With almost a year over with my MCA at NIT Allahabad, I have lot of questions revolving around my head about the course. Master’s In Of In Of Computer Application (MCA) is a course offered by various universities and colleges in India and eligibility is Bachelor’s degree in any background. I am probably the first person to write few negative things about the course I am in.:P
I’ve done B.Sc. in Computer Science from Panjab University and took admission in MCA with not much of a choice left in my hands. I am not targeting any individual here. These are just my personal views, so better don’t take them too seriously. Here they goes :
- What’s so “Master’s” about it ? : The course is called Master’s degree, but it allows students with compulsion of Maths in +2 and bachelor’s degree in ANY discipline ( with maths in 1st year ) ( that almost 70% already have, rest 30% can give a +2 maths exam to qualify….. covers 100% ! I am not considering Medical students here. No point they will make such a drastic shift. ) to sit for the entrances. Even the entrances are 90% maths. Some even have GK. How funny is that ? That means the course actually starts from the very basics ( what is a computer ? ). It is a bit frustrating for first few weeks, sitting in a lecture ( full of Master’s students ) and questions like “What is a folder ?”, “What is Windows ?” coming out of the crowd time to time
- Why time span 3 years ? : All the Master’s degree are at most of 2 years, then whats wrong with this one. What special things are taught in this course that it has to be stretched by 1 year. Maybe my 1st point is the valid reason.
- MCA not recognized outside India : I do not plan to go abroad, but just to add a point here, It’s probably not recognized by any Foreign University as Master’s degree.
- MCA is Over-Education : You dedicate 6 years of your life to learn things which can be learned in 4 years ( the thing we call B.Tech/B.E ) or less, which ultimately gives an impression of being either over-educated or a slow-learner. We all know how our education system is. There is no point spending so much time on it. The thing that drives me crazy is I will be out in the industry as a Fresher at the age of almost 23.
- MCA not recognized by some big names : This may come as a shocker for few of those who are doing MCA, but some big names like Google, Microsoft, Cisco etc. do not even allow MCA students to sit in campus placements. Why should they ? consider a B.Tech guy and MCA guy, with almost same qualification ( as subjects ) which would you prefer. Remember the Fena advert. “Bibiji, jab wohi cheez kam daamo main mile…..”. Whats more sad is they don’t even allow BCA/B.Sc to sit. |:-P. Once in the industry however, your qualification hardly matters but start is not so easy.
I chose MCA basically because I hardly had any other option left. Another reason was I needed some time to fix few things up . It, however, by luck worked out for me the other way. Because of it, I am bit safe for the time being from this recession thingie. Let see how it goes next year when I actually had to face interviews after going through 50 subjects (30 in B.Sc. and 20 in MCA by that time) 
Any question regarding MCA or why am I being so negative about the course can be posted in comments !
i will be start preparing for mca entrance of 2010. i am doing b.sc. in PCM. after reading your views i am little bit confused about mca. all my relative and friends are suggesting me that mca is the best option and good job prospects after 3-4 years. please guide me. and also what are the best colleges for mca ? is mba worth considering.
@Shruti Kalra
Congrats. You are the first person to comment on this blog.
Now to your question. I always recommend to others to enter into IT only if you have lot of interest in computers. Because of the nature of the job, of sitting at one place and coding something for 8-10 hours a day about which you have no interest can prove to be quite boring. Consider it seriously. The environment provided by Software companies is excellent but it rarely matters if you have no interest in the job.
If you have quite an Interest in any of your current subject and actually good at it ( Physics or Chemistry or Maths ) go for it. No idea about courses offered in them, but confident that there are good one’s available in the country. Do some google.
If you finally decided to go for MCA, I consider DU’s and JNU’s MCA the best ( because of the environment of a metro city ). IIT Roorkee is the next. Just Ignore Pune University if you are not from Maharashtra ( only 2-3 open seats ). NIT’s comes the next with Trichy > Warangal/Surathkal > Allahabad. Rest are all the same. I chose allahabad just because of distance factor of other NIT’s but the infrastructure here is not even close to what I expected.
Go for MBA only if you are good at GD/interview. Written exams are not that tough to crack. What happens most of the time that students preparing for MBA go for any average college in the end coz’ they had no option left to go for technical entrances.
Make a wise decision. Calculate well before entering into rat race.
Best of luck.
“It is a bit frustrating for first few weeks, sitting in a lecture ( full of Master’s students ) and questions like “What is a folder ?”, “What is Windows ?” coming out of the crowd time to time”…
ha ha….been there…done that!
hi..i read ur comment abt MCA..i m a BCA student under PUNJAB UNI.
give the opertunites in mca?
@anji
I did not get what you are saying. can you please elaborate !!!
Please go through course contents of any Reputed Uni.’s M.Sc. Applied Mathematics or Industrial Mathematics courses. I think these courses are not only of two year’s duration but they are slightly better than M.C.A. and certainly these courses are not Over education and M.Sc. in applied mathematics or Ind.Maths is recognised outsides and some of those big names provided you should have done very well in the final results.
hai ankit ofcourse i agree wit u time is so long when compared to other post graduation. but in every field there is some advantages and disadvantages isnt it?
@harini
. MCA course is 25+ years old, but still its not as popular/recognized as other courses. I was just pointing out that very thing. Ultimately, as all of us know, the degree doesn’t even matter that much once you entered in industry.
of course buddy
hey..ankit….i have just completed my b.sc in computer science from panjab university….n as u said…no other option left rather than to choose MCA…so i m going for it….n i read wht u have written….so i m keenly looking for it.
hey even i am doing mCA AND BIT CONFUSED why i had opyed this.even though i am a among the top three students of my class but i dont find it interesting . i dont know now wat to do
Hi hero, the blog is too interesting. This is the first time that I have read the blog of that person who is present with me. Well i got an idea what u really have
regarding M.C.A and other courses which takes 3 year duration.
This was the same perception clicking in mind when I was completed my B.Sc that “would it be good to do MCA”. But right now I feel glad that your views is too direct towards the reality of life………………………………….
………………..