Mystory@Karvileena Deka: Why I chose Anthropology as my course

I am a Science student from Assam. Here, the priority of every Science student is to get admission in either a Medical or Engineering College. I, too, had applied for both but also applied for undergraduate courses, since I wasn't as confident of qualifying for the entrances. So, to be on the safe side and not wasting a whole year by taking a gap year, I applied in top rated colleges of Assam, especially Cotton College and B Borooah College.

Cotton College is India's number 1 college in the North-East. Every student in Assam dreams of getting a seat and studying in Cotton College. I was even luckier as I had studied at the Higher Secondary (10+2) level also in Cotton College. The environment is totally awesome. With the Brahmaputra river and its beautiful cool breeze, it is the perfect atmosphere for studying. The students experience a unique freedom here.

How I cracked college admission

The selection for Undergraduate course is generally based on the result of Class 10+2 under various boards. We have to get a high percentage like above 90% in order to get a subject of our choice. I never ever in my life thought of taking Anthropology and I didn't even know what it is about. Since, I didn't have a satisfactory result so it was impossible for me to take Chemistry or Zoology (my choice of subjects). I was not even selected during the first counselling. So, I took admission in B Borooah College with Zoology as my subject. Well, I had a bad experience there. It was so suffocating to study in that college. I didn't have my friends and as I completed my Higher Secondary from Cotton College, it was even more embarrassing. Even the students' mentality or the sense of humor didn't match mine. Then, there was a second round of counselling at Cotton College. I secured 84% in Higher Secondary from Cotton College, so this time I hoped to get at least Botany or Geology. But God had different plans for me. All seats were full. Seats were only there in Anthropology, Statistics, Maths, Economics and Computer Science. But for me, the only choice was Anthropology as I hate all Maths related subjects. And finally, I got admission in Cotton College with Anthropology and having Zoology and Botany as elective subjects.

If I got a chance to do anything differently then, I would have taken another subject and would have missed studying this exciting and interesting subject.

My college life: classes, extra-curricular activities and more

The classes start from August. I wasn't new to Cotton College and that was an advantage as I could find my way through my classes. In Anthropology, only five seats were there for Science students. The remaining 20-25 seats were allotted to Arts students.

Being familiar with the faculty also helped me to an extent that I knew what to expect from the professors.

The Professors of Anthropology are very helpful as they know that maximum of the students are not familiar with the subject. The teachers work hard along with us by explaining and trying to form pictures inside our minds and giving notes from books that we can hardly find in the market. So yes, I found the faculty to be quite valuable as I and my friends and classmates do not have to go in search of books and extra tuitions.

Every year we have “The College Week”, where all students participate in various activities like dancing, singing, sports, etc. Even the Fresher's Day and the Farewell Day are celebrated with much enthusiasm. The platform of Cotton College related to cultural events is quite large. It gives you scope to be in touch with your talent. The College Fest is held and managed by us, i.e., students along with the teachers and it ultimately leads to a great event.

Even the elections for the Student Union is held at such a wide scale and with rules that it helps to form important political views.

I have studied here for three years and still two years to go, yet I don't want to spend it in any other way. The friends, the teachers, the environment, the fun and even the food – everything is perfect in this college.

About the Author:

I am Karvileena Deka, a student of BSc Anthropology at Cotton College State University, Guwahati. My hobbies include laughing, irritating my friends, travelling, reading mysteries, writing, etc.