Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, or AKGEC, is linked with AKTU, formerly known as UPTU. While it's considered a top institution, many students aren't too thrilled about it. The term "finest" seems to be a bit of a joke here since almost everything you do results in a fine. Seriously, they seem more interested in taking your money. Return a library book late, even if exams are happening, and you'll face a penalty. Arrive late to class? They're ready with a laptop and scanner to fine you for that too.
The college administration isn't exactly known for being supportive of students. If you have any issues, it's apparently your fault. The mindset is that you shouldn't have problems, and if you do, tough luck, it's not their concern. Sadly, about 2-3 students have taken their own lives over the past couple of years. Professor Colonel S.L. Kapoor is often mentioned as a significant source of stress, and I'm only mentioning this anonymously because of the potential backlash during my remaining time at college.
Even with valid medical reasons, the administration insists on attendance, threatening serious consequences if you miss classes. This could mean public shaming or scolding when you're actually in need of support, and of course, there's likely a fine involved.
The college feels more like a strict boarding school. They're overly focused on academic results and the Chancellor's Medal, but when it comes to placements, they don't seem to care much. Quality education is lacking, so students often study independently to achieve good scores.
Involvement in NGOs or humanitarian work is discouraged by S.L. Kapoor, who dismisses them as scams. However, they still expect you to have a certificate for such activities and criticize you if you don't.
While AKGEC claims to support nearby villages, they don't appear to follow through with any real help, which is disappointing. Despite having some good aspects, the negative ones seem to outweigh them significantly.
As someone now in my 8th semester at Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, my views were quite different until my 6th semester. I had heard seniors say that Infosys was the main recruiter and if you missed out, getting placed was tough. However, that wasn't true since there were plenty of placement opportunities, especially for CS/IT students.
For those in ME, ECE, or EI, job prospects aren't as strong, although ECE students do find jobs. This year's placements have been better than previous years. If you're in CS/IT, you've got about a 95% chance of landing a job.
But outside of placements, the college doesn't offer much. The experience has been disappointing, and I regret joining. The faculty isn't great, and by the 3rd or 4th semester, your interest in studying might vanish. There's a noticeable bias towards top students. No events or fests happen here. The hostels are okay but pricey. The location isn't great, and they are very strict about attendance, even sending letters home if it's below 75%. They might even bar you from placements for no apparent reason.
The focus here is mostly on rote learning, not real technical skills. Some students do have great technical skills, but that's not thanks to the college. There are plenty of clubs; for example, TAAL for dance, Euphony for music, and GOONJ for drama, which have talented members. For CS/IT, the Software Incubator and OSSRD are worthwhile, while others aren't.
I can only speak for the CSE branch since that's my field. In the end, you can succeed anywhere if you're dedicated. Enjoy your college life, make lasting memories, and you'll find great friends here. However, you might still feel like you should have picked a different college, and that's a common feeling.
If you're considering Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Best of luck!