Even as students are anxiously waiting for the CET and ComedK results and the counseling thereafter to get the course and the college of their choice in the State, but many of them are not averse to the idea of pursuing engineering or medical course abroad.

Many such students made their way to the Jnana Degula, an education expo organised by Deccan Herald-Prajavani, here on Sunday.

Ishwariya Dinakar has just completed her II PU and wants to pursue an engineering degree from any reputed institute in the City. Ishwariya and her father Dinakar R S, however, are weighing all their options and even the possibility of studying abroad. “We are keenly waiting for CET and ComedK results but are open to all options. There might be a number of factors like the Rupee slide in recent times that definitely would make everyone think about sending children abroad. However what needs to be done will be done,” Dinakar said.

A representative from Education Study Center, an overseas education services company present at the fair, said, “There is a steady increase in number of students pursuing their undergraduate courses abroad. Most of them go for engineering, medicine and life science courses. In the past few years as many as 350 students from Karnataka alone have gone abroad from our company,” said the representative.

Amir Mohammed Sharif, who passed his II PU this year wants to take up medicine as his profession and was finding out options available to him to pursue the course abroad. “It’s not just a question of getting a seat in a medical college within the State. What if the facilities offered by that college is not good,” he said. His father, Mohammed Rizwanulla, a manager at a pharma company said, “We are considering all possible options and if need be my son will go abroad to study.”

According to a representative of Om Consultants, another overseas education consultancy, as many as 200 students from Karnataka have gone to east European countries like Moldova and Georgia to study medicine.

What they say

We got first hand, reliable and useful information on various procedures of the CET from a KEA official. There were a number of issues related to CET on which we had no clarity, and it was cleared here at a pre-counselling session at the fair. 
Vasanth Kumar,  parent

There are a number of colleges at the fair. For someone like me, who really has not decided on what to do, this is a good place to be and find out about courses.
Vikas,  student 

I got to find out some good career opportunities and various unique and different courses that are presently available.
Lakshmi K, student

The counselling sessions and talks have given me a fair idea on what I would like to pursue next.
Raksha B, student

Our daughter has just completed her II PU and wants either to get into engineering or medical/dental science. The session on CET was particularly helpful. We are quite clear about the seat allotment process and other procedures that was earlier confusing us.
Shiva Murthy and Girija, parents