My Experience: JCA at IIT Delhi

Hi Friends, This is my first post regarding my experience of JCA at IIT Delhi. When I joined JCA (M.Tech in Joint Computer Applications), I was quiet confused whether I should join this program or not. But as days passed by, I came to know that JCA was the best choice I have ever made.

JCA is one of the oldest programs in IITD (Started before M.Tech in Computer Science). It was initially started by Mathematics department but as computer science department was formed, it was then jointly run by Computer Science Department, Mathematics Department and Electrical Department. JCA gives us a lot of flexibility while doing course selection. We can live life according to us. We can make our life easy/difficult/hard.

Pros I felt that JCA has over MCS and EET (M.Tech in Computer Technology)

• In JCA, unlike MCS we don’t have too much lab pressure. This gives us opportunity to focus on other subjects like Algorithms, Networks, etc. The early focusing surely helps in selecting the minor project in 2^nd semester.
•             In 2^nd Semester, we don’t have compulsory minor project as in MCS. So those who want to focus on studies rather than project have good opportunities. (Many MCS guys didn’t wanted to do project. They are unhappy for this.)
•            We can do project under any of Computer, Electrical, or Mathematics department. (Flexibility)
•           We are not given too much of TA work in JCA. (MCS students spend around 8+ hours every week for unnecessary TA work). So therefore we get more time for focusing on studies. (And write blog too!!)
•            Students from B.Tech background always have an edge over students from M.Sc background. So you get to score good grades in common subjects.

Cons of JCA:

• JCA has 2 compulsory Mathematics Subjects (Discrete Mathematics and Numerical Optimization). They are quiet easy but may be you won’t like them.
• We don’t have good lab for night use. (We use our own laptop instead). This problem is only for first year though.
• JCA is not known outside IIT Delhi, but that doesn't make much difference as all students get placed in campus itself.

Placements:

• As JCA has mathematics department as its parent department, the students of JCA gets opportunity to sit in Banking and finance companies which is extremely good if you don’t like coding.
• We know many of our seniors from computer science background placed in Amazon/ Google/Microsoft/Adobe/AMD/Nokia Siemens etc.

Conclusion:

I am happy and satisfied that I joined JCA. JCA students get equal opportunities as MCS students.