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Aspiring civil servant: Is choosing BA & UPSC prep over IIIT CSE right for me?

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4857 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Aug 17, 2024

Nayagam is a certified career counsellor and the founder of EduJob360.
He started his career as an HR professional and has over 10 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring students from Classes 8 to 12, helping them choose the right stream, course and college/university.
He also counsels students on how to prepare for entrance exams for getting admission into reputed universities /colleges for their graduate/postgraduate courses.
He has guided both fresh graduates and experienced professionals on how to write a resume, how to prepare for job interviews and how to negotiate their salary when joining a new job.
Nayagam has published an eBook, Professional Resume Writing Without Googling.
He has a postgraduate degree in human resources from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, a postgraduate diploma in labour law from Madras University, a postgraduate diploma in school counselling from Symbiosis, Pune, and a certification in child psychology from Counsel India.
He has also completed his master’s degree in career counselling from ICCC-Mindler and Counsel, India.
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Asked by Anonymous - Aug 12, 2024Hindi
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I'm choosing BA and UPSC preparation over IIIT Sonipat's CSE program to avoid taking a loan. Is this decision right for me?"

Ans: Yes. But do a thorough research about UPSC Exam before start preparing for the same. Have Plan B & Place C also. All the BEST for Your Bright Future.

To know more on ‘ Careers | Education | Jobs’, ask / Follow Us here in RediffGURU
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8499 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 17, 2024Hindi
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Sir,my aim was to study cse, now I have got electrical and computer in Thapar which costs around 5.4lakhs pa, amrita amaravati campus cse which costs around 3lakhs pa tuition fees, so it will go around 4-4.5 pa(including everything), and IEM in Kolkata IT branch which will cost around 7-8lakhs for 4years. Sir please guide me, money is not that much of a factor but I don't want to use my father's hard earned money, and would like to take a loan if the budget goes over 10lakhs. Sir please help me out as I am confused. Thank you.
Ans: Evaluating Your Options

You have three educational options:

Electrical and Computer Engineering at Thapar Institute.
Computer Science Engineering at Amrita Amaravati.
Information Technology at IEM Kolkata.
Let’s break down the financial aspects of each option to help you make an informed decision.

Cost Analysis

Thapar Institute:

Annual Cost: Rs 5.4 lakhs
Total for Four Years: Rs 21.6 lakhs
Amrita Amaravati:

Annual Tuition Fee: Rs 3 lakhs
Total for Four Years (including other expenses): Rs 12-15 lakhs
IEM Kolkata:

Total for Four Years: Rs 7-8 lakhs
Budgeting Considerations

Thapar Institute:

High Cost: The total cost of Rs 21.6 lakhs is significant.
Loan Requirement: Given the high cost, you might need to take a substantial loan, especially if the budget exceeds Rs 10 lakhs.
Amrita Amaravati:

Moderate Cost: Total cost is around Rs 12-15 lakhs, more manageable.
Potential Loan: You might need a smaller loan, making repayment easier.
IEM Kolkata:

Low Cost: Total cost is the most economical at Rs 7-8 lakhs.
Minimal Loan: If at all required, the loan amount would be minimal.
Personal Finance Impact

Parental Contribution vs. Loan

Thapar Institute: Requires a significant financial outlay or loan, impacting your family's finances. If a loan is taken, ensure that the interest rates and repayment terms are favorable.

Amrita Amaravati: More balanced in terms of cost. You might need a smaller loan, which would be easier to manage and repay.

IEM Kolkata: Least financial burden. If you prefer to minimize your family's financial stress, this is the best option.

Long-term Financial Planning

Return on Investment (ROI)

Thapar Institute: High ROI potential due to its strong reputation and placement record. However, the high initial cost needs to be justified by future earnings.

Amrita Amaravati: Good ROI with moderate costs. As it aligns with your preferred field (CSE), it offers a balanced investment with potentially good returns.

IEM Kolkata: Economical with good placement opportunities. Offers a favorable ROI with the least financial burden.

Loan Repayment

Thapar Institute: Higher loan amount means higher EMIs. Ensure you have a clear repayment plan based on your expected starting salary.

Amrita Amaravati: Moderate loan amount results in manageable EMIs. Easier to handle with a decent starting salary.

IEM Kolkata: Minimal loan requirement, if any. Loan repayment will be the least stressful.

Emergency Fund and Savings

Regardless of your choice, maintain an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses.

Plan to save a portion of your income post-graduation to build a financial cushion.

Final Insights

From a personal finance and budgeting perspective:

Amrita Amaravati strikes a balance between cost and your preferred field, making it a prudent choice with manageable financial implications.

Thapar Institute is a significant investment with potentially high returns but requires careful financial planning due to the higher costs involved.

IEM Kolkata offers the least financial strain and is a good option if minimizing costs is a priority.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4857 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 23, 2025

Radheshyam

Radheshyam Zanwar  |1997 Answers  |Ask -

MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on May 23, 2025

Career
My daughter has scored 85% with PCMB but did not perform well in NEET. She is not able think other than MBBS. I am trying to convince for Nursing. I feel that MBBS is very difficult a d required so much effort in life and requires more money to complete. She told me that wants to do MBBS only for Govt college. But I still feel - Is it worth becoming a doctor today and when there is no shortage of doctors. Also, We are NRI from Middle east. Is governemet seat Will seat be given to NRI student if they score well. Please advise if we could be eligible. I doubt for sometime on how to get score out of 650+ to get government seats when there any only and some 23 lakh student giving exam. We are plannig to do nursing from UAE as we live in UAE
Ans: Hello Imran.
You did not mention where your daughter wants to live, either in India or UAE. Here are the main points: (1) There is always a shortage of doctors. (2) Your view that MBBS is difficult is not true. (3) Support your daughter's decision over your own for now. (4) Give her a chance to take NEET; she could score over 650 if confident. (5) Many students are successful, so if everyone thinks negatively, who will become a doctor? (6) Keep nursing as an option after NEET results. If she scores well, she can get an NRI seat in a government medical college. Finally, respect her decision, support her, and help boost her confidence.
Ultimately- Respect the decision of your daughter, stand with her, provide good coaching and boost confidence time to time.
Best of luck to your daughter.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4857 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 22, 2025
Career
Sir, I got 207457 CRL rank in jee mains. I am a female from obc ncl. Homestate- jharkhand. Can I get any nit/IIIT lower branch?
Ans: Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main/Advanced Results – A Step-by-Step Guide

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Have some other options also as back-ups instead of relying only on JEE/JoSAA.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions and a bright future!

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