Why WordPress-NGINX?

Apache is the world’s most used web server. So, why to opt for an NGINX based server. I’m going to start with an image which tells you a well-known secret.

An Eye Opening Analysis – Source: nginx.com

The above analysis tells us the usage percentage of different popular servers in the world based on its usage in all the websites; usage in top 1,000,000; top 100,000; top 10,000 and top 1,000 websites. Apache is overall definitely a very popular web server. But, when it comes to top 10,000 or top 1,000 websites by usage, NGINX surpasses them to be the most widely used web server. It shows that NGINX has definitely an edge over Apache.

Google’s server seems a popular web server in top 1,000. But, it is a costly web server. Further, as it is only popular among top 1,000 websites, it means Google web server is definitely good. But, Google’s Server is not for all. It is a premium service.

One more interesting thing is even WordPress are using nginx for its own servers. You may check it out at the following pages. WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG.

Nginx – High Performance Web Server

Here are some benefits of using nginx in simple language:

• Nginx is fast because it does not need to create a new process for each new request.
• Nginx uses very little memory, especially for static Web pages.
• Nginx can be used with a range of systems.
• Nginx is highly scalable, and performance is not dependent on hardware.
• Nginx is easy to install and configure.
• Nginx has very less CPU load

However, there is an overlooked fact here. Apache is used by a heavy number of top 1,000 websites. So, those websites with best minds on the earth behind them must be getting phenomenal result with Apache too. The thing is Apache needs some tweaking which is not simple to do. Tweaking nginx is easy. Even on low-budget and nil tweaking, nginx gives impressive results.

Why EasyEngine?

Before going into the question, why EasyEngine, I should answer what is EasyEngine.

EasyEngine – Engineered with Simplicity

In 2010, one of my website TheApplePirates.com became a hit within a month of its launch. It was getting more than 10,000 pageviews a day. It was my first website to get such a good response. I had invested in just domain name for this website. Hosting was from a free one. So, it was becoming slow after the traffic crossed 5,000 a day mark. It was the first time that I went first to a VPS Server, then to a dedicated server. Being completely in an unknown arena. At that time, I came to know about some packages like Alternate PHP Caching (APC), Varnish, memcached, eAccelerator and other such names. I researched a lot those days and tried to implement few on my server. It took me more than 3 days to make APC working on my server. I know, I’m not a technical guy with any degree or even diploma in computers. But, spending 3 days to make APC work that too without a splendid performance. Its insane.

Anyways, after the recent success of my websites, once again I was forced to try my luck with memcached and nginx. It was real pain to make all these packages to work together. If you have tried to do the same. I’m sorry for your wastage of time. The answer to all these complex installation could be a very simple to use customized Package EasyEngine.

EasyEngine with not more than 3-4 commands can install a nginx based server with PHP5-FPM, MySQL and added features like FastCGI, memcached, Zend OPcache, Google Pagespeed, Postfix. It is a package made especially for WordPress and its performance optimisation. It gives option for a WordPress website to be created with page caching support using optimal setting for either of FastCGI or WP Total Cache or WP Super Cache and also with no page cache. Further, one can use it for WordPress subdomain or sub-directory installation too. Using EasyEngine on a fresh server, one can install 12 types of WordPress install in less than 5 mins. An interesting feature, it tweaks its configuration itself as per available hardware resources. However, for optimal use, I recommend to tweak the configuration of packages included as per your requirements.

EasyEngine blends compatible and latest packages together to give a stable environment. Regular updates are released which are easy to install with a single command. However, the tweaks and settings remain unchanged after update. I’m using SSD-VPS from Virpus Hosting for this website. At Virpus Hosting, by paying just $ 5 per month one can set up a website using EasyEngine to easily support a WordPress blog to handle daily traffic of 1,000-2,000 that too with a page load time of under a sec. If you are a blogging for long, you must think I’m giving false picture. But, this is true. Using EasyEngine along with few plugins that I’ll tell you in coming posts. You can do it without hassle.

The beauty of EasyEngine lies in its simplicity, flexibility, cost effectiveness and performance. I give 5 out of 5 in all these segment to EasyEngine. There is more alternative to EasyEngine – Like LAMP, WAMP, MAMP, XAMPP. But, all are Apache based packages. I would love to test package similar to EasyEngine for nginx if you can suggest some.

Installation of EasyEngine

Installation of EasyEngine is quite simple and Easy. Get a fresh server. If you want for testing, you can use an instance from Amazon EC2, else for deployment of your WordPress blog get a VPS from Virpus Hosting. EasyEngine currently supports Ubuntu and Debian 6/7. I prefer Ubuntu over Debian due to its wide popularity.

Once you get root access to your server via command line (Putty), the first step should be to update the server to latest using following command. Press y, if it needs permission during update.

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade && apt-get dist-upgrade

Next, run the following command. It will install EasyEngine. During the run, you will be asked to enter your name and email id.

wget -qO ee rt.cx/ee4 && sudo bash ee

Once completed, run the below command. It will install MySQL, NGINX, PHP5-FPM, HHVM along with Opcache, WP-CLI, phpMyAdmin, Adminer and other useful packages. Now, it also supports Docker.

Now, you are all set to install your website. Use the below command to install WordPress.

ee site create www.example.com –type=wp

Replace www.example.com with your own domain name. Copy and save WordPress admin Username and Password from the screen.

Now, just point your domain’s dns to the IP address of your server. Once this is done. You can see your blog right away with easy WordPress-NGINX Configuration.

I suggest using CloudFlare for dns hosting and other optimisation. If you are using CloudFlare, you can change the IP address within few seconds to point to your new server.

I would write in subsequent posts about customisation of EasyEngine. Further, I’ll try to make you familiarise with basic architecture of file system in EasyEngine.

If you liked the post, do give a feedback. I would love to hear your response.

Don’t Let Examination Kill Students

Fourteen year old Raju looked at the ceiling fan. He started sweating and thought of cancelling his plan but that was not possible. He went ahead, threw the string around the fan and before he could change his mind, hanged himself using the same rope. Later on, it was discovered that Raju was under lot of stress due to his upcoming exam. He felt pressurized and didn’t know whom to talk with.

The above incident is not alone. In India, daily average twenty students use various methods for committing suicide. They all have different Modus Operandi but the same reason. Some have Stress of not getting admissions in esteemed institutions, others fear of not performing well in the exam.

Why students are taking such drastic steps? Have the authorities ever thought what is wrong? Is there any drawback in our education system which is putting pressure on students?

Students are not mentally grown-ups. Many still don’t know how to handle pressure. The students assessment is done based on their performance in few hours. In the examination hall, they have to give their best to do within the given short duration and then accept their destiny when the results come. You may be a scholar but if you fall sick during exams, no one is going to rescue you. I know a person, who used to get so nervous during Mathematics paper that he literally forgets whatever he knows during the tests.

Life is uncertain and even the topper can get depressed and forget everything under the exam pressure. Is it good to leave one’s fate based on the performance in few hours?

What is Education?

Education develops the thinking of a person. It develops the thought process. Education is not about passing an exam or getting good grades. It’s also not about getting a good job after being educated. It’s an enlightening process. In schools, we are taught subjects viz Social Sciences or Poetry not as one day we will earn due to knowledge of such subjects. Social Science grows our knowledge about this world and Poetry enhances us in expressing ourselves. We start earning due to our interest or proficient understanding of a particular subject. Examination is there to assess the knowledge we gained at a particular time.

A person is referred as an Educated Person when he is humble, intellectual, knowledgeable and kind. Being educated and being financially successful is two different thing and totally unrelated. However, examination has become a very important link between the two. Examination certifies a person’s knowledge at every step of learning process. It’s very easy to distinguish who is grasping the knowledge quickly and who is intellectual by way of examination. Those who excel in these exams have more chances to achieve success in life and do better in career. They are approached readily by organisations for jobs. They have been certified by examination that they are intellectual and they possess the knowledge well enough in a particular field which enable them to do requisite work swiftly.

However, as in our current education system, the biggest issue is that it has become exams oriented, instead of being education oriented. Today, nobody is interested in training students and to really measure their knowledge and understanding on the subject.  Everyone is just focused on grades and marks. As a result, today’s exams are not a good criteria to assess their genuine education skill, but they have just become a measurement of one’s retention skills. As a result, students have only one goal of how to perform professionally in the examinations. Nobody pays attention to actually gaining knowledge. They are not inclined to go an extra mile and do research which may give them better understanding of the subject.

It’s a sad reality that this kind of system prepares students for materialistic success and monetary gains. The fundamental education has gone in the background and students have lost the focus of learning.

What is the use of making them remember things which they are not going to use in the future? The education system should allow them to learn the subject and understand the fundamentals. Instead, the system emphasizes on how much students mug up and write during the exams.

Protect You Kid From the Pressure of Education

A very important thing to understand here is those who are not excelling in these exams are not actually dumb. Many of them are really very smart. They just don’t have the sharp memory to mug-up things. They might not act quickly and perform well in short duration of exam time. But, can perform well in real-time demand of life situations. Many of my schoolmates who used to score 40-50 % in schools are successful managers. Many who are good in mugging up the things are left behind after school, as they lack the power of analyzing.

Enhancing Our Education System?

There are two major types of learning process that is used world-wide for education.

1. Rote Learning Method
2. Critical Thinking Method

Rote Learning is a method of memorizing by way of repetition. Critical thinking method is to educate someone by developing their thinking. Both have its own uses in the education system. Rote learning is used in early stages of our education to learn the basic things like counting, basic mathematical operations, memorizing alphabets, names of fruits,  flowers, birds, etc. Once the child is at a stage when they can analyze, think, act. Critical Thinking method is used to develop their intellectual skills.

In our education system, Rote Learning method is used even after the kid is grown-up. Like I remember in 7th standard, the one who could write each and every step of an experiment given in chemistry book or biology book used to be given full marks. I was unable to memorize well so I used to score poorly.

A balance of both the methods depending on the growth level of the kid should be applied to enhance the learning. The motto should be to impart the education rather than score more.

Schools should have regular meetings with parents to keep them updated about their child’s performances and interests. The pressure of study comes on a child by their parents. Parents wants their child’s future to be easy and secured. A simple way for this is to score high. Get certified that you are intelligent and you will be taken with both hands by companies after completing education. However, showing anger, frustration and admonishing to score high even after being in top ten in the class is quite common in our society.

Apart from this, the people who regulate the rules and make education policies should understand their responsibilities. Due to their ignorance, today our education system has become another name of rat race where learning has no chance to win! And even if the rules are changed, it’s a duty of every institution to see that they are implemented properly. Those in power should make proper changes in the policy. And the parents as well as teachers should make sure that the students do what they love to do instead of compelling them to learn what they don’t like. If the subject is beyond their capacity, they are hardly going to succeed. Letting them do things they like and letting them select their own destiny might be helpful. It might reduce the pressure from young students and reduce the suicide rate.

The World is Going Crazy about Organic

A food which is produced under strict standards laid down by government is called ‘Organic food’. This kind of technique produces crops without harming either environment or the animals, thus protecting our natural reserves for the next generation. The word ‘Organic’ actually depicts a way farmers grow and cultivate different produces like grains, vegetables, fruits and dairy products.

Today who has not heard of an Organic Food? They are everywhere, from specialized health food stores to your local super markets; the aisles are full of organic products with different labels. One aisle is full of traditionally grown fruits and another with organically grown fruits. They both look fresh, colorful, nutritious and good. One might get in dilemma about which one to choose.

Let’s go in detail of Organic Foods to understand this.

Organic Foods

• Now days, people don’t leave a single stone un-turned when it comes to their health. Often foods produced non-organically has harmful antibiotics which are injected in livestock.  These antibiotics create adverse effects on our body. Eating organic food ensures that farmers have not used any antibiotic on the animals and the crops.
• Farmers use large number of pesticides and chemical fertilizers which keep pests away but weaken our resistance power. Such methods of producing crops are hazardous for our health.  Food made organically just uses natural manures and compost and doesn’t contain a single trace of strong chemicals thus reducing pollution and protecting mother earth.
• The use of pesticides by the ignorant farmer has resulted in growth of a lot of disease especially cancers. Farmers want to protect themselves in every possible way from pests. No chance to be taken. In the process, they spray more than required amount of pesticides on the crops. There is no proper awareness program conducted by the authority. Organic food takes away these possibility.
• Often people say that organic food retains the original taste and texture of vegetables and fruits. They even look fresher and colorful compared to food grown non organic way.
• Organic food doesn’t contain the harmful toxin deposits. Hence they are nutrition rich compared to the non organic food. According to one study, Animals which were not given dose of antibiotics produced healthier dairy products compared to traditionally generated dairy products.
• Eating organic food ensures that one is eating healthy and this protects from the potential dangers of catching bugs and infection.  This in turn keeps us healthy and in good physical shape. One becomes happier and feel energetic after eating such food.
• When someone purchases locally grown, organic products direct from the farmer, it provides enormous support to the local community. The purchase creates jobs for many people and this ensures financial security for the farmers.
• Fertilizers and pesticides have adverse effects on new-born babies and young children. A recent report had established a connection between different disorders and non organic foods. Eating organic food ensures that our children will be saved from possible risks of ADHD, leukemia and other defects.  If pregnant women and young children go organic, they can benefit most.

Section for the Affluents: Separate Section of Organically Grown Foods

Drawbacks of Organic Foods

Yes, it’s true that organically grown foods have many benefits. But lets’ have a look at some of the drawbacks of using this kind of food.

• Organic food doesn’t contain any preservatives. Hence, they don’t have a long shelf-life. On the other hand, traditional foods can be stored for many days. As they use various additives to keep it fresh for days. Customers don’t have to visit the market often as they can store non organic food for long time. This saves time and money.
• As the farmers don’t apply chemicals and other dangerous drugs to his crops, he might have to invest more time, money and energy in growing and cultivating organic crops. Moreover getting Organic certification is not cheap. Sometimes these organic farms are too small and can’t receive financial help from government. This increases the overhead costs and makes raising organic crops an expensive affair. This makes organic foods more expensive compared to their non organic counterparts.
• A new research has found that cow’s milk is harmless for kids and there is not much dissimilarity between the traditional and the organic one. Pediatricians all over the world recommend to drink skim milk. It can be either organic or the conventional.
• There might not be much choice in organic food products in local market. Most of the time one gets a limited variety of products.
• One might have a difficult time in finding a restaurant serving organic food if planning to eat out.
• Still majority of farmers grow traditionally cultivated crops as they want more profit with less effort from their side. If they use fertilizers and pesticides, it helps them to boost the crop and volume of their products.

Organic or Traditional

As we can see from the above discussion, eating organic food might be good for an individual. It provides many health benefits and who don’t want their family to be fit, healthy and happy? However, in the long run, going organic is a costly affair and everyone can’t afford it. Organic food products are almost twice the price of conventional food products. One who is cautious about their household budget can’t pay for it on a day-to-day basis.

Conventional food does contain pesticides and harmful chemicals. But, the harm can be minimized by washing the fruits and vegetables under running water before using them. Keeping view of the budget, it might be less expensive method to make sure healthy eating. Middle class spends most of its spending on foods only. Taking preventive measure in traditional foods can definitely be a better idea to keep the budget balanced with healthy diet.

If we see the wider picture, organic food is nothing other than naturally grown food product. No harmful chemicals, no fertilizer, no pesticides. A little pesticides or fertilizer can’t be harmful. However, taking it in heavy dose along with food product could be dangerous. If regulation is implemented along with awareness for the use of these chemicals, traditional foods could become healthy too. Farmers need security in adverse situation. Once it is given to them by way of insurance or protection of their chance of loss. They will use minimal required fertilizers and pesticides. The food products could be produced naturally and at a lower cost.

Government can’t just make regulations for the affluent only. Organic foods give healthy food to rich people only. Not to the masses. Its their duty to devise plan to give healthy food for whole society not just few. Society is not run by affluent family. The backbone of society is farmers, artisans, laborers, house-hold helps, small technicians. These drive the production section of the society. Healthy food is a right of everyone. One can’t divide this right based on income or affordability. Traditional or Organic. It should be healthy and available for everyone.

Many of you who are familiar with blogging, when told about blogging the first thing that comes in mind is a blog on Google Blogger. It was a purchased by Google in 2003 started by Pyra Labs. It became the most popular platform for blogging. However, Blogger has some limitations like:

• You can’t customize much in respect of appearance or features. You have to do a lot of research if you are not a pro.
• It is hosted and owned by Google. They can shut it down any time. They can act and remove your blog on complain without any warning. Copyright violation, DMCA notice any such notice to Google will result in immediate removal of your blog.
• The most important of all is Blogger is outdated and not a preferential service of Google. They are not keen in updating the service with latest advancement in blogging and make it more user and customization friendly.

In between a lot of alternative services flourished. WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and others. Google Blogger is used mostly for regular blogging only. However, these services are referred as Content Management Service (CMS). These are used to create a lot many different sort of website than just a blogging website. One may see the current market share of all the Content Management Services CMSs here.

You may see WordPress has developed as a giant for CMS. Drupal and Joomla both give software which could be easily installed on hosting environment to create your website and comes with Open-source License. Hence, one could customize it easily. However, WordPress provides both Google Blogger type blogging platform where you can sign up and start blogging and Open-Source Licensed software which you could install on self-hosting environment like Drupal and Joomla.

WordPress blogging platform is available at www.WordPress.com. It is popularly referred as WordPress.COM. The self-hosted blogging software could be downloaded at www.wordpress.org. This is referred commonly as WordPress.ORG or self-hosted wordpress.

Just like Google Blogger, WordPress.com has some restrictions. However, their blogging environment is much more advanced than Google Blogger. Customization and many add-on services are allowed as premium services on payment. There are almost 60 Million blogs hosted on WordPress.com. If you are a novice and want to create a wonderful looking blog where you can start writing without nothing to worry about, choose WordPress.com.

WordPress.ORG gives all the capability of customization and personalization. The customization and personalization could be achieved easily by more than 2,500 free themes and 30,000 free plugins. In order to set up your WordPress.ORG blog, you need to get a hosting account at HostGator, BlueHost, JustHost or other such hosting company. Plus you need your own domain name which you can get at GoDaddy. Most of the hosting company give domain name at the time of registering for their service. But, it’s better that you use your own domain name from GoDaddy. As it will be easy if you wish to change hosting company in future. In later articles I will give your more details about blogging with WordPress. Enjoy!

• 1951: IIT Kharagpur
• 1958: IIT Bombay
• 1959: IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras
• 1963: IIT Delhi (founded in 1961 as The College of Engineering & Technology)
• 1994: IIT Guwahati
• 2001: IIT Roorkee (Founded in 1847, renamed as Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1853 and University of Roorkee in 1948)
• 2008: IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Patna, IIT Ropar
• 2009: IIT Indore and IIT Mandi
• 2012: IIT (BHU) Varanasi (Founded in 1919 as BENCO; renamed as IT-BHU, by joining three institutes BENCO, TECHNO and MINMET running under BHU)

The eight new IITs were started within an Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) to develop Higher Education and Research in India. During this period five IISER, an NISER, seven IIMs, ten NITs, six AIIMS, seven NIPER and many other institutes. All these are getting huge funding from the Government of India. Established with a vision to develop India as a Super Power.

As per new IITs are concerned, all new IITs are awaiting completion of their permanent campus construction work. However, they are running full-fledged within limited strength from their transit campuses taken on rent. All are being mentored by old IITs.

Academics

Even though they don’t have permanent campuses these institutes have healthy infrastructure and running like any other engineering college. Initially, these institutes were getting faculties from their mentor IITs. However, with time they have full-time faculty. But, many of the post of full-time faculties at these institutes are still vacant. But, the lack of faculty is not the problem of only new IITs. Even old IITs have vacant positions of full-time faculties.

The academic standard of new IITs is better than any just opened engineering college. They have many faculties from old IITs or NITs.

Courses started at new IITs are still not as vast in numbers as old IITs. Most of them have started with B Tech courses in Computer Sciece, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Chemical. However, once they shift to their permanent campuses both several courses and intake per courses will increase.

Infrastructure

Standards of new IITs, even though they are running from transit campuses are not compromised. Some of the new IITs are exception, rest are giving healthy environment in rented accommodation in some institutes. However, it is expected most of them will shift to their permanent campuses within next two to three years.

Student Life

IITs are popular in developing a student at its best. They not just excel in the regular career. Instead, they excel in other fields too. The craze for IIT is so much as it develops the personality and boost confidence of students to do well in their life.

All the new IITs organize cultural or tech fests and activities just as regular IITs. Still, a lot of development will see once they get their own auditoriums at permanent campus.

Placements

Placement is the most important section that you would be looking for. The good news is new IITs are doing well in this section. Even though they don’t have the facilities that many not renowned but established colleges have. They have the most important thing, quality students. Students at new IITs are being selected from the premier exam earlier IIT JEE and now JEE Advanced. So, even though these institutes are yet to set up themselves, companies are coming and giving healthy package.

As per Times of India, I’m presenting the placement conditions of these institutes in 2013. It also presents faculty condition at these institutes.

This year the placement are going to be little bad as market condition is bad and PSUs are not coming for campus recruitment. But, these are going to affect both new, old IITs and other colleges too.

These institutes are better in placement than many regional level good engineering colleges. But, not better than NITs now. They are well established and have good connection in industry. Gradually, it will develop.

Final Verdict on New IITs

In my last article, Good College or Good Branch. I kept the ranking of these institutes in Tier 3 colleges. It is to be taken into consideration after old NITs for admissions. However, once these shifted to their permanent campus. Sooner or later it is going to surpass many old NITs.

If you like the above article, I’m giving links for articles written on similar topic by me:

1. Good College or Good Branch
2. When Should I Start Preparing for IIT?
3. JEE: Should I Take A Drop?
4. How to Prepare for JEE Mains After Appearing for 12th Board
5. Most Suitable Date for JEE (Main) Online Test
6. New Pattern: What is JEE?
7. IIT JEE: What should be Strategy for Partial Droppers?
8. How to Prepare for IIT JEE?
9. Kota: Paradise for IIT JEE Aspirants
10. Role of Coachings in IIT JEE selection
11. Hopes Beyond IIT
12. IIT JEE: What should be the strategy for repeaters?

There are 119 different courses available in JEE Advanced 2014. Some of these are very much popular and known. But, most of us don’t know scope, syllabus, use of most of the courses in the list. Every person has different opinion about best and worst IITs. The dilemma comes as it is going to decide the future of the student. Parents want their children to study the best possible stream once the results are out. Definition of best possible stream would be “A Stream which will let their kid to a secure, easy to find job, with a handsome salary and have growth opportunity”. Only problem is very few persons know in detail about each stream and depending on the interest and ability of a student, which could be the best stream for a particular student.

Yes, ranking of stream will change for every student. Some may find computer interesting, some may find aviation interesting. One can’t do well without having an interest. But, here there is one more problem. I’m not referring towards interest as passion towards something. I’m referring towards a branch whose syllabus may suit the interest of a student. It may happen that someone who is brilliant in chemistry and comparatively weak in Mathematics have passion to be aeronautical engineer. But, aeronautical may not be a better branch for him/her to excel in his career.

It is very hard to find such a person who can guide a student perfectly, taking into consideration likes and dislikes of student for a particular topic. It is advisable to talk to as many counselor as possible to know about choice of course and college which you can get in a particular branch. But, just take advise, decision about order of preference should be of student. For admission into IITs, the following attached PDF file (Jee Advanced Counseling Brochure 2013) is send to successful candidates. It have a major part giving details about each and every branch or courses available in IITs. It should be read thoroughly to understand structure, syllabus, applicability and scope of a branch. Depending on the strength, command and interest of a student and its use for a particular branch, ordered list of branches with college should be made.

Some streams are good or specialty of a particular IIT. This would mean you would get best faculty, resources, lab instrument and scope. So, once you have understanding about your preferential list of branches or streams. Get information about best IIT to study the course from. You can get such information by getting in contact with few IITians.

For Non-IIT Candidates

Till now, I gave course selection tips only for those who are successful in JEE Advanced. Now, for those who have to select course and college after clearing JEE Mains or state engineering entrances, the path is not so easy. They can either go for best possible college with not-so-popular branch or best branch in an average college or below average college. It is a general consensus to go for the best branch and not best college. However, I always believe to go for the best college in a good city for whatsoever branch one can get. I’m going to explain various reasons why I believe so. First, let me explain how branch is less important and college is more.

Is Branch Really so Important

Every Field Has Good Scope

If we talk about scope of the course, nearly all the field or branch have good scope, leaving behind newly introduced branch. Student from every branch can excel to top and get high salary. Not so popular branch like aerospace or marine has very high average salary compared to a mechanical or electrical. Most popular branch computer science have a very less average salary as it is over-crowded.

Future is Unknown

No one knows till when the job opportunity will be flooded in IT sector. Right now, even pass-outs from other branches are joining IT sector as supply of quality engineers is less than demand and it is not so hard for engineers from different stream to switch to IT field. Do you know in 90’s Mechanical or electrical were much more popular branch than computer science? Many engineers who could not get in mechanical and get C.S. in 90’s get to the top position in their company after IT boom.

Love of Student for a Branch is Illusion

I already explained this point above while explaining for IIT counselling. If a student loves to work on computer, it does not mean he can find interest in Computer Science. Computer Science requires sound logical and analytical ability. Many a times students desires to choose a branch just for sake of affection to its applicability.

Sector Change

My brother is a Mechanical Engineer from IIT Kanpur. But, he is working in a Top IT company. Many of my friends with various streams of engineering are with me working in Insurance Company. Many bureaucrats are engineers with no use of their engineering knowledge. The point is you don’t know whether you are going to work in the same sector you are choosing as your engineering branch.

Importance of Better College

Better Resources

Getting education from NIT Trichy is always going to be better than NIT Jamshedpur. One will get better professors, better labs, better environment at a better college. Quality of education always play better role at key positions in life. It gives value to your résumé.

It may be given examples that a college which not even comparable to premium IIT like Manipal has alumnus at key positions of Microsoft and Nokia. However, both of them Satya Nadella or Rajeev Suri are at Managerial position which is a skill not honed by Manipal. On an average, a student from a better college have much more chance of achieving successes quickly.

Better connections

Even if one gets not so popular branch in a better college, he/she may have on an average better friends or better connections from college. I’m not saying it helps in progressing in life. But, it do help in tough times. Every one wants influential friend network.

Better Environment

Better college may give opportunity for better opportunity in extra-curricular activity. Even many prepare for civil services GATE, GRE, CAT etc. while being in engineering college. This gives them better ambiance for preparing for such competition.

Chance of Better Branch Change After First Year

Nearly every college has an option to change branch at the end of first year based on their performance in first year. This is a very huge benefit. My brother got 2400 AIR in IIT JEE 2002 and got 5 years integrated MSc Mathematics and Scientific Computing at IIT Kanpur. Based on his excellent performance in first year, he was able to shift his branch to B. Tech Mechanical after first year.

So, one have a chance to upgrade the branch if he/she is not satisfied at the end of first year if he/she went for average branch in better college. Those who went for best branch don’t get the chance to upgrade to better college ever.

Ranking of Colleges

I’m just giving an outlook about college ranking. However, actual ranking may differ the pattern given by me.

1. Premier Ones: Old IITs and BITS Pilani
2. Tier 1: NITs and State Bests
3. Tier 2: New IITs
4. Tier 3: Have a name
5. Tier 4: Not so popular

As already told, it is just an outline, actual ranking may not follow the same pattern.

You can go for not so popular branch till Tier 2 colleges as better college. Till Tier 3 you may look for branches like mechanical, electrical, electronics as better college. If you are getting Tier 4 college, which gives some placement, go for only Computer Science. These colleges gets very less core companies other than IT for placements.

I’m sure the my view point would definitely help a lot towards easing your dilemma about Good College or Good Branch. It would be good to share your ideas and queries by giving comment below. I’m you would like to share your thinking.

If you like the above article, I’m giving links for articles written on similar topic by me:

1. How Good Are The New IITs
2. When Should I Start Preparing for IIT?
3. JEE: Should I Take A Drop?
4. How to Prepare for JEE Mains After Appearing for 12th Board
5. Most Suitable Date for JEE (Main) Online Test
6. New Pattern: What is JEE?
7. IIT JEE: What should be Strategy for Partial Droppers?
8. How to Prepare for IIT JEE?
9. Kota: Paradise for IIT JEE Aspirants
10. Role of Coachings in IIT JEE selection
11. Hopes Beyond IIT
12. IIT JEE: What should be the strategy for repeaters?

Normally, in companies when people are hired, they are put into training to learn about the organization, its people, system and processes. All these things start very formally as socialization but with time it may forge friendship with few. Even companies prefer team members to know each other before they start working together. They want a sense of bonding among its workforce to have a productive and better work environment.

What causes friendship in office

Do people go to work for friendship? Of course “no” will be the answer. However, still when they start working, they make many friends in the office. Things start out formally, like meeting and interacting while in training or in team hurdles or outing organized by the company, but within no time they find many of the colleagues have become friends. The causes of office friendship is due to similar stress on the group due to which employees start sharing their work woes and applauds. Initially everyone is careful and formal while speaking but after some time the conversation becomes casual and sometimes personal.

What are the effects of friendship on the employees

Employees are expected to work in office and not to forge friendship. However, a better understanding among its people does help the organization. People are motivated to work better when they are emotionally satisfied and friendship gives such emotional satisfaction to workers. An informal chat with your boss does make you happy. It gives a feeling of joy and motivates you to work better.

At times of hiring, the Human Resource Team considers recommendation from its employees and gives incentives too. We find people asking their friends to join the company. It helps in retaining workforce. When you have lots of friends in office, you would think twice before leaving the group.

The long working hours together in the office brings people close to each other and even choosing themselves as life partners. The workplace, its environment and stress bring them together.

Do friendship forged in office last long

Though, everyone would want the friendship to last forever. Leaving a side a few exceptions wherein there develops a strong friendship. Most of the friendship loses its charm after leaving the organization. New organization means new social groups, new pressures and new colleagues, which may become friends someday. Social networking sites like “Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter” keep them connected. They keep sharing their lives. The friendship, however, fades away with time and distance.

Demerits and Side-effects of office friendship

Office friendship and socialization though sounds good it has its ill effects too on the individuals. At the time of promotion or appraisal, friendships are tested. Promotion of the friend may not be a happy or pleasant moment. It ends up making you compare and ridicule people.

For an organization, too much friendship may result in less attention towards work by its work force. It even sometimes divides the office in many small groups indulging employees in office politics.

As we know, office is a place to work. Most of the time, there is lack of common work-break to share things with your friends as everyone is busy with work responsibilities. At the time of meeting with the client, you cannot end-up chit-chatting with your friends and show a casual and non-professional work environment to the client. Bosses don’t want team members wasting time instead of productive work.

Employees don’t only make friends from same department or team. They tend to make friends from other departments, floors or even building, which results in more non-productive hours of work.

Socialization and friendship at workplace is good when it is part of work and contributes towards improving the quality of work. After college, best friends are found mostly in office. However, till the time, friends are in same office, aim should be less non-productive chit-chat at work. It should be to ease the work-pressure, not to deteriorate the quality of the work.

I remember back in 2006, IIT JEE administration introduced a stringent rule which allows maximum two attempts for an aspirant to get into IIT JEE. The step was taken in order to curb the number of students who get into IIT by preparing again and again for 3, 4 or even 5 years. It was infusing not the actual talented persons in the premier institutes. But, those who practice the pattern for more than 2 years and then, show their excellence over junior by way of extra practice. It was always criticized that the pattern and syllabus of IIT JEE is not suitable to be covered within a span of 2 years. But, there are always a lot many students who used to get in IIT JEE in first attempt. Proper guidance, proper time management and dedication towards study is ultimate requirement other than primary requirement of a sharp mind to get in first attempt.

However, the step affected the coaching institution in a big way. As the number of aspirant taking part in the exam reduced drastically for 2007. A new concept came in the market. It was to be The Early Bird. Aim early, take time and then take the shot. It was to start preparing for IIT from 9th standard itself rather than 11th. The concept was not totally new. I remember in 1999 when I was in 9th standard Brilliant Tutorial had a Foundation Correspondence Course for IIT JEE. But, it was not a popular course. Once the director of my coaching class told me that he gets 1 or 2 student each year who comes to join the coaching class to prepare for IIT JEE, where more than 500 students used to enroll in a year. The idea was not so popular as why to put pressure before 10th, if you have enough time after 12th to clear IIT JEE.

Now, after 2006 the concept became popular, may be due to giving popularity by the coaching institute administrators or by the parents who wants their child to be an IITian, but likes to reduce pressure from them. Anyhow, here I’m going to discuss, whether correct time to start the preparation for IIT should start when the aspirant is in 9th standard only.

As far as the positive side is concerned, I see only one benefit, you get much more time to go through every portion of the syllabus. However, I would like to look through all the negative features too.

Self-level is Low

When you have just entered the 9th standard, your level is not adequate to grasp concepts of 11th standard. Even if you are one of the brightest student, it is not going to be easy to understand the concepts of 11th std, leave JEE Advanced standards. But, if you could finish at least 9th std syllabus till 8th. Then, you could think to cover 10th syllabus within months in 9th, say 4 months. Afterwards, study for a year for JEE Advanced. Then, once again start the preparation of 10th, 6 months prior to 10th board. The syllabus of 9th is based on 8th; 10th on 9th; 11th, 12th on 9th & 10th and finally of JEE Advanced on 11th & 12th. It is not a course of the meal which could be ate in any order or a could even be skipped.

First Big Hurdle of Life

Ask any student in school, their first dream in life is to appear and get good marks in 10th board. It is a very important step in life. Many students first time in their life compete with thousands of others in one go. A lot depends on its marks. Before 10th the competition always lies within the boundaries of the school. Those who are ambitious knows the level of their competitor within school. But, 10th board place you with unknown competitors in unknown quantity. Most of the student fear a lot from 10th board than 12th board or any other examinations ahead.

The nervousness for such an important exam is well known. Everything should be perfect and flawless. Hence, it is not easy to divert the concentration and mind from such an important goal.

Young Age

At the age of 13 or 14, a boy is at a very young age to foresee and plan their future. The fun of life will vanish from the life of young kids once they go through the tough preparation of JEE Advanced. They are not matured to take decisions or make strategies. A proper time table with perfect strategy is to be drawn before commencing such preparation.

A Good Counselor

You need a very good counselor who could guide and coach you personally. The steps to be taken needs professional touch with knowledge and understanding of each and every portion of both JEE and 10th.

My Suggestions

If you have decided that you are going to become engineer from a premier institute in India and you can sacrifice your time and can manage the stiff time table. I’m not going to stop you, as “Only Brave Wins the Race”. Success needs talent, aim, dedication, sacrifice, hard work and strategy. Luck could be a factor, but its role could be minimized. I’m going to give a plan of action in detail which would give you an edge over those who are going to start the preparation of JEE Advanced after 10th. I am assuming:

• You have just gone to 9th std.
• You are going to attend all the classes in your school.
• You have 2 years in hand before 10th board.
• Apart from school you are going to get 6-8 hours of time for self-study. Devote 1-2 to hours at max for school home work. Rest for this plan, min 5 hours.
• You will get 6 hours of sleep on weekdays and 8-9 on weekend.
• You are relying on self-study not on coaching or tuition.
• You are brave and ready to take the pressure. Also, you should be ready to sacrifice fun for study.

If you have any doubts about any of these ask me.

Step 1: Clear 9th and 10th Syllabus

This step is going to be of 5-6 months. In this step, you will cover the syllabus of 9th, then 10th both for Physics, Chemistry and Maths. As I have already said you can’t skip syllabus of any class and look ahead. You have to wrap up the syllabus as fast as you can. Remember, the syllabus would be completed in school too in a span of two years. So, you would get an edge their, which may help you perform better in term exams. Choose the same books which are followed in school. For numerical problems, you should solve each one of them carefully. For conceptual topics, don’t try to mug up concepts, but rather try to give answers to every questions asked at the end of the chapter.

If you could find a senior who could clear your doubts, it would be very good. Discuss the doubts once in every week, preferably on weekend. It would be very good if senior is in 11th or 12th preparing for JEE Advanced. During this step you have to know more and more about the pattern of JEE Advanced. A lot of students fail in clearing JEE Advanced as they spend time in wrong direction misguidedly. The more you know about it, the better it is going to be. You can also read more about JEE on internet.

If you have a group who are also preparing for JEE, discuss with them the topics and understandings. Min. 5 hours each day would be sufficient. If a term exam comes in between, take one week break before term exam and resume after the exam. Your objective here in this step is to cover the concept of 9th and 10th rather than passing 10th board based on it.

Step 2: Get Closer to JEE Level

You must be knowing that the level of JEE Advanced is higher than 12th level. You are not going to study till JEE level before 10th. It should be done after 10th. However, before passing 10th, I would like you to cover as much 11th and 12th syllabus as much as you can. The step should be stopped 6 months prior to your 10th board to give sufficient time for your board exam. You need books followed in 11th and 12th for Physics, Chemistry and Maths for this step. I would not suggest any book. Better to consult any of your senior for the purpose. But, it is important that the book should be for 11th and 12th rather than for JEE Advanced.

Approach for JEE is quite different from 10th. There are not going to be conceptual questions, like explain the extraction of H2SO4 with design of apparatus or What is a magnetic field. It would be all numerical based, except in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (Chemistry has three parts after 11th; Physical, Organic and Inorganic; Google it to know more). All the questions would be solved based on some information given and concepts you know. Like

• 2H2 + O2 = ?,
• Ken is the star of the cross-country team. During a recent morning run, Ken averaged a speed of 5.8 m/s for 12.9 minutes. Ken then averaged a speed of 6.10 m/s for 7.1 minutes. Determine the total distance which Ken ran during his 20 minute jog.

One by one cover the books of 11th and 12th by solving all the problems. No need to solve JEE level problem at this stage. I think the time would be sufficient and you would be able to cover the syllabus of both 11th and 12th within 8-9 months. For the next 3-4 months, go for revision. Once you are reading books of 11th and 12th. Many a times you would feel the lessons at school to be boring and of low level. But, don’t bunk the school. It is going to be helpful to get acquainted with activity at school and to have some fun time.

After this step, you would be well-versed with syllabus of 11th and 12th. Also, you could join a good coaching for JEE Advanced right after appearing for 10th board. You will definitely understand the advance concepts very easily. 

Step 3: Getting ready for 10th Board

In around October, you should start giving full attention towards the approaching 10th board exam, which normally takes placein March. As you have already covered the syllabus till 12th, you would feel very comfortable with 10th syllabus. Make a good strategy and time table and give full concentration towards secondary examination. Forget about IIT, JEE and its syllabus for next 6 -7 months.

After giving your 10th board, you have both the option to go for a good coaching or do self study. If you are going for self study, start from Step 2 in the article How to prepare for IIT JEE?

I’m open for suggestions and discussions. If you like to share something it would be very nice. You can also share your experience with other aspirants. If you have a doubt better to share with everyone, than just me via a personalized email. As it might help others too. Have a nice day.

If you like the above article, I’m giving links for articles written on similar topic by me:

1. How Good Are The New IITs
2. Good College or Good Branch
3. JEE: Should I Take A Drop?
4. How to Prepare for JEE Mains After Appearing for 12th Board
5. Most Suitable Date for JEE (Main) Online Test
6. New Pattern: What is JEE?
7. IIT JEE: What should be Strategy for Partial Droppers?
8. How to Prepare for IIT JEE?
9. Kota: Paradise for IIT JEE Aspirants
10. Role of Coachings in IIT JEE selection
11. Hopes Beyond IIT
12. IIT JEE: What should be the strategy for repeaters?

I’m going to discuss few aspects and challenges which would help you take this decision in a better way. I would surely love to see your comments. Do share your views here.

Why to take a drop?

Aspirants think about taking the engineering entrance exams once again only in one scenario. When they feel that they performed less and they can get much better rank if given one more chance. Many a times the reason for poor performance is imbalanced life after 10th.  Till 10th students are required to read from specific books with specific curriculum in a specific time frame. Even though life till 10th is stereo-type and boring. Its much easy and without tension. After 10th suddenly number of subjects increase. New unknown subjects are waiting for you. If one is just aiming for 12th, life again becomes stereo-type 6 months after taking admission in 11th. But, aspiration for better career needs to tougher aims. One can’t just think about scoring good marks in 12th. But, you  also need good marks in engineering entrance tests. The syllabus and pattern of which are not very much similar to 12th. Without a good mentor, students often gets confused. Till the time their confusion gets cleared. They are just few months away from 12th board.

Earlier, (at least till my time) 12th board was just to get a pass marks. Concentration and focus used to be on engineering entrance test from day 1. Not much confusion about how to keep balance. I had one more advantage. Attendance was not an issue in the school for me.

But, in order to increase the importance of 12th board. HRD ministry has taken some new measures which made the life of engineering aspirants hell. Now, marks in 12th board is as much important as one’s performance in JEE. Students are not just confused in making balance between 12th board preparation and JEE. They are even confused with the pattern and relation of 12th, JEE Main and JEE Advanced performance.

Analysis of Benefit

What I am going to discuss now has already explained by me in reply to a comment earlier.

Lets say, we give grading to all the engineering colleges from 1 to 10. 1 being the best and 10 the worst. Then, we can keep old IITs on rank 1. New one on 3 or 4. NITs on 2 and, likewise colleges with no or very little placements on 9 or 10.

Now, after appearing for JEE, one may definitely tell whether their performance was up to their caliber. Now, lets say this year you are getting 5th grade college. If you feel your performance next year would improve by 20 %. Then, you may expect to get 4th grade college next year. If improvement would be 30-40 %. expect 3rd grade college next. Likewise, you may do your calculation.

Is the benefit worth a drop?

Now, this is surely a Million Dollar question. Is the benefit you are calculating by the above analysis is worth a drop?

In order to understand this you need to first analyze the loss and gain by the drop. Importance of one year drop is a lot. You have to be prepared for a question about this in placement interviews. You have to be mentally tough to read the same books, same concepts and same problems once again. No doubt it is going to reduce your bank balance by an year’s salary. But, that won’t hurt you much. The most important thing is that you loose your whole one year. A total wastage. You stop your career growth for one year.

Now, in your decision for the drop, my thinking is not to go for drop if you are hopeful of just improving your performance next year by less than 30 %. Let me explain this by examples. Suppose this year you are hopeful to get a decent branch in a decent NIT. But, your aim is any similar branch in an old IIT( not, a rank less than 600-700 in JEE Advanced). At the time of admission in engineering college or even placements, these brand names matters a lot. But, after 4-5 years out of college, at the time of increment or job shift, these brand names don’t play any role. It will depend on your performance, knowledge and attitude. The amount of energy that you waste in preparing once again for JEE Advanced could be utilized at NIT itself to gain more knowledge. The placement from NIT might not be little lesser in package than IIT. But, if you add one year wastage for JEE Advanced preparation and growth you could have gained if you would have continued in NIT. After 9 years, decision to go to NIT would be said as a much better and wiser decision.

However, a rank less than 500 in IIT is not comparable in such scenario. As placement and growth chance would be more. But, to get such performance after a drop, you need improvement by more than 30 % compared to current.

Similarly, if you are getting a 5th grade college this year and you are hopeful to get at least 3rd grade college next year. You may go for a drop.

It is true that many top executives in India are alumini of IITs and IIMs. But, that does not mean all top executives are from only IITs and IIMs. Your foundation is important. But, that is not the only place to spend all your energy. For success in your life. You need to continuously give your best effort.

Sometimes, in few cases due to some unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances, performance deteriorates a lot than the ideal. In such case, taking a drop is very common and understandable. But, in normal case you need to assess your gain and loss with your chance of improvement. Discuss your situation with your family members, seniors and teachers. Get their suggestions and viewpoints about your probable losses and gains after a drop. The more you will discuss the more your understanding will develop and you would be ready with the decision.

If you like the above article, I’m giving links for articles written on similar topic by me:

1. How Good Are The New IITs
2. Good College or Good Branch
3. When Should I Start Preparing for IIT?
4. How to Prepare for JEE Mains After Appearing for 12th Board
5. Most Suitable Date for JEE (Main) Online Test
6. New Pattern: What is JEE?
7. IIT JEE: What should be Strategy for Partial Droppers?
8. How to Prepare for IIT JEE?
9. Kota: Paradise for IIT JEE Aspirants
10. Role of Coachings in IIT JEE selection
11. Hopes Beyond IIT
12. IIT JEE: What should be the strategy for repeaters?

Content

Before your Facebook page can be successful, it needs to be filled with interesting and useful content. People who visit your Facebook page will want to see pictures, informational posts, and other things that can attract their attention. Thus, when creating a Facebook page, treat it like you are creating a new website. You will want to make sure that you have a stylish theme that goes along with the general idea of your business. Next, you will want to make sure that your banner and profile picture are interesting and reflect well on the work that you do. Once you have these main things, you are going to want to begin posting on your page and putting pictures up. While you can put huge amounts of information on your page all at once, it is more effective to slowly upload information. This will make it so your customers are constantly coming back to your Facebook page to see new content

Getting Views

You will want to attract as many people as possible to your Facebook page, though this does not mean that you should invite everyone that you can find. Be selective with whom you first invite to see your page. As you slowly begin to invite more people and businesses, more people will begin to come to your site from these other pages. If this method does not work quickly enough for you, there is also the option of putting up advertisements through Facebook, though this can sometimes be expensive.

Monitoring

While it probably isn’t healthy to be constantly checking your Facebook page all day, the best trick on how to make a Facebook page that is successful is to quickly respond to anyone that posts on your page. Whether a person messages you or simply leaves a comment on your page, you should try to respond to these people as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few words. By doing this, you will gain a greater amount of trust and respect from your customers and they will be more willing to buy your product or service. They will also be more likely to refer you to their friends and acquaintances, helping to generate even more customers for your business.