Vinodh Raj Rajagopal Muthu
Just the right fit
1. Full name / Age / Nationality.
Vinodh Raj Rajagopal Muthu / 19 / India
2. How and why did you choose your degree program, and why Monash?
The main criteria that influenced my decision to attend Monash was the cost and location. Once out of Pre-Uni I was looking for an institution that my parents would be able to afford and at the same time offer a world class education. And Monash was the ideal choice wherein it was an internationally well reputed University and at the same time did have a very high cost barrier to restrict my attendance.
3. Do you participate in extra-curricular activities in the university or in the community? If yes, how has it helped in your personal development ?
Currently I am a member of a few clubs and societies in Monash. Joining the different clubs and societies, firstly has allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds and different schools within Monash. This has allowed me to look beyond the engineering blinkers that my course mates and I might be tuned to.
4. How do you find your degree program? What do you like best about it? What are the most challenging aspects of it?
Engineering surely has its fair share of perks and challenges. The perks are the various resources and knowledge we are exposed to, and the challenges take the form of the various projects and assignments. And completing a long and strenuous assignment is surely a perk to be enjoyed.
5. While at pre-university what challenges did you face and how did Monash help you overcome these challenges?
At the Pre-Uni level I enrolled in Cambridge A’levels, and as many might know it was a hectic 1 and a half year program. So most of time was spent preparing for the finals and hence I found no time to interact and communicate with the others. Coming to Monash forced me out of this cocoon through the class structure that enforces team playing, and also through the various extra-curricular programs.
6. What do you love most about your student life at Monash?
Like the story of the Goldilocks and the three bears, I find Monash just the right fit for me. Not too big and impersonal and at the same time big enough to meet new people every day and have a range of exciting experiences.
7. What advice would you give other students considering various degree programs?
Although I am not old enough or experienced enough to counsel anyone, the main factor that went into my degree selection was to just select what I enjoyed doing most and asked myself whether I would still be enjoying it after doing it for a lifetime.
8. If you could provide one sentence of advice to future undergraduate students, what would it be?
“Don’t Panic” – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.