I've studied in two colleges; MNIT and IIM Lucknow. And there was a stark contrast about how I felt about these two institutes. I absolutely hated MNIT, the college, but loved the people I met there. Maybe because it was a part of growing up and sharing the best of youth with the carefree people around who didn't look beyond that day. It was a slow but a very happy life in the days of MNIT.

IIM Lucknow was a different world. I absolutely loved the college for the facilities, administration, and the quality of teaching, but hated many of my batchmates. It's funny what money does to people. Everyone was a competitor, and nobody was a friend. Everyone was seen as a potential threat to the job offer one wanted. I'm sure the same people were very different in their undergraduate days. 

The toppers in MNIT were known to help their classmates. In IIM Lucknow, the toppers were the people abhorred by the most. Simply because of the extent to which they went to ensure that the other person doesn't get close to their grades. 

Placement committee was one committee everyone disliked but kowtowed to. Because they controlled the placements, the very thing we were spending 15 lacs rupees for. And like most of the dictatorial governments, they said this in the name of helping people. "Oh! We have to be strict so that the batch gets the best placements." There's a broad line between being strict and being an asshole. And the placement committees were assholes by a distance. 

But we were the weaklings. IIM Lucknow showed me what the world is actually like. Give people money and power, and they will show you their real face. 

I miss both the places. MNIT for the friends, IIM for the college it was.