Getting admission into the prestigious Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is a big achievement for any student. With its sprawling campus steeped in rich culture and history, the university is the crown jewel of the late maharaja’s legacy that continues to shape young minds for a better future, not just from India but internationally as well. If you happen to get into the coveted Journalism and Mass Communication program, you have just hit the jackpot. However, your first day at these hallowed grounds can be daunting. Luckily, FJC has got your back with its lovely orientation program that takes you through the ins and outs of college life and your vast potential beyond it, now that you are a part of the great family.

For me, the two weeks of orientation were jam-packed with new experiences, friendships, and challenges all lined with a stunning embroidery of fun. For any student who has cleared the entrance exam or someone who just wants to peek behind this gossamer curtain before applying (and you should!), you’ve come to the right place. Allow me to be your senior and guide on how to best soak up all the goodies that the faculty will bestow upon you, particularly in the first few weeks after you begin your undergraduate or graduate journey.

Psst. You can use this for your orientation reports as well. The details might change but the vibe is eternal. 

Walk on the shoulders of giants

So now you’ve walked past the Bodhi tree and through the doors of the department, all doe-eyed and with a squeaky-clean mind ready for learning. But wait, are there things you should’ve prepared before that? Or what is to be expected inside? Would there be quizzes, tests, or submissions right away? Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, my friend. I’ve got you covered. Just follow the hints below and relax. You’re home now.

1. Get the lay of the land

The easiest way to familiarize yourself with the faculty, its location within the broader university campus, and the classes is to just look around after your entrance exam is done. Of course, it is advisable that you call ahead and let the administration department or any particular professor know that you would be interested in getting acquainted with the place little better. You might even make friends with some of your seniors. I spent my time admiring the artwork and posters that the students had put up on the softboards. There were some clever memes adorning the walls that made me chuckle too.

2. Bring the prospectus with you

The prospectus is available on the same page where students can apply for the course when admissions open every year – usually it is around May or June. You can download it here (graduate program) and get a brief idea about the coursework, syllabus, the history of the department, its vision and mission and much more. I attached a couple of blank pages to my copy of the prospectus just so I could take notes for the orientation program if required. You can get it stapled or spiral-bound (though I would heartily suggest the latter because c’mon you’re going to be college students now; it is time to loosen up the purse strings a bit).

In my year of admission, the students were asked to submit an orientation report summarizing their experiences, what they learned from the experts who took each seminar, and the activities and exercises that were undertaken. Having this document handy along with the above information was a very useful hack for me.

3. Keep an umbrella with you

With the session officially beginning in the monsoon season (around August), it is common sense to carry a small umbrella with you as you explore the university with your classmates and professors. Interacting with your peers while battling the forces of nature is quite the bonding experience. But then again, so is running in the sudden rainy showers with them. Choose your own adventure.

4. Carry a snack!

No, not that attractive acquaintance of yours though I am not discouraging it. Some of the workshops can get demanding and its best to have a little something to munch on in case the break between sessions is shortened due to any reason. I got hungry just seeing students work out in the state of the art gym in MSU’s Pavilion which houses the sports department.

5. An open mind goes a long way

Very unique to MSU’s Faculty of Journalism is its strong alumni network which is introduced to the students even before the course structure is explained. It is a concentrated effort to broaden the perspective of students enrolling in the course. Various experts (we were lucky to have about a dozen) in their respective subsects in the vast field of communication such as print media, public relations, corporate communication, theatre, electronic media and more, interact with the students to give them an understanding about the scope of the course they’ve applied for. The most important takeaway from this list is to keep an open mind when these mentors and experts offer guidance which is otherwise very difficult to get in the real world. Whatever vague or crystallized ideas you may have about your own career, the sessions will contribute greatly to your attitude towards communication as a discipline.

One of the faculty’s most esteemed and senior mentors summarized this notion beautifully.

“Students have a unique advantage. When you step through the doors of a media house or any communications organization asking them to interact with you as students, opportunities will open up for you. The minute you enter as a professional, the same doors may not swing so welcomingly. Capitalize on your time here to the fullest.”

Sanjay Chawda, Media Concessionaire

Ask questions without inhibitions that cater to one sounding immature or dumb in comparison. Everybody, including the teachers, are of the firm belief that learning is a continuous and everlasting process. Remember, there are no wrong questions when it comes to knowledge.

6. Know thy neighbors

Interact with the people sitting next to you. They might be your seniors, your juniors, or your peers, you don’t know, but one thing is for sure that you have the opportunity to form lifelong connections with your batchmates. Being aspiring communication professionals, talking to anybody, anywhere, and anytime with panache is a skill that you will most certainly learn in your years at the university. So why not get a head start?

7. Visit iconic landmarks

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda boasts almost 150 years and counting (which is not to include the time it graduated from the status of a college to one of a university in 1949) and this rich heritage is splashed across each brick, leaf, and speck of dust within the borders of the university. Influenced by Indo-Saracenic architecture popularized by the Mughals and revived by the British during the colonial era, the edifice of the university is iconic, not only to Vadodara, but to Gujarat as well. The Smt. Hansa Mehta library has a large collection of books, manuscripts, dissertations, and other research publications which can all be read in one of the largest single-study halls in the country. Our batch was so enthusiastic, that the librarian brought out over-a-century-old picture book that commemorated the visit of then Viceroy of India, Lord Elgin to the Princely state of Baroda. We were enthralled by the monochromatic photographs which showcased our city as it was such a long time ago.

If any future FJC students are reading this, please ask for the same gold-plated picture book when you visit the grand library. Hopefully, it is a tradition that our batch as started and one you will continue for the years to come. Even if you’re an old student of the university continuing your higher education, visit these landmarks once again with your new peers and teachers. You never know what beautiful secret you might uncover.

8. Cover up at the arboretum

You might be tempted to wear short sleeves or loose clothes when you visit the botanical garden and arboretum because of the heat but there’s a hidden menace in this hidden treasure that the university houses. Mosquitos. And not the kind that politely buzz off after a wave of the hand but tenacious ones that latch on and won’t let go until they are smacked off of you. In words of our resident botanist pursuing his PhD — “biting you is the last thing they’ll ever do.” So unless you want to spend the entertaining and informative visit to the horticultural and botanic wonders of the university swatting away pesky bugs, be prepared with a strong mosquito repellant and some thick garments. Also, enjoy the quiet solitude of this man-made forest. It is a rare spot in the hustle and bustle of the city where the wind rustles the trees into a song that we’ve almost forgotten.

9. Think on your feet

Some curveballs may be thrown at you such as introducing yourself in a creative way, playing certain games, or answering a series of tricky questions and I know it can be daunting for an introvert but learn to take it in your stride with grace. You are a lot more confident than you give yourself credit for and now that you’re here, it is your turn to shine. We are all here to learn and express ourselves so that we may communicate better.

10. Don’t miss out on the fun

You may have other plans or prior commitments but trust me, once the orientation is over, it will never come back. As an integral part of your introduction to the faculty, I would suggest that you don’t miss it. You’ll learn so much in a very short span of time that it is invaluable.

The road less traveled by

An occurrence like this only happens to the truly fortunate when the teachers, the environment, and the opportunities line up in such perfect harmony. Everyone who has studied at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication is doing exceptionally well in their professional endeavors. In conclusion, I would like to leave you with something that is not just applicable to your degree but to life in general. The minute you take that step towards FJC, leave your past behind. The labels, the regrets, and the reservations. Take it as a fresh start on a road that is truly your own and blaze ahead without hesitation.

“Never feel inferior to anyone in your class. They’ve given the same entrance test and deserve the same seat you have. Everyone is equal.”

Rochak Saxena, Professor and guide

I used a very secret, very cool software to design this poster which I had no previous experience with. If you want a copy for your reference or want to learn how to create your own awesome project, just sign up using your email and drop me a message. I’d be happy to help!

Resources

1. The Tailor Mouse (1902) watercolor art by Helen Beatrix Potter. Original public domain image from Wikipedia. Digitally enhanced by Rawpixel.
2. The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Faculty of Journalism and Communication home page.