It is not at all a big deal to score 8.5 in the first year. Just focus during lecture hours and then just give a reading once in a while and dive into the books a little time before the exams especially during Midterms and End Semesters. This will fetch you great marks.

Also do take quizzes and sessionals seriously as they often become grade changes in many cases. Try to aim for 75 marks in each subject. Even if you fail, if you try you’ll end up getting 60+ in each subject and that is enough for getting 8.5 CGPA in the first year.

Thapar University will get better not just at the national level but also internationally. Most students look at cut-off but you will realize that your JEE score will not fetch you a job in IT and Mechanical companies.

Education-wise, the theoretical and practical system of Thapar University is also much advanced compared to NITs. Around 300 different students have cleared their CAT every year for the last 3 years. Many top UPSC qualifiers are from Thapar University.

Moreover, the college has also started advertising for admissions and the infrastructure is also getting better every year. The fees might hike up in a few years if you plan to study at Thapar but you will also be able to get into core branches as the number of seats will increase.

After four years, the college will probably become comparable to other colleges like SRM, VIT, and LPU.

A few of my friends graduated from both the mentioned institutes and here are some insights regarding the institutes, based on their experience.

If you can afford the fee structure of Thapar university then surely go for it. Also, if you have a good rank then you must try other central government colleges of engineering in Punjab i.e NIT Jalandhar as well SLIET Longowal in district Sangrur, Punjab.

Here is a brief comparison of Punjab University and Thapar University. 

Else, if you want to take chances in the state government college then give priorities to PAU Ludhiana, GNDU Amritsar after that you can try for Punjabi University Patiala.

I have a friend from Thapar University and he was able to provide some information regarding this. In the B.E. Electrical course, you can secure internship opportunities twice, wherein the first one will be in the 8th semester, and the other one is a 6 week-long training period.

• Students who acquire placements with FTE+intersip or only internship have to continue doing it for as long as the contract is. 
• Students who don’t secure any placement must work on their own to obtain internships. It’s better to choose an internship program at any core company. Elsewise, you will obtain lower grades. 

For the 6-week training, you will need to search for internship opportunities, especially on your own in numerous parts of the industry. The firms can range anywhere from a reactor plant, a thermal plant, or a hydroelectric plant. It depends upon your academic exposure and credentials. The work should be related to the branch and the topics you are familiar with. Make sure to create the file with accurate and standard formatting, to avoid mark deduction. 

My brother is an alumnus of Thapar University. Here are some of his favorite faculties from the institute. 

• Karamjit Cheema - She teaches C programming and she is one of the student-favorites. She explains the concepts in a very fundamental manner which will make you get a grasp on concepts easily. She didn't take attendance in class but the class was always filled with students. 
• Anil Kumar Verma - He is also a very popular professor at Thapar University and he teaches Discrete Mathematical Structures. He explains all the concepts very clearly and makes the subject look very casual and easy. 
• Dr. SC Bose - He teaches TQM (Total Quality Management). He is known for motivating students with his passion for his subjects. 
• Apurva Bakshi - He is also a popular professor at Thapar university who has a very good knowledge of marketing. Many CS students also took a marketing management subject in their final year because he is very good in this subject and you will learn many things which are applicable in the real world too. 

These are the names of some of the best faculty members of Thapar University. Needless to say, there are also many others.

One of my friends graduated from Thapar University and was able to provide information regarding examinations. Here is the breakdown of the first semester in which 6 subjects amount to 22 credits.

• Computer Programming – You will have 2 Quizzes, 1 midterm examination, 1 end semester examination, 2 Practicals, and 2 Vivas. So, in total it is 8 for Computer Programming.
• Applied Chemistry – You will have 3 Tutorial Tests, 1 Practical, 1 Viva, 1 midterm examination, and 1 end semester examination. So, in total it is 7 for applied chemistry.
• Mechanics – You will have 1 Project, 3 Tutorial Tests, 1 Submission, 1 midterm examination, and 1 end semester examination. In total it is 7 for Mechanics.
• Mathematics – You will have 2 Tutorial Tests, 1 midterm examination, and 1 end-semester examination. In total it is 4 for mathematics.
• Energy and Environment – You will have 1 mid semester examination, 1 end semester examination, 1 Quiz/ Thesis Submission. It is 3 for Energy and Environment.
• Electronic Engineering – You will have 1 Submission, 3 Vivas, 3 Practicals, 1 Project, 1 midterm examination, and 1 end semester examination. The total is 10 for electronic engineering.

So, that totals up to 39. To get an idea of 2 Semesters, double it and add nearly 10% due to an increase in credits. There are nearly 86 exams including viva/ practicals and sessionals.

My brother is in his second year at Thapar and here is some of his advice. 

• Make friends: Make as many friends as you can, this will make your stay at the institute enjoyable. Plus making connections will be good as you will be known in the college and it will take away your shyness which will help in interviews. 
• Befriend seniors: Seniors will make your college life easier by guiding you on the right path and helping you whenever you need it.
• Clubs/ Societies: Try to join 2-3 societies of your interests. 
• Professors: Maintain a good relationship with your faculty members. They can be a huge help in your academics. 
• Events: Take part in competitive events or extracurricular ones. It will help you relax among the study pressure and you will definitely create some good memories
• Attendance: Maintaining the minimum percentage. At Thapar University it is very important as it affects the placement drive
• CGPA: Always try to maintain a good CGPA. Try to score at least better than 85 percent of your class and you will find your CGPA to be good enough for placement. 
• Trip: Go on at least one trip with your friends. 

These are some of the things you should know before joining the institute. 

One of my friends graduated from Thapar University and here’s some information I got to know about the gym at Thapar. 

• There is no common gymnasium on the academic campus, but there are individual gyms in almost every hostel. 
• If you get an FRC hostel, then there’s no gym there.
• To keep students physically fit, gym facilities are provided. Exercise can also make your mind sharper.
• Daily workouts replenished the brain’s energy stores and also produced extra energy, particularly in the areas responsible for thinking and memory.
• Exercise can increase the number of brain cells, which is also essential in learning and memory.
• A combination of all of these things can help keep the mind focused and increase work productivity and academic success in students, as well as keep the immune system strong and stress reduced.

At Thapar University, the gyms are pretty good with good equipment which are replaced mostly every year if damaged.

The campus has an amazing lot of sports equipment and options available on-site. My sister is an excellent volleyball player, at Thapar University. You'll find the following facilities on-campus:

• A swimming pool.
• Tennis courts.
• Ground for cricket
• Basketball and volleyball courts
• Badminton court, a table tennis room and a chess room.

Thapar University focuses on highlighting each student's potential and bringing out their unique selves. Each year there's a sports meet and each department has its own team for fun challenges. The college has made it mandatory to include at least one female student in each sports team.

If you're already an athlete, then you'd find your way to a very beautiful synthetic track with the availability of a Long jump setup and a High Jump setup. There are practice fields for throwing games like Javelin or shot put.

The badminton hall works as a gym as well and is well equipped. The sports department also organizes various sports events like ‘Thapar Olympics aka Thaparlympics’, ‘URJA’ etc and the coaches are most enthusiastic about preparing you well. Thapar University is indeed a great place to develop yourself holistically!