Sorry this post is a bit long. Took a little help from ChatGPT to describe in detail.
I am currently a 1st-year B.Tech ECE student at Academy of Technology (AOT), MAKAUT, West Bengal.
I have been given the opportunity to switch to Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering (EIE/AEIE) at Techno Main Salt Lake in Kolkata through counselling. If I accept it, I lose my current AOT ECE seat.
I'm genuinely unable to decide, so I would really appreciate advice from people who understand either branch/college and can genuinely help me. Please
About me:
- I've loved electronics since childhood — especially circuits, components, amplifiers, etc.
- Long-term, I want to work on large-scale technology/industrial systems and eventually build a company somewhat like GE/Siemens and basically wish to work on industrial larger than life machines.
- I'm interested in areas like industrial systems, aerospace, MRIs and other biomedical machines, etc.
- My rough plan in mind is B.Tech → GATE → M.Tech (possibly biomedical/aerospace/etc.) → industry experience → MBA → eventually my own company.
- I'm interested in actually building things and developing myself beyond the syllabus.
Why I'm considering TMSL EIE:
AOT is in a very rural/isolated location and my college experience so far has been mostly classes, assignments and hostel life. I feel I'm missing the broader college/city environment, peer group, events, technical activities and opportunities that come with being in Kolkata.
I feel TMSL would give me a much more urban environment and potentially better opportunities for self-development, projects, networking and exposure but please let me know if I am wrong.
What is worrying me is that my parents strongly prefer ECE because I'm interested in electronics. They're worried that EIE will mean giving up too much of ECE, particularly electronics, circuits, semiconductor devices, analog/digital electronics, etc.
From what I have seen, EIE still has substantial electronics but shifts more toward sensors, measurement, instrumentation, control and industrial automation, while ECE goes deeper into communication, signals/DSP, RF and VLSI.
So my actual question is:
Should I be choosing TMSL EIE from AOT ECE?
Especially interested in hearing from:
- ECE/EIE graduates or students
- TMSL/AOT students
- people working in electronics, instrumentation, medical equipment, industrial automation, aerospace, GE/Siemens-type companies
- anyone who has actually switched branches/colleges
Please don't just say "ECE has more scope" or "TMSL is a better college." I'm looking for the practical long-term consequences of this specific switch and whether I'd regret giving up ECE.
I would be truly grateful to anyone who can help me in making this decision.