The Metallurgy branch at NITK is quite good. It is not very stressful and the curriculum is rich. You’ll get ample time to participate in co-curricular activities.
Now, let’s talk about the placement prospects. Metallurgy has more jobs in the government sector rather than the private sector. Core companies do visit the NIT Surathkal campus for placements each year. But to get placed in them, you’ll have to be in the top 10 students of your batch. Each Metallurgy batch consists of around 40 students.
For core jobs, maintain a good grip on your subjects. The interviews for these profiles are based on technical rather than soft skills. You can also apply for government companies off campus. The field has little competition in comparison to other branches. With good self preparation, you can get placed in one of the IT companies that visit NITK for placements, and are open to all the branches.
NIT Surathkal is a great college. It will offer you plenty of exposure and opportunities.
Therefore, I would recommend you to join Metallurgy at NITK.