Confused about college choices, help!

Ans: Manoj Sir, With an IMU CET rank of 2,000, admission to B.Tech Marine Engineering at IMU Kolkata/Mumbai is highly probable, given historical cutoffs closing at 10,346 (Kolkata) and 2,082 (Mumbai) for general category candidates. IMU campuses report 90–98% placement rates in core maritime roles, with recruiters like Chevron, Maersk, and NYK Line actively hiring graduates for onboard engineering positions. Conversely, a JEE Main rank of 206,000 falls outside NIT/GFTI cutoffs for competitive branches, as even NIT Agartala’s Mechanical Engineering closed at 172,608 in 2024. While NITs like Manipur or Sikkim may offer Civil/Production Engineering with ranks up to 461,000, these programs lack IMU’s specialized maritime training and industry linkages. IMU’s structured curriculum includes mandatory internships and global certifications aligned with International Maritime Organization standards, ensuring direct entry into maritime careers. Drop-year success hinges on improving JEE rank to