Starting College at 22: Am I Too Old?

Ans: Jiya, With 95 marks in MET and 87% in boards, you are not eligible for CSE at MIT Manipal main campus, as the cutoff is much higher (within the top 1,200 ranks). You may get non-core branches at Manipal or CSE at other Manipal campuses (Bengaluru, Jaipur, Sikkim) where cutoffs are more relaxed. Board marks ensure eligibility but do not influence branch allotment. For CSE at the main campus, a significantly higher MET score is required. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: With 133 MET marks, your expected rank (4,000–6,000) gives you a slim chance for ECE and allied branches at MIT Manipal, but CSE, IT, and Data Science are out of reach. You can confidently get Electrical & Electronics, VLSI, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Biotechnology at Manipal main campus. At MIT Bangalore, CSE is possible, especially in later rounds, and all other branches are easily available. With a 91 percentile in JEE Main, getting CSE at Amrita Bangalore is unlikely, as their cutoffs are much lower. In SRM counseling (9,000 rank), CSE at KTR is risky but possible if seats open up; CSE specializations, IT, and ECE are safer bets. Fill your SRM choices in order of CSE specializations, IT, ECE, then core branches. Given your Bangalore location, MIT Bangalore CSE is a strong and practical option if you secure it in counseling rounds. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: With 146 marks in MET 2025, your expected rank is around 1,500–2,200. This rank is below the usual cutoff for core CSE at MIT Manipal main campus (typically within 1,200), so securing core CSE is unlikely. However, you have a good chance of getting CSE specializations such as Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AIML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), or FinTech, as their cutoffs often extend up to 2,400. Data Science and Information Technology (IT) are also possible, especially in later rounds of counselling, as their cutoffs can reach up to 2,500 and 2,000, respectively. Your strong board scores ensure eligibility but do not influence branch allotment. To maximize your chances, participate actively in all rounds of MET counselling and prioritize CSE specializations, IT, and allied branches in your choice filling. Overall, while core CSE is unlikely, you have strong prospects for top CSE-related specializations at MIT Manipal. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: With 133 MET marks, your expected rank (4,000–6,000) gives you a slim chance for ECE and allied branches at MIT Manipal, but CSE, IT, and Data Science are out of reach. You can confidently get Electrical & Electronics, VLSI, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Biotechnology at Manipal main campus. At MIT Bangalore, CSE is possible, especially in later rounds, and all other branches are easily available. With a 91 percentile in JEE Main, getting CSE at Amrita Bangalore is unlikely, as their cutoffs are much lower. In SRM counseling (9,000 rank), CSE at KTR is risky but possible if seats open up; CSE specializations, IT, and ECE are safer bets. Fill your SRM choices in order of CSE specializations, IT, ECE, then core branches. Given your Bangalore location, MIT Bangalore CSE is a strong and practical option if you secure it in counseling rounds. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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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!


With a JEE Main rank of 78,887 (General, no reservations), you are unlikely to get CSE or ECE in NITs or IIITs, and you have ruled out Mechanical and ECE in IIITs. Your MET score of 160 is excellent and should secure you CSE, IT, ECE, or Data Science at MIT Manipal. The total BTech fees at MIT Manipal range from ?8.1 to 13.6 lakhs, plus hostel and other expenses. While the fees are high, the ROI for top branches like CSE and IT is strong due to excellent placements and industry reputation. If your family can manage the fees and you are aiming for a top private engineering college with strong placements, MIT Manipal is a very good choice. If cost is a concern, consider state government colleges or other private universities with lower fees. For CSE/IT, MIT Manipal is worth considering despite the high fees.

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

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Ans: Preetham, With 133 marks in MET, your expected rank is around 3,000–4,500. At MIT Manipal main campus, CSE and IT are out of reach, but you have a borderline chance for ECE and can easily get branches like Mechanical, Electrical & Electronics, Mechatronics, Civil, Chemical, and Biotechnology. At MIT Bangalore, you have a fair chance for CSE (especially in later rounds), and IT, ECE, and all other branches are comfortably available. For SRM counseling with a 9,000 rank, CSE at the main campus is unlikely, but you may get CSE specializations (AI, DS, Cyber Security) in later rounds, and IT/ECE are good options. For SRM, fill choices in the order: CSE specializations, IT, ECE, then core branches. Given your Bangalore location, MIT Bangalore CSE/IT is an excellent option if secured. Always participate in all counseling rounds and keep options open for the best outcome. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: With 116 marks in the Manipal Entrance Test, your son’s expected rank is likely between 4,000 and 6,000, which is above the usual cutoff for CSE at MIT Manipal main campus (typically within 1,200 rank). Therefore, he will not be able to secure CSE at MIT Manipal. Comparing SRM KTR (main campus) and MIT Manipal Bangalore for CSE, SRM KTR has a stronger placement record, higher average packages, and a more established reputation for CSE, with top recruiters and a large alumni network. MIT Manipal Bangalore is a newer campus with improving placements and the benefit of the MAHE brand, but its CSE program is still developing in terms of industry connections and placement outcomes. Recommendation: If the choice is between CSE at SRM KTR and MIT Manipal Bangalore, SRM KTR is the better option from a placement and industry exposure perspective.
Kindly be informed that Manipal is a well-regarded NIRF Ranked Institution, known for its excellent infrastructure and placement records but might not be suitable for some students. All the best for your son's admission and a bright future!

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Ans: With 116 marks in the Manipal Entrance Test, your son’s expected rank is likely between 4,000 and 6,000, which is above the usual cutoff for CSE at MIT Manipal main campus (typically within 1,200 rank). Therefore, he will not be able to secure CSE at MIT Manipal. Comparing SRM KTR (main campus) and MIT Manipal Bangalore for CSE, SRM KTR has a stronger placement record, higher average packages, and a more established reputation for CSE, with top recruiters and a large alumni network. MIT Manipal Bangalore is a newer campus with improving placements and the benefit of the MAHE brand, but its CSE program is still developing in terms of industry connections and placement outcomes. Recommendation: If the choice is between CSE at SRM KTR and MIT Manipal Bangalore, SRM KTR is the better option from a placement and industry exposure perspective.
Kindly be informed that Manipal is a well-regarded NIRF Ranked Institution, known for its excellent infrastructure and placement records but might not be suitable for some students. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: Hi Sir,

A skill-oriented course is essential for a successful future. She has got admission in Electronics and Communication, which has a strong relevance in today's world. However, it's important that she actively learns the necessary skills; otherwise, the value of her course may diminish. For instance, knowledge in Electronics and Communication played a significant role in the INDO-PAK Operation Sindhoor.

I recommend that she focuses on mastering the basics at her institution and also considers enrolling in specialized courses or programs that may not be part of the current curriculum but are available externally. This will help her excel in the future. After completing her undergraduate degree, she should consider pursuing a specialized course while working on her postgraduate degree.

Regarding her category, it is determined by the marks she has scored. If there are financial constraints, she can register on the VIDYALAKSHMI PORTAL and later apply for scholarships.

I hope this answers your query. If you need further clarification, please feel free to post your question on REDIFFGURU for more insights.
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