Why so many engineering students feel lost even after cracking tough entrance exams

Topping entrance exams requires the mindset of an Olympic Athlete. But success in University education needs the mindset of an Explorer.

The life of a student preparing for IIT JEE is like that of the athlete.

This is the time of the year when scores of students enter the hallowed portals of universities after cracking the toughest exams. Walking in with a sense of pride, the euphoria often dissipates, leading to dejection, disappointment or a feeling of being lost. Students who were stars in their own schools feel their stardom crumble. To some extent, this is understandable and inevitable as the bar is set several notches higher with so many bright minds around.

Some revel in this new setting and do well. Most find a way to stay afloat, sail through, clutching at dreams of “getting placed” and ending this academic drudgery. A few are unable to adjust and fall into the trap of hopelessness. However, the vast majority of survivors go through the motions, fumbling from course to course, semester to semester, and internship to placement.

This could account for up to eighty per cent of the student population. Many of them go through their entire graduation without an idea why they struggle or feel lost. To understand one of the major reasons why this happens, let us look at two examples — an athlete preparing for the Olympics and an explorer in the forest.

The athlete has a clear task in front. Reach the finish line in the shortest amount of time possible. The team of coaches and support staff take care of every aspect of the athletes’ preparation, via training, strength endurance, strategy, competitor analysis, schedule, mental toughness, diet, shoes, dress and equipment.

While the athlete’s success depends on talent, the quality of the training team, hard work, dedication and following the prescribed regimen of the coaches are paramount. However, this is a passive process where the athlete must submit to the system and the system shapes and powers the worthy ones to glory.

Now, consider an explorer in a forest or a mountain. The end goal is not always clear and variable. Some want to scale the mountain peak, others explore the cave, yet others look to spot tigers and elephants. Even if the goal is known, there are no clear set of steps or regimen to achieve the goal. The coaches can teach the explorers skills to survive in a forest or snowy mountains, climb rocks, swim, read maps, navigate and hunt. They prepare the explorer to respond well to a variety of situations, However, in the forest, explorers must use the skills learnt to create their own maps, strategies or maps, handle uncertainties, make contingency plans and navigate by themselves.

The life of a student preparing for the entrance exams is like that of the athlete. The coaching centres prepare the student for the photo finish and the student needs to follow the regimen with a lot of hard work and dedication. After clearing the exams, these champion athletes enter universities. They subconsciously believe that this is one more race and look around for the new set of coaches, instruction manual and a regimented environment.

However, universities, industries and life in the real world are more like forests; students and faculty alike are explorers. Every new course gives students a perspective about one part of the dense forest or teaches them an essential skill.

But the students are still hoping to be given a memo on “what they are supposed to do next”. That question can never be answered. Now the students turn to seniors, hostel mates and assorted friends for “a tip”; to figure out “how to ace this course ?”, “Which courses are better for getting a high CGPA?”, “Which courses are helpful in internship or placement interviews.” They hope against hope for the old regimen and an imaginary finish line. Most importantly they are in a tearing hurry to reach there.

A more effective way to deal with this sojourn could be to think of every lesson or concept as one piece of a jigsaw puzzle. This piece must be put together with the other pieces that have come and will continue to come through the years. As time goes by, you now have more and more pieces of the jigsaw fall in place and you have your own map of the forest. Now you know how to get to where you like. You now make your own plans, routes, regimens, and explorations and make it back safe too. You now have an instinctive understanding of the subject which once seemed like a forest. Those who continue to look for regimented instruction manuals tend to store every single piece of jigsaw very safely in a cupboard. They have all the pieces, but they only have information and no knowledge. When the first few pieces of the jigsaw are given, naturally, one cannot find any pieces that mate. This is the main reason many people feel lost in the early years. Many give up too fast on matching the pieces and just start accumulating the pieces. The ones who are curious keep wondering how the pieces are connected. Once they find a pair of matching pieces, they know it is possible. They start looking for more connections and are become engaged. They enjoy their study and are also naturally successful.

You’ve cleared the toughest exams to reach where you are. Obviously, you are the cream. Overnight you will not turn into dunces. If you feel lost, it only means that you are approaching it wrong. Waiting for the good old days to come back magically can be fatal. Higher education cannot be run like a hundred-meter dash. Seeking help and changing strategy early can make you the resounding success that you were always meant to be!