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).
In this section, we dive into the world beyond academics — the extracurriculars and Positions of Responsibility (PoRs) that define the ‘insti experience’. We asked graduating students about the clubs, committees, and teams they were part of, the hours they dedicated, and the role these activities played in their professional and personal lives.
Ready to explore what makes life at IIT Madras more than just lectures?
What extracurricular activities or PoRs were you part of?
The Center For Innovation (CFI) and Shaastra topped the list, indicating a common inclination toward technical projects and innovation. The vibrant cultural scene on campus is also highlighted by strong participation in Saarang. Only a minority of students were not part of any extracurricular activities.
How much time per week did you spend on those PoRs?
The distribution of time spent on PoRs is quite varied. Most students seemed to take up roles with limited time commitments. On the other hand, a small but significant portion of students dedicated more than 7 hours weekly, perhaps to senior positions, such as a Core or Secretary responsibility.
Has your involvement in those activities affected your academic performance?
The majority of students found a balance between academic life and participation in extracurriculars. A small number of students felt that participating in extracurriculars improved their academic performance. Interestingly, a minority of students attributed their lower academic performance to the time and energy consumed by their PoRs.
Did being part of those PoRs provide advantages during your placement or internship applications?
Nearly half of the respondents believed their PoRs showcased their soft skills such as teamwork and communication, as well as leadership. A significant minority of students indicated that their PoRs did not majorly impact their placement or internship applications. This ties into the prominent interest in technical PoRs, indicating that although PoRs are rarely the sole deciding factor, the type of PoR does impact the application outcome.
Apart from academics and positions of responsibility, were there any other activities such as sports, music, or anything else you enjoyed doing In your free time?
Unsurprisingly, binge-watching TV shows emerged as the top guilty pleasure of a majority of students. Video games also made a strong showing, and sports and fitness activities were popular with over half of the respondents. A small number of respondents stated they were mostly occupied with academics and PoRs.
Given a chance to start your insti journey again, what would you do differently concerning extracurricular activities?
A large number of respondents wished they had participated more in sports and fitness activities. A considerable amount of them also regretted missing out on cultural and non-technical clubs. From the responses, it is evident that many of them want to relive those years at Insti that were spent online.
Enthusiasm in various inter-hostel events – Techsoc, Litsoc and Schroeter/ Dean’s Trophy
The survey reveals that hostel activities held no attraction for an overwhelming majority of students. While sports reported decent numbers, Litsoc and Techsoc were unable to attract significant participation. These results reveal that most of the students do not connect significantly to their hostel identity, finding better uses of their time elsewhere.
Conclusion
From technical innovation hubs like CFI, which drew in nearly half the batch, to the festival buzz around Shaastra and Saarang, students found their passions in a variety of activities. While most students seemed to strike a balance between academics and PoRs, others took the plunge, dedicating significant hours and finding unexpected benefits in placements as well as personal growth. Meanwhile, leisure time was often spent binge-watching, playing sports, or gaming, disconnecting from acads amidst the campus hustle.
Interestingly, traditional inter-hostel events like TechSoc, LitSoc, and Schroeter are slowly fading in appeal; there is less attachment to the hostel community compared to pre-Covid levels of enthusiasm. When asked what they would change if they could start over, many students wished they had been more active in sports or joined cultural clubs. For some, the experiences missed during online semesters left them nostalgic for a longer campus life.
Devika B
