What advice would a senior engineering student give a first year engineering student in India?

Brace yourself, this is going to be a biggie. The  next 4 years of your life will change your thinking, perspective,  outlook, in short it will frame your personality to a large extent.  Though you'd have heard this, i want to say this again Don't waste time. I  will tell you my experience and in the process try to answer yer  questions. Being from an Electronics background, i will give you more  examples from this. 1. First and Foremost, Love what you do.  If you don't like Engineering, look for your passion, find it, go after  it. Do not become one in the crowd, and just take it up for the heck of  it. Make sure you have a real interest for Engineering. 2. Try to forget about marks.  Instead learn the subject. I know this is nigh impossible, especially  in a place like India, but try. Instead of cramming up a week before the  exams, make an honest effort to LEARN what subject you have taken. Often teachers might be demotivating not  encouraging your own answers, and insisting on answers, derivations from  the textbook, but i have felt happier doing it my way though i ended up  with a few lesser marks. 3. Get Hands on experience.  I emphasize on this point as much as i can. Be it a project, or a mini  project, or competitions, don't be limited to reading and studying Get  yours hands dirty and do something. The learning will be much much more  than what any textbook has to offer. I would recommend you to get a few  like minded friends and enroll yourselves in Fests. This way you will  actually make something, and there are cash prizes, which can be a big  motivational factor :-P 4.  By the end of your 3rd year, make sure you have a clear long term goal. Be it GRE, Gate or CAT. By then you should have made up yer mind as to  what you want to do post Engineering. Don't try to gamble by taking up  all of them and going with the best result. Make up yer mind as to what  you want and go for it. 5. Enjoy yourself.  This i guess should actually be point number 1. Whatever you do, make  sure you have fun. I guess you will never be satisfied with what you've  done, no matter how much it is. So be it studies, academia or otherwise  make sure you have your share of fun. 6. Be an integral part of the College.  Involve yourself in all activities throughout your engineering. Don't  miss any event unless you really have to. Join as many clubs as you can,  and participate actively in all, be it cultural or technical. I think this would come under general advice. Now to answer your questions 1. Refer point 4. Don't try to go for everything. Preparing for GRE=/= Preparing for Gate=/=Preparing for CAT You cannot prepare for 1 and say you'll give the other. You should know what you want and go for it. Usually  people give their GRE exams during the vacations between 3rd and 4th  year, or latest by midst of 7th semester. This in order to head out  directly after their baccalaureate. Likewise with CAT. Held during  October and November, people take it in their 7th semester. Gate is held  in the month of February. 2.  Most students end with an internship after 3rd year. This is because by  then they know sufficient stuff and can apply to places they want to.  Some apply even after their 2nd year, to places like DRDO, HAL, ISRO.  But getting an internship may not be very easy after second year. If you  want an internship at a company, simple you write to them and apply. Or  you can find out if you know somebody in the company and they will put  you in contact with the right people. If you want to go for a research  internship, you will have to go meet the professors personally and speak  to them. Your college will have tie ups with companies, which you will  have to find out. 3.  Presenting a paper is not a big deal. Presenting a paper at the RIGHT  place is. There are national conferences and International conferences.  Go for the reputed ones if you're into solid research. If you have a  paper at an international conference, people at your job may not  recognize it's potential. It will definitely look good on yer CV if you  have a paper published. 4.  Decide if you want to get into a university or a company. It's not the  same. If you're looking for a technical program (MS, ME, Mtech), they  care more about Research. If you're looking for an MBA or a job they  look at a well balanced profile. Once you make this decision, things  will become a lot more clear. You can do these to look good on yer CV - a. Make a lot of projects. Develop CO-CURRICULAR activities, more than extra-curricular activities. b. Getting an internship at a company will help you get a job in THAT company. c. Try doing some social work, and social service. d. Organize workshops, fests, talks etc. I guess that pretty much wraps it up. Hope I've covered what you were looking for.

1. Get your baasics right. 2. Marks DO matter. 3. Basics. 4. Do courses related to your field. 5. Basics. 6. Take your industrial training seriously. 7. Basics