I graduated from TAPMI more than a decade ago and the institute was completely different then. Significant changes have beset TAPMI since then and hence most of my earlier posts in the Life@Tapmi thread are quite outdated.
I visited TAPMI in Sep 2017 and have interacted with a few recent batches ever since. So here are some of the top changes at TAPMI in the last few years:
1. Infrastructure: This is perhaps the most revolutionary change at TAPMI. From having no campus worth speaking about in 2007 to a sprawling, luxurious campus now, this is a welcome change. Earlier, the boys’ hostel, the girls’ hostel, the academic block and canteens for each gender were 5 different buildings and students ran from one to the other (where permissible!) in between a hectic academic schedule. Now, students are ensconced in a huge campus that has AC classrooms, landscaped pathways and state-of-the-art canteens. This definitely makes for a better campus life. The pic below should give you an idea of the stark contrast.
2. Facilities: Due to the poor primary infra, TAPMI had no worthy secondary infra to speak of earlier. Basketball courts, finance labs, or just vacant rooms for assembling for extra-curricular activities were non-existent. Fast-forward to present times and TAPMI now has enviable facilities. The Bloomberg Lab is a welcome addition; there are multiple zones where students can assemble and plan their next assignment or outing.
3. Discipline: TAPMI was infamous for its boarding-school like “discipline” earlier. The standing instruction at the institute was draconian and almost Newtonian – every action had some equal reaction in terms of penalties, CGPA cuts, and even placement bans. Cell phones were banned inside the academic block (no, not even on silent!) and prolonged absence would have CGPA implications. And prolonged was anything more than 2 days! So one had to dance to the tune of 100% attendance with no mobile phone ringtones to dance to. From what I hear from most recent alumni, it is a very comparatively relaxed atmosphere these days. But the scattered infra earlier meant some freedom – one could get out and into Manipal often. Now with the campus located several km away from the heart of Manipal, I am sure one has to have a good excuse to step out of campus. And perm times and deadlines for reaching the hostel at night continue.
4. Manipal: Though not directly associated with the institute, this factor is one of the prime reasons why many students opt for TAPMI. The campus is now quite some distance from the happening spots of Manipal. But one definitely will start exploring the many attractions and distractions in the small student-town soon after getting enrolled. As a city, Manipal has changed immensely. From local joints to KFC and Onesta and from shady shacks screening pirated movies to Inox and BIG cinemas, Manipal is now almost metropolitan in outlook. Has the old small-town charm gone out for good? Regrettably yes. But has it also become a better place customized to the needs of students today? Definitely yes! More about Manipal in my novel. Do give it a read!
5. Batch size: We were a batch of 150-160 students altogether. PGP 1 had 2 sections comprising of 70 odd students each and PGP 2 had an equal number. We knew every single batchmate and senior on the non-existent campus and as such, we were a better-knit batch. Now, the batch size has more than doubled and many students don’t know most of the other batchmates due to this excess. With other streams like Healthcare management etc being introduced, there are a lot of students on the campus and the interaction levels are relatively poorer than compared to earlier times. So more is not always better.
Well, those are the most significant changes AFAIK. I get a few queries regarding doubts, queries and ‘advice’ from potential TAPMI aspirants.
Feel free to reach out to me – you can post your question right here as comments and I would be glad to reply.
HRS - Hardly Readable Stuff! 