Typical Scams & Things to look out for

So this chapter is divided into two sections:

Scams/Issues : Things that are meant to fool you, mislead you

Things to look for : Stuff that you should know which technically isn't a scam.

Scams/Issues

There is no specific ordering, but important ones are underlined.

• In-Campus Toto Cost : The electric autos, i.e. totos in campus have a fixed rate for any location in campus: 20Rs per person, 40Rs if only a single person. This might change in the future with inflation & such, but as of Spring 25, these are the prices. Freshers are often charged way more as they don't know this. As such, only accept fares with this price, and don't reveal you're a fresher.

• General store vs TechM: Other than day to day things like snacks & laundry stuff, TechM is always the cheaper choice compared to General store in your hall. The prices are often cheaper at TechM, while general store is MRP. However this extra cost means convenience : TechM is a km away, general store is just below you. Do note, during induction days, prices for mattresses & such are much costlier in hall.

• Outside Totos : There are a couple things you'd want to know about Totos outside campus:
  1. Totos to/from Railway station cost about 150-200 Rupees per toto. You might be quoted 500 if they know you're a fresher. Bad hindi skills will also likely lead to your prices increasing.
  2. Many totos & taxis too misquote prices and change it midway to a higher amount, ensure you fix the price beforehand

• Outside Hotels/Guest Houses : In the name of dynamic pricing, some of my friends have been quoted daily prices of 10K+ (even 50K) for rooms that are typically 1-2k, so please don't pay upfront or agree to such idiotic prices. The best way to escape this is to book online, or have options by coming early.

• Do not trust any stranger that messages/calls you, telling that they are KGP officials, especially via WP. They are almost certainly a scammer, and people have lost a lot of money to such scams last year.  If you're suspicious of a person, but unsure if they are a scammer, please contact a senior you know to get them verified. Alternatively, for any money-related issues, please ask the person where you should pay your dues -> If they are official, they will mention an official site of IITKGP/JOSAA. Search it up on google, and check if you have to pay there. DO NOT CLICK LINKS THEY SEND FOR MONEY as links can be spoofed.

Things to look out for

Same as before, important ones are underlined.

• Societies : This is a much more deep thing that I'd recommend you read the pages under Socieites for, but what's most relevant to you:
  1. Try out for as many as you can, especially socult. You don't know what you're missing out on, and you can always leave later on.
  2. Not getting into any soc doesn't matter. For connections, you have your wingmates & dept. For Placements, Socs don't matter much compared to CGPA.
  3. Make sure you learn about a soc culture/selection beforehand. Many socs are formal/strict/informal/etc, but this changes yearly, so check with your friends about this.

• Partners : Specifically Lab and/or study partners. Whenever you are not auto assigned a partner, ensure the partner you choose is one you can tolerate. Yes, them being good at studies is important; but the most important thing is how important both of you consider that lab, and how much time you're willing to put in. If you choose the wrong one, it's like having no partner.

• Seniors : We don't bite (mostly). Most seniors are friendly, though they might seem aloof initially. Just to be on the safer side, talk to most seniors formally, and with respect (not sir or any bs like that, but don't use slurs & nicknames, & use words like Aap if speaking in Hindi), and not like how you'd talk to a friend. Atleast till you get to know them better.
  It's better to not go completely alone to a senior's room whom you don't know at all (Obviously). Furthermore, don't interact too casually with seniors who aren't casual with you.

• Going from/to Kolkata :
  1. Train tickets cost anywhere from like 30 Rs (general) to 500-800 (Double AC), and are available about every 1-2 hours between kolkata & Kgp. See Outside toto Scams if you're going to station by Toto
  2. Cabs to/from airport are fixed at 2500 Rs by most reputable cabs, utmost 3000. Anything higher is a scam for a 5-seater. 

• Ragging : Pretty much non-existent in campus nowadays. This has happened mostly due to the severe punishment for anyone caught ragging (expulsion), and with a general change in the campus mindset. Physical ragging is unheard of, but on the off-chance some fool does that to you, please inform any senior you know and the campus contact (See last). Verbal ragging is also pretty rare, and if anyone continues despite you telling them to stop, please do the above. Some people/seniors are pushy in their interactions, and while that's not ragging since you're free to leave, there's always peer pressure & fear. Do learn about places/groups/people you'll meet beforehand for this reason.

• Mental Health : This will be an article/page on its own for this later, but a few pointers here.
  1. The campus is pretty secluded, and it's very easy to become isolated & alone in your room. Being lonely is genuinely one of the most dangerous things to your mental health : I remember a week I spent just in my room with no interaction & that was hell; while days where I was depressed but pushed myself to interact with friends always ended up manageable. Remember, you're never alone no matter what your brain says.
  2. There are resources for you to always talk to when you're not feeling okay. Campus Therapists, Mental health apps, Seniors (of course), your batchies, your friends/fam, etc. Please reach out if it becomes unmanageble.
  3. Stress is an issue too. While the classes themselves aren't that hectic, the subject & how you're supoosed to learn them are. This combined with extracurriculars, and the indiscipline brought upon by adulthood will lead to a lot of stress. You can find a lot of ways for reducing or managing this stress online, but here's why you shouldn't be stressed : Most exams are less than 5% of your semester GPA, and less than 0.5% of your CGPA. Screwing up one, doesn't mean your whole life, or even your college life/sem is screwed. And in regards to socs: Even if you get kicked out, being in a soc doesn't give you any major advantage as long as you're willing to work on your own.
  4. FOMO is extremely common too, but like I said, most socs aren't crucial to you doing well, and in fact, you can do very well without their help too.
  5. By reading this bit, you have also promised to reach out to your friends/fam/seniors/counsellors if things get too hard. Too late to change now, you can't break a promise, we will be sad :(
  If you want to talk to any senior about this, please fill out the contact us form, and we will get back to you asap.