Follow this thumb rule:
Good students (for instance, scored above 90% in Board exams): Opt regular college
Average students (scored between 75% to 90%): Do not opt regular college
Bad students (less than 75% marks holder in Board exams): Opt for regular college Answer written below is for Good students only.
Why should you opt for regular college? Complimentary subjects:
I assume if one opts for graduation in commerce (B.Com or B.Com Hons), he gets subtle idea of what is initially in subjects of Chartered Accountancy. Basics of Cost and Management Accounting, Taxation, Finance, Auditing and so forth are covered in regular colleges which can help in CA studies. Development of personality: You get opportunities to interact with a lot of people in a college. Fests, competitions, societies and clubs make you extrovert. I feel awkward at times talking fluently to people because of lack of confidence and communication skills that became part of my personality by sitting and studying in a room. Believe me, the X-factor of desirability is required everywhere.
Valuable degree in hand: I should say resume looks "sexy". Yes, Big4 do prefer regular college graduates for articleship because they do not want just a resume with 'IPCC cleared' written over it. In case you are unable to clear CA in the first attempt a good graduation will help you in landing job. Recently, one of my cousins got a placement of 15K per month from a south campus college of Delhi University. Good package for a 21-year-old boy, I guess.
Friends: You will get close friends, best friends, cool friends, tall friends, short friends, girlfriends and heartaches. Memories build here. Peace. Why should you not opt for regular college?
Hectic schedule: CA coaching classes and self-studies along with regular college will leave you with very little time to solely focus on studies. Do not get amazed if you fail once or twice in IPCC attempts. My college friends do not get time for partying in Hauz Khas owing to their tedious schedule.
Wastage of time: People think studying CA for 6 years with regular college rather than 4 years without regular college not worth it. You will have to wait for college years to end for pursuing articleship. You can save a year or two by not opting regular college.
Verdict: The opportunity cost of losing an experience of exposure to the best part of life seems very high. One may say 'no one will ask about your B.Com degree once you are a CA' but its not about the degree, it is about an opportunity to realize an experience. Do not listen to few stupid advices to blindly pursue CA. If you have scored good marks in Boards or cleared entrance exams of any coveted college (like Banaras Hindu University or Allahabad University), do opt for it.
Disclaimer: I scored 94.5% in best four subjects that are taken for consideration to admit students in coveted colleges of Delhi University.
I took admission in DU initially but later cancelled it when my CPT results were out as I cleared it in first attempt. Due to the so called ‘CA wind’ which was flowing at that time I did not opted for regular college and later realized how severe mistake I committed. You can be a CA after graduation but being a graduate after completing CA is practically difficult.
All India topper CA Eti Agarwal and CA Vijender Agarwal are alumni of regular colleges. (SRCC, to be precise). Why didn’t they bother like you before opting for regular college?
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