Fun Times

Management is quite slow to accommodate new suggestions from students or teachers. The govt. procedures are always time consuming and require constant follow ups like with any established institute. Management is fairly cooperative.

SPA, New Delhi Entrance Exam Aptitude Test and Written/ Sketching Test On campus taken in 1999 I scored Rank 13 out of 70 students selected for the Batch SPA, New Delhi is one of the oldest and top ranked colleges for Architecture and Planning in the Country. That's why it was my first choice for pursuing Architecture.

The course was fairly detailed with exposure to various theory and practical subjects with great emphasis on Design Studios held every alternate days. Other subjects included subjects like Mathematics, Building Science, Structures, Carpentry, Metal work, Arts and Graphics, History of Architecture, Surveying and Leveling, Building Construction, Theory of Design, Landscape Design, Urban Design, Industrial Design, Semester of Thesis of your choicea and Semester of Seminar with research on a subject of your choice. Great emphasis was laid on self learning and research for each student to grasp the knowledge of various subjects at their pace and also form their own relation to the ideas and expressions of design.

In 2004 we did not have any companies come to the college for internships/ placements. Students were able to do internship with their choice of architecture offices with the recommendations from various professors and practicing Architects associated with the college.

There were a lot of job opportunities in 2004 as a lot of independent architecture studios were practicing all across India. The starting package was Rs 15000-20000 per month in 2004. A lot of Multinational companies also established their offices in the Country there after so the market was opened further for fresh candidates.

We have one annual fest called 'Eutopia' celebrating the college spirit and culture every year. It is a three days festival including participation from college theater group, Indian Music Society - Sankalp, Western Music Society - CODA, Fashion shows and other work exhibitions and art forms, also competitions like Mural making, Sculpture making etc. It is based on one theme every year and all activities are based on the theme. Since it is college festival, the mood is festive all around and even the teachers participate with full zeal to help the students. the participation is full on!

Given it is a Govt. college the fees is very feasible as compare to other private colleges. From 1999-2004 I paid Rs 15000 per year as annual fees. This was inclusive of all fees. Admission fee in the first year included Rs 10000 security fees that was refunded at the end of college after clearing any college dues (library charges, canteen charges etc)

For Masters students GATE score provides good scholarship. I also did my Masters from SPA, New Delhi in Urban Design from 2005-2007 and availed this scholarship. I also secured students loan very easily from Allahabad Bank.

Campus life was very chilled out all five years. Gender ratio was 50-50. Work life was hectic and mostly group works along with personal design assignments so the students were very cooperative with each other and formed great bond with each other barring any gender, race, caste or gender issues. These issues never arise during my five years in the college. It was a great learning experience and teachers were always friendly and very approachable at all times of the day.

The hostel facility was fairly average and mess food was not great. Though i was a dayscholar but used the facility as guest during group works with hostelers. The Girl's hostel at ITO was not good in comparison to Boy's hostel facility in Maharani Bagh. There were instances of flooding during rains and common toilets were also not very clean.

Alumni Network is very good. One can approach any senior student or teacher at any time on call or email. There are college social network sites and people are always connected to share information about jobs or any other work.

Architecture in itself is a very extensive course. Constant design reviews, internal assessments, external assessments in the form of open and closed juries prepare the students for every stage of assessment during the whole semester. Final written exams were held every year and were not very hectic as compared to design assessments and juries. Design works - drawings and models to be submitted for juries were considered the most time consuming within the semester works.

Admission was a fairly simple process in 1999 Form was procured from the institute at ITO, New Delhi. Submitted and filled. Date of Aptitude Test was informed by the college. It included Maths, Physics and Chemistry Multiple choice questions. Once this exam was cleared List was successful candidates was put on campus and second exam timings and date was also intimated to the successful candidates. The second level exam included sketching, concept check and writing skill tests. Once cleared the successful candidates were invited for submitting original documents including 12th exam passing certificate etc. Admission was closed in a months time after the entrance exam approximately.

SPA, New Delhi had a lot of renowned Architects and Academicians associated with the college during our time in the college. All faculty was well known in their respective fields and also had a lot of practical experience in the subjects they were teaching. They were often very inspiring and encouraging and also took the students on study tours to various places to connect with different architecture styles of different architects practicing in different eras in the country.