A Novice’s Guide to Academics, Development, and the Balance in Between
There’s a common dilemma I’ve seen my peers face, one I’ve faced before, and maybe even facing now.
Should I focus on CGPA or Skill Development?
There are two sides of the coin: one where you need to maintain a good CGPA, perform well in quizzes and activities, and maintain that 75% attendance that everyone struggles with. Surely, those who’ve been in the same boat know how many hours we’ve put into solving assignments (or simply copying them/passing others as ours), preparing for presentations, and writing lab records, among other things. Then there’s the other side of the coin where we spend hours developing skills, following our passion — learning new things that were maybe taught in class but never delved into in depth. Some of us are mastering web development, someone’s learning ML, AI… the list could go on and on. But where’s the balance in between? Can we just let go of one side and stick with the other?
If you were here for a short answer, it’s — I’ve got no clue. But I’ve tried to find out. I’ve experimented with things to find my niche, to see where I fit in, how I fit in. And before continuing, what I want to emphasize the most is that where you find balance entirely depends on you — it’s tailored to who you are and what you want to do. The balance exists; you just need to try and find it.
Coin Side 1: Academics and CGPA
The first thing is, CGPA matters. Whoever told you it doesn’t must not have been telling the entire truth. The reality is that CGPA matters, but only up to a certain extent. You need to maintain a certain level to sit for your placements. If you can’t even sit for your placements, all your skills and past experiences and projects will go down the drain. And not all of us are aiming for placements and opening startups. Those aiming to go abroad for Masters need to maintain a good result as well.
Academics are not just related to CGPA. You are not just studying for a mere score. You’re doing it to learn new things, to discover more things that could be. Many are so focused on learning practical skills( which are of course important) in a field like Computer Engineering that they often forget the beauty and intricacies of theoretical computer science — the one thing that is the root of all these innovations in CSE. The core subjects which are part of our academic curriculum are also the syllabus for exams like GATE. So, there’s nothing better than following your course to prepare for it. You can follow the course and slowly build up on all the remaining knowledge you feel you need or want to know.
Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon something you’re truly passionate about, something that will make you thankful that you got to know the fundamentals in a certain class. Beginning is always the toughest step — yet once the stone has started to roll, everything else follows.
Coin Side 2: Self Development
I read this somewhere: “CGPA is just a key to a door; your problem-solving skills are what let you stay.” It is important to recognize that achieving a high CGPA doesn’t necessarily reflect genuine understanding; rote memorization and unfair means can also contribute to the score. Consequently, relying solely on CGPA as a criterion for judging skills during job placements or applications for research or higher studies seems inadequate. You need to find your niche and find a domain that interests you. You might have already found it before coming to college, or you might be searching even in your third year — everyone’s story is different. Not all of us are the same; not all of our journeys are the same. So why would our experience be? Even if you have not started yet, it’s not too late (it’s never too late — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise). Start exploring and see where you fit in. Find your place, keep hustling, keep learning, build projects, and an army and conquer the world! Just kidding — I tend to get a bit carried away.
So how to find the balance?
Like I said, the balance depends on you. No one can lay out the path in front of you- it’s yours to discover. You need to decide what you are focusing on — be it placements, startups, higher studies, or something totally unfathomable — and define your balance from that perspective.
If you’re focused on skill development, give it most of your time, but stay in touch with what’s going on in your classes; give some time of your weekend for it. Maintain a minimum grade. If it’s the other way around, keep your concepts clear, focus on your academics, and keep hustling but don’t forget to give some time to skill development apart from the course curriculum.
Special mention to first year: Unlike the rest of your B. Tech degree, many of the first year courses in CSE might not actually be of any use. For example, I’m speaking about a certain Workshop class that I think all of us doing B. Tech need to go through in the first year. No matter how much I ponder and look at it, there’s nothing beneficial that comes out of it for anyone else not pursuing a mechanical degree. Hence, if it’s your first year and you’ve just come to college, and you have no idea what is happening around you and what you’re supposed to do and why you have once again got to study subjects like Chemistry and Biology that you thought you had left behind in high school- just relax. Explore everything- from your college social life to the various domains you can develop skills in and try out everything. See what makes you tick- it’s just the first year, at least for now, you can keep the worrying part for the future. Also, don’t attend classes just to attend if you’ve better things to do at home and you’ve maintained it at the required level.
In the midst of this delicate balancing act, remember to occasionally pause and reflect. The journey is long, mistakes are inevitable, but perseverance is key. The path you choose to hustle and grind for is yours to define, and success is often born from the fusion of academic knowledge and real-world application.
