My First week at MIT Manipal by Smriti Singh

My first experiences at MIT Manipal have been amazing. As an 18-year-old girl who was homesick before even leaving home, I can comfortably say that MIT Manipal is a place where you’ll fit right in, you’ll feel like you’ve found a new home.

I arrived at Manipal by a Sleeper Bus (AC). It was a ten-hour journey from my hometown, Hyderabad and when I got here, the sun was shining bright in the sky. It’s a rare thing for Manipal in July. I had visited the campus when I had come for counseling but that was in the middle of a storm. This was the first time I could fully appreciate the beauty of the campus. It truly is breathtaking.

Let’s start with my first day, when I visited the hostel for the second time, to unpack. I came here with my parents (who stayed here with me for a bit actually). The hostel feels more like an apartment, there’s honestly no better way to put it. It’s just perfect. It’s spacious, clean, with an attached bathroom that has a 24*7 supply of hot water (much to my happiness) and the interior designing is very well done. I’m surprised at the home-like ambience created by the room itself.

The first week is spent getting to know the students and the faculty. I should probably add that the Orientation program is a very well planned integrated part of the first week which is essential to getting comfortable here. What really amazed me was how the professors have such an open-minded, friendly nature. They genuinely care about us and about what we have to say, about what we think. They’re very interactive and insightful, without overstepping on our thought process. This makes the classes very interesting and makes the journey of learning an exciting one. It’s also nice how all the students who come are well equipped with communication skills. The crowd in general is friendly, interactive and accepting. It’s a beautiful thing to feel and be a part of.

Another thing I want to point out is how the institution focuses on the development of it’s students as humans, not just as engineers. In the first week, we were given sessions on topics like Human Values, Basic psychology and How to be Better Engineers. Even the professors who take up technical lectures always find a way to inculcate the bigger picture for a better world as a part of their class. This is by far one of my favourite things about this institution.

Coming to the Campus and the infrastructure in the institution, I’m genuinely at a loss of words. I’ve been to a couple of première institutes for counseling this year, but MIT Manipal wins the best infrastructure title by a big, big margin. It’s a vast, well constructed place with a refreshing greenery that makes the long walks from one building to another an enriching experience. The academic blocks are spacious to say the least, the classrooms well equipped with projection screens and whiteboards. It truly feels like a learning atmosphere here. As a bibliophile (or basically just a big nerd), I have to comment on the institution’s gigantic library. It has books on whatever academic interest you can think up. The ability to learn in this library is infinite. So far, it’s my favourite place in the institution.

I could go on and on forever, even though it’s only been a week. I guess all I’m trying to say is, if you’re dedicated, passionate, ambitious and want to make a change in the world, come to MIT Manipal! Because this is a place where you can learn to be a better human, not just a better engineer. And if you can take initiative, let’s just say that the sky is the limit!