingly.

IISER Bhopal is an excellent institution that provides a plethora of facilities and opportunities for students who have a keen interest in science.

The seniors at IISER Bhopal are generally cooperative, but it's important to note that instances of ragging have been reported. However, if you are firm in saying no, the seniors cannot do anything to you. It's also advisable to skip the official intro session, even if the faculties are present there, as it may not be very useful.

The academic atmosphere at IISER Bhopal is excellent, with a focus on science-based learning. The teachers here are knowledgeable about their subjects and teach well, with only a few exceptions.

The campus is equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, which is available all over the campus, and LAN, except between 11 am to 2 pm when it is intentionally slowed down. The library is two-storied and has a good collection of books, although it could be improved. The computer center and library have excellent internet connectivity, and there are two brain spaces, which are rooms designed for studying, with soft mattresses. The library staff is dedicated and committed to their work, which is admirable.

The campus is well-maintained and clean, with lots of greenery, making it one of the best among IISERs.

For first-year students in natural sciences, there are compulsory courses, while in the second year, students have the option to choose pre-majors, and in the third year, they choose their major based on their CPI. It's important to keep in mind that there is a CPI cutoff for choosing majors.

There are several clubs at IISER Bhopal, providing students with ample opportunities to explore their interests and engage in extracurricular activities. The institution also offers good opportunities for sports, with separate grounds for table tennis, badminton, tennis, cricket, athletics, football, basketball, and kabaddi.

Overall, IISER Bhopal is an excellent institution for science-loving students. It's advisable to get out of your shell, explore, and make friends, keeping in mind that your CPI matters.