Orientation Program - 24th May 2009

After waiting or better to say wasting 3 years to start my higher education, finally got admission in to Manipal University for MS in Computer Science program. First thing one could ask me, why did u choose MS from Manipal and why not BITS?? My answer is simple, since i want to obtain Phd at some point in later (may be 5 years...or even 10 y down the line) subjects covered in Manipal are much suited and gives proper credits to your Phd program or else even after finishing ur MS, u might have to get extra credits in case if you choose BITS. Its totally from my view point....i would put extra **conditions apply on top of these statements :) Here is the link to program details - http://www.corporateprograms.manipal.edu/index.htm

Day I got mail from Mavis DCruz to attend the orientation program on sunday 24th May 2009, it was bit surprise...no body expected that the orientation program would be held in Hospital :) When I reached Manipal Hospital around 10:05 AM, i could see few students waiting outside the hospital compound, so surprised to enter the hospital premises. I just went to a near by SBI ATM and withdrew some money since you never now when the private institutes demand :) not true in all cases. Mail from Mavis DCruz mentioned about the security measures in manipal hospital and once i entered the mail gate and even the reception no body even cares who you are. What you are carrying? except a small metal detecter near the entrance. I am nost sure why one would require such security arrangements even for Hospitals?? May be due to recent Mumbai attack. They even didnt spare hospitals....thats ****.

Its true that the world is small, u tend to meet same people over the time even though departed long time. Near the entrance I could see a person in surpised emotions and wondering to find the conference hall. I just got a hint and asked him.."searching for conference hall??" and Yes was the answer. We just had a small introduction and his name is Harsha. And on the way to find the conference hall in the ground floor we just had extended introduction and finally we zeroed down to same college :) that is BEC - we both studied in the same college except he is 3 years junior to me and he said there were around 5 students from my college got admission to MS program in Manipal, that will be really nice to see my college friends around along with new faces.

We reached the conference hall and there it is around 100-120 students. Mr Rajendra Joshi and Mavis DCruz welcoming students and handing over the welcome kit. I just sat near to a young man who looked serious and studios. He took almost 10 minutes to start the conversation, since even i didnt wanted to disturb his study. Other two guys sitting on the right side were bit surprised about the orientation program being held in Hospital. I too had small chat with all the three guys and Mr Ravindra was the guys i was talking about...serious and studios.

Orientation program was introduced by Mavis DCruz and followed by Mr S Bhat who gave extended introduction about Manipal University, history, its verious programs and state of the art facilities. One more professior(just trying to recollect his name) gave introduction to the MS program and its evaluation systems. One this is done, there was a Qustion and answer session as usual. Few guys asked some basic questions like - what is the difference between MS and Mtech? science and Technology? Prof Bhat gave few examples and got there questions cleared. He said "Technology involves process and not the science, so we have civil engineering and not the civil technology....." here is the wiki answer for the same question http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_science_and_technology_and_engineering

somebody asked "Does this course UGC aproved?" I am not sure why somebody should ask this question at this stage since he should have done that simple research before joining this course.

And finally one girl had a doubt and she even said its a simple question - "Why do we call Manipal university as MAHE?"

After all these questions we had a small hospitallity in hospital of tea and snacks. Me and Ravindra had a extended chat about current work, why would we choose this program? etc etc etc. So, by the time we finished chatting every one started leaving the conference hall. I had few doubts about the credit system and got it cleared from one of the professor. And finally left the conference hall to catch the bus back to home.....and by this my first day was over and to summarise got a feeling of going back to college, chit chatting........I hope to get more fun as we go further in to class rooms :) Bye for now.