Before You Ask: Freshers’ FAQs

Q1. When should I arrive for my orientation? Is it necessary for parents to come along?

Arriving a day before the date allotted to you, with reference to your branch orientation dates would give you sufficient time to settle in before you attend the orientation. While it is not necessary for your parents to come along, this is the best time when they can visit the campus, hostels, and explore Manipal with you.

Q2. Will I require a laptop in my first year? Will the college provide one? What configurations are recommended?

The study material for all your courses will be provided in the form of PPTs and/or PDFs. Thus, it is essential to have a device that enables you to access this content. First-year courses also require the use of application software such as AutoCAD (Engineering Graphics), MATLAB (PSUC), and CodeBlocks (PSUC); all of which run only on laptops with at least 4GB RAM. Since 2018, the college does not provide laptops. You will have to bring your own laptop. If you are purchasing a new device, an i5 processor along with 4GB RAM stick should be sufficient for your college courses. You can opt for higher-end devices depending on your need and interests. Take a look at our Laptop Buying Guide for more advice on the same. 

Q3. Why isn’t the college providing laptops?

Since 2018, the university has been conducting exams on PEXA E-Pads which will be provided to every student for the duration of the exam only. This initiative has been taken to promote the Go Green drive and enable a steady transition towards digitizing all activities on campus.

Q4. I have taken X branch and wish to change to Y after the first year, is it possible?

MIT offers you an option to change your branch after the first year. However, keep in mind that this is a highly unpredictable process as the cutoffs for branch change are subject to the available vacancy and usually require a significantly high CGPA, which may even go up to as high as 9.8-10 for streams like Computer Science. We advise you not to rely solely on this. However, students have successfully shifted branches in the past, and it is achievable provided a vacancy is created in your desired stream.

Q5. Will I be getting a university e-mail id?

Yes. Manipal provides a Learner’s id to all students which is bundled with Office 365, a suite of powerful tools such as MS Office, One Drive etc. The Learner’s ID can also be used to avail a variety of services, which are exclusive to students such as a cheaper Coursera, Grammarly Premium, Github Student Developer, Apple Music subscription pack etc.

Q6. How do I manage my finances? 

We understand that managing your own finances can be a daunting task, especially when most of you would be staying away from your families for the first time. Being a student town, living and food costs are relatively low in Manipal and depend majorly on how much you’re willing to spend. Keep a track of your expenses from the first day and you’ll be good to go.

Q7. Which bank should I open an account with?

Manipal University offers its students a chance to open an account with ICICI bank. The account opening formalities are facilitated by the college itself; you simply have to furnish the required documents. It is usually done a day or two after the orientation procedure is done with. The college also offers a combo card in collaboration with ICICI Bank, which will be issued to you by the end of your first semester. This card will serve as your identity card, ATM Card, and Library Access Card. 

Q8. Which hostel should I pick?

Manipal offers different kinds of hostel rooms to its incoming students, ranging from single rooms to triple sharing, all of which amount to a highly satisfactory hostel life. Take your pick based on your comfort levels and the hostel fee. Your hostel will be your second home and no matter which one you choose, we can promise that you will have a comfortable stay, find friends, and have a basketful of memories to take away. Take a look at our hostel guides:

Q9. Which mess should I pick?

Manipal offers a variety of messes with food catering to different tastes. You may take your pick at the beginning of every month, based on your individual taste. However, we advise you to pick one close to your hostel or one situated on your way to class so that you don’t have to sacrifice any meals to get to class on time.

Q10. Who should I contact if I have any problems?

Each fresher in Manipal is assigned a Teacher-Guardian, who will also be one of your professors. The Teacher-Guardian acts as a mentor and will have frequent meetings with you to ensure your well-being and safety on campus. Feel free to contact them anytime during office hours or outside office hours, in case of emergencies, and share any problems that you might be facing.

Q11. How are the healthcare facilities at Manipal?

Manipal University’s own Kasturba Medical College consists of a hospital that is fully equipped with state-of-art diagnostic and therapeutic departments to facilitate the treatment of a wide range of medical and surgical diseases. It is also adept for advanced and sophisticated surgeries such as coronary bypass and open-heart surgery as well as kidney transplantation. A separate student clinic in the building caters especially to students of the university and can be availed at a very nominal fee.

Q12. How is the interaction of seniors with their juniors? Is there any fear of ragging?

For the initial month, Manipal has a unique interaction ban in place to prevent ragging, which means that all unofficial interactions between freshers and seniors are banned. This helps the freshers’ to settle in, get accustomed to their schedules and academics, and also build relations amongst their batch mates. While nobody will stop you from talking to a senior, the university ensures that no possible attempt at ragging can take place and takes any infractions extremely seriously. We are proud to be able to write that Manipal has one of the friendliest student communities in the entire nation; you will find your seniors being readily willing to help you in any aspect they can.

Q13. What scope of extracurricular activities does Manipal offer?

Manipal is especially known and highly regarded for the plethora of opportunities it offers ranging from sporting facilities to technical student projects. Manipal also has several technical clubs that can be joined by any student regardless of their branch. In addition to that, non-technical clubs cater to every imaginable activity, including but definitely not limited to dance, music, debate, drama etc. Marena, a centrally-cooled sports complex is one of the largest and best-equipped sports centres in the country, with dedicated courts and equipment for various disciplines, available at a nominal membership fee for students. There is no limit to the clubs you can join. However, it is recommended to restrict it to a number that doesn’t hamper your academics and daily routine.

Q14. Can I apply for a scholarship after my first year?

Irrespective of the CGPA in your first year, Manipal does not offer any merit-based scholarships once you have taken admission into the institute. The only university offered scholarships that can be availed are provided at the time of admission. There are, however, a large number of government-offered scholarships that you can apply for depending on your family income and skill level. You can also opt for student loans in various partner banks on lower premiums.

Q15. How can I handle and stay on top of all the assignments, tests and events? What are the recommended resources for this, if any?

College is overwhelming, and even if it doesn’t get any easier, there are ways to make it manageable. Notion comes in handy when it comes to keeping track of deadlines, events and anything else. Initially, it could be intimidating, but this is where digital creators (for example @notionhq and @notionway on Instagram) are a boon. Keep in mind, however that Notion is an all-in-one kinda deal: if you’re looking for something specific, apps like Google Calendar, Evernote, etc. are more user-friendly (PS: Take a look at Apps That Power Manipal). The Pulse app is Lighthouse distilled onto your phone and helps you keep track of grades and upcoming assignments/announcements with ease.

Q16. Are there any app-based services that I can access for laundry, etc.? 

While most services can be accessed in person, apps like DhobiMate for laundry and ChangePay for food delivery can make your life a little more convenient. These apps are available for download on the iOS and Android app stores.

 

Written By Abhishek Mishra for MTTN

Updated by Shriti Chandra and Rachana Raman for MTTN

Featured Image by Anurag Sharma for MTTN

 

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