Chennai: Educationist E. Balagurusamy has advised students and parents to exercise caution while selecting colleges and courses, warning that flashy advertisements and misleading placement claims by some private institutions could lead to poor academic choices.

With the Class 12 results of the Central Board of Secondary Education and state boards already announced, thousands of students are entering the college admission phase, he said.

In a statement, Balagurusamy alleged that several private colleges function with commercial motives rather than educational objectives and some institutions reportedly collect capitation fees ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh despite lacking qualified faculty, laboratories, libraries and adequate infrastructure.

He urged parents and students not to judge institutions merely by buildings or advertisements, but by academic standards and student development.

Listing key factors to be considered while selecting colleges, he stressed the importance of checking approvals from regulatory bodies such as AICTE, UGC and PCI, besides accreditation status under NIRF, NAAC and NBA.

He also highlighted the need to assess faculty strength and qualifications, inspect campus facilities directly, verify placement records and ensure transparency in fee structures.

Balagurusamy said students should avoid making cash payments without receipts or paying donations and capitation fees.

He further emphasised the importance of discipline, industry exposure, internship opportunities, skill development programmes, anti-ragging mechanisms and student safety measures on campuses.

Students should choose courses based on their interests, aptitude and career goals rather than social pressure or external influence, he said.

“The decision taken today can shape a student's entire future. Colleges should be selected based on educational quality, faculty competence and student outcomes, not advertisements,” he added.