How good is IIIT Allahabad??

It looks like you already know your answer. Since you really like computers and have that rank, IIIT Allahabad is a great choice. The IT program there stands out compared to other colleges in India. Their course structure is definitely a step up from others.

You might want to think twice before choosing IIIT Allahabad after the 2017-18 academic year. The new director changed the course structure for the upcoming years, and the new faculty are very focused on academics. This has led to a decline in the competitive coding culture, which was a key reason for the good placements at IIIT Allahabad. It's probably a better idea to consider DTU, NSIT, IIIT-Delhi, BITS (any campus), or the newer IITs instead.

Here's what the new course setup looks like: In the first 8 weeks, known as C1, you'll need to complete 4 assignments per subject, followed by discussions and presentations. At the end of these 8 weeks, there's a review test. C1 scores are scaled to 30. The same pattern follows for the next 8 weeks, called C2. If you don't score at least 18 out of 60, you'll be dropped from the course. If you score above 18, you'll take C3, a written exam worth 40 marks, where you must score at least 12 to avoid being dropped. Being dropped means repeating the course next semester, as the back-paper concept is removed.

Imagine this: you have 8 weeks, or 56 days, for 5 subjects. With 4 assignments per subject, that's 20 assignments in 56 days. If you spend 2 days per assignment, you'll have 16 days left after assignments. Then, 10 days go to review tests, leaving only 6 days free. Given these changes, it might be wiser to choose another college as the future here seems uncertain.

IIIT Allahabad is well-known for its great placement record, and it's been improving over the years. The strong coding culture is a big reason for this success. From the very first year, students have coding classes that focus on competitive programming, often taught by senior students who excel in this area. Additionally, there are frequent hackathons that help students hone their development skills.

Assignments are a regular part of the curriculum and are designed to deepen your understanding of various subjects. Some courses, like Operating Systems and Linear Algebra, are particularly challenging and might lead to some late-night study sessions during exams.

While the college offers good extracurricular activities, it might not have the same vibe as other colleges because there are only three branches at IIIT Allahabad at the moment.

There's a notion that IIIT Allahabad isn't the best choice if you're aiming to study abroad, but I disagree. Many students have gone on to attend top international universities, such as UCLA, UCB, UMass Amherst, and Georgia Tech. Some faculty members are also supportive in helping students publish research papers during their semester projects.

Personally, I chose IIIT Allahabad over some top NITs because it doesn't have a home state quota, which I find preferable. Overall, if you end up at IIIT Allahabad, you're likely to have a fulfilling experience.