Each year, T5E attempts to capture the journey of the graduating batch to understand what life at IIT Madras truly feels like for those crossing the finish line. This semester, we launched the annual Exit Survey 2024, receiving 246 responses across the graduating class. About 83% of the respondents were undergraduates (B.Tech, DD, and MA), with the rest representing the postgraduate community (MSc, MTech, MBA, PhD, and MS).
From study routines and course choices to their thoughts on workload and grading, this article is a deep dive into the academic habits, patterns, and preferences of the graduating batch.
CGPA
Almost 74% of the respondents had their final CGPA in the range of 7-9.
Nearly half the respondents expressed satisfaction with their overall academic performance. A third of the respondents considered their CGPA acceptable but not ideal, while 20% expressed complete dissatisfaction with their final academic standing.
Branch Satisfaction
When asked how helpful their branch was in helping them pursue their future goals, a small 13% of respondents felt their branch was not helpful at all, rating it a 0 out of 5. On the contrary, almost 45% felt their branch was helpful, giving it ratings of 4 and 5.
When asked which branch they would choose if given an opportunity to switch, Computer Science (CS) unsurprisingly turned out to be the popular choice among the respondents. Electrical Engineering (EE) and Engineering Design (ED) also made the podium for the most preferred branch among the 24′ batch.
Electives
When it came to electives, the respondents were almost equally divided between choosing more core (38%) or more non-core (40%) electives, while only about 22% opted for a well-balanced selection of courses.
Freedom in Choosing Courses
When asked about their freedom to choose the courses they wanted, around two-thirds of the students responded with ratings of 4 and 5, indicating a high degree of flexibility in the academic curricula of most departments of study. Only about 5% of the students felt that their academic path was largely predetermined, leaving little room for personalization or exploration.
Attendance Policies
Perhaps fueled by the struggle to make it to 8 AM classes everyday, more than a third of the respondents found the attendance policies to be restrictive. Another third held a neutral perspective on the issue, while the rest believed that the attendance policies positively influenced their learning experience.
Study Hours
When asked about study habits, a large majority of the students dedicated less than 2 hours of their time for academics.
Projects
A majority of the respondents took up at least one project during their time in insti.
Extracurricular Opportunities
About 40% of the participants were able to try out all the things that interested them in college. Half of the respondents believe they could have explored more opportunities if not for their academic commitments.
Conclusion
This survey provides a detailed glimpse into students’ academic experiences, preferences, and challenges. A majority of the respondents pursued technical degrees, with CSE standing out as a favoured field for those reconsidering their choices.
Many engaged in faculty-guided projects, though participation was often limited, suggesting either restricted opportunities or limited initial exposure. Academic workloads often constrained extracurricular involvement, and while a significant portion of students achieved high academic performance, satisfaction levels were mixed.
Elective choices reflected a dual focus on excelling in core subjects and exploring broader interests. Opinions on the attendance policy were divided. The findings underscore the need for a balanced academic framework that fosters learning and holistic growth while addressing workload challenges and accommodating student needs.
Edited by Smriti Athiyarath
