Confused CSE Graduate: What Should I Do Next?

Ans: Priti Madam, Both JIIT Noida (IT) and JSS University Noida (CSE-AI/ML) are reputable private institutes in NCR with strong placement records and industry connections. JIIT Noida’s IT branch consistently achieves over 95% placement rates, with top recruiters like Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, and Wipro, and an average package of ?6–8 lakh, supported by a proactive placement cell and robust alumni network. JSS Noida’s CSE (AI/ML) branch also offers solid placements, with 85–90% of students placed, average packages around ?9–10 lakh, and regular visits from companies like TCS, Infosys, and Adobe. However, JSS Noida follows the AKTU curriculum, which some students find less industry-aligned, though faculty support and infrastructure are strong. JIIT Noida’s IT program benefits from a focused curriculum, higher placement consistency, and a slightly better national reputation, especially for IT and allied branches, while JSS Noida’s CSE (AI/ML) is newer but growing rapidly in relevance with the AI/ML boom. The recommendation is to prefer IT at JIIT Noida for its higher placement rates, established industry reputation, and broader career flexibility, but JSS Noida CSE (AI/ML) is also a good choice if you have a strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Bikram Sir, With a 97.56 percentile in MHT CET and Maharashtra domicile, your son is eligible for the state merit list, which gives him a competitive advantage in top Maharashtra colleges. The current VIT Vellore IT seat (Category 2) is secure, offering a strong national brand, 90%+ placement rate, and an average package near ?10 lakh, but comes with a higher fee structure. For VIT Pune, the 2025 expected MHT CET cutoff for IT is 98.9–99.0 percentile and for CSE specializations like AI/ML is 98.7–98.8 percentile, both higher than your son’s percentile, making admission challenging but not impossible if cutoffs drop slightly this year. Walchand College Sangli’s OBC cutoff for CSE and IT was 99.1 and 99.01 respectively in 2024, so it is unlikely at your score. Other top-10 colleges like COEP, VJTI, and PICT have even higher cutoffs for these branches, typically above 99 percentile for OBC and general categories. VIT Pune, however, is still possible for Electronics and Telecommunication (cutoff 97.8–98.0), and allied branches, all of which have strong placement records (94–98% in CSE/IT, average package ?9–10 lakh). If you wait for the MHT CET merit list, you may secure a seat in a reputable private or autonomous college in Pune or Mumbai for CSE specializations or IT, but not in the absolute top government colleges. VIT Pune and Walchand both offer excellent placements and industry exposure, but admission to CSE/IT at your percentile is uncertain and depends on this year’s cutoff trends.

The recommendation is to keep the VIT Vellore IT seat as a secure high-quality option (however, keep in mind the last date for withdrawing the seat to get the REFUND, if your son gets a better seat through MHT-CET), and simultaneously participate in the MHT CET counseling process to explore CSE specializations or IT in VIT Pune or other top private colleges; only cancel the VIT Vellore seat if your son secures a confirmed admission in a top-10 Maharashtra college for CSE/IT, as this will optimize both academic quality and placement prospects. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Harshit, With a score of 116 marks in IAT 2025 as a general category candidate, you are below the expected cutoff for IISER Pune (130–135), but within or just above the likely cutoff range for IISER Berhampur (105–110), IISER Tirupati (105–110), IISER Thiruvananthapuram (105–110), IISER Bhopal (110–115), and IISER Kolkata (110–115). IISER Mohali’s expected cutoff is slightly higher (115–120), so you may be on the margin there, but you have a good chance at the newer IISERs and possibly at Kolkata and Bhopal, especially in later counseling rounds as cutoffs tend to drop. The recommendation is to actively participate in all counseling rounds, prioritizing IISER Bhopal, Kolkata, Berhampur, Tirupati, and Thiruvananthapuram, as your score is competitive for admission to these institutes this year. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a 95 percentile (CRL 75,000, OBC 21,000) in JEE Main and CSE at VIT Vellore already secured, your daughter is highly unlikely to get CSE, ECE, EEE, or Mathematics & Computing in any NIT, especially in South India, through JoSAA or CSAB, as OBC closing ranks for these branches in NITs like Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal, Calicut, and even newer NITs are well below 10,000–15,000 for CSE and 15,000–20,000 for ECE/EEE, while your OBC rank is 21,000. CSAB special rounds do see slightly lower cutoffs, but CSE and allied branches rarely go beyond 18,000–20,000 for OBC, and you did not receive a seat in JoSAA mock, confirming the low probability. For BITSAT, a score of 160 is far below the CSE, ECE, or MnC cutoffs at any BITS campus, where even the lowest cutoffs for these branches are above 290–300. Given these trends, VIT Vellore CSE remains the best available option, offering 90–100% placement rates, strong industry links, and national reputation. The recommendation is to proceed with VIT Vellore CSE and not wait for CSAB or BITSAT unless your daughter’s second BITSAT attempt is expected to improve dramatically; otherwise, VIT Vellore offers the best academic and placement prospects at her current ranks. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Engineering Physics at IIT Roorkee offers a strong interdisciplinary foundation and excellent placements, with a 2025 average package of ?22.45 lakh and median of ?20.8 lakh, outperforming even Mechanical Engineering (average ?20.4 lakh, 80% placement) and matching the institute’s robust placement ecosystem. Mechanical at IIT Roorkee is a classic, evergreen branch with broad career options in core engineering, manufacturing, and research, while AI & DS at IIT Jodhpur is a newer, tech-driven program with a 92% placement rate and median salary of ?16 lakh, but the institute ranks lower (NIRF 28) and industry connections are still developing. If your interest is in interdisciplinary or physics-driven tech domains, Engineering Physics at IIT Roorkee is highly rewarding; if you want to pivot to data science or AI, IIT Jodhpur’s program is future-facing but less established. The recommendation is to float for a possible upgrade to Mechanical at IIT Roorkee, as it offers strong placements, academic legacy, and flexibility, but only slide to AI & DS at IIT Jodhpur if you have a clear passion for AI/data science and are comfortable with a newer IIT environment; otherwise, retaining Engineering Physics at IIT Roorkee is a safe and prestigious choice. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hi,

A nursing course is an excellent option with numerous opportunities available. If your institute has hospital facilities, you'll gain valuable experience; otherwise, you might be used as labor.

Ans: With a COMEDK rank of 4,488, you are just outside the closing ranks for CSE in the top tier colleges like RV College of Engineering (410–450), BMSCE (500–550), and MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (600–750), but you have strong chances for CSE in respected colleges such as Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (up to 1,300), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (up to 1,800), Bangalore Institute of Technology (up to 3,890), and BMS Institute of Technology (up to 4,647). For ECE, your rank is well within the closing ranks for these colleges, as ECE cutoffs in top institutions typically extend up to 4,500, making ECE accessible in colleges like MSRIT, BMSIT, DSCE, and BIT Bangalore. The recommendation is to target CSE in Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, BIT Bangalore, BMSIT, and NMIT, and ECE in these and similar colleges, as they offer strong placement records and academic support at your rank. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: HI,
I believe it is very difficult to obtain a domicile certificate (DC) in Maharashtra. There is no special or lenient criteria for Central Government employees regarding domicile certificates, as the 15-year residency rule applies to all applicants.

Ans: Hi Sri Sir,

Regarding your query about your son, who is currently in 10th grade and interested in pursuing medicine, you mentioned his passion for neuroscience. Many people use complicated terminology without truly understanding the concepts, and it has become a trend in our society, almost like marketing. If he has a genuine interest in neuroscience, he should not miss the opportunity to pursue medicine. He likely understands the pros and cons of the admission process for medical courses. Please try to motivate him and provide the support he needs to reach his goal. If you have a science background, guide him through the NEET process and share tips and tricks so that he feels supported by his parents.