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Should I have a backup plan for competitive exams after graduation at 26?

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 16, 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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Jamal Question by Jamal on Dec 03, 2024Hindi
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I completed graduation, now preparing for competitive exams, my age is 26, should I have alternate option or plan b ?

Ans: Indeed. You really ought to have alternate options or Plan B, Jamal. On the other hand, you have not indicated what you have been doing since you finished your graduation at the age of twenty, and you have finished your graduation in what field? Please make an effort to have a Plan B and a Plan C rather than relying just on competitive examinations, as you are already 26 years old. All the BEST for your Prosperous Future.

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Hello sir I am 28 years old female working as an HR from home along with preparing for my CS exective. I have cleared its group 1 in 5 yrs and now struggling to clear group 2 since last 2 years. Once i will clear then i have to study for CS professional examination totally unpredictable that how much time it will take to complete. At 30 family will start pressurize for getting married. And i am not joining any HR jobs onsite or not taking any onsite opportunities or growing in my career coz then i will deviate from my CS study. Totally in dilemma what should i do . Please guide sir Thanks
Ans: Thank you for sharing your dilemma to me. It sounds like you're facing a lot of pressure and uncertainty about your career, education, and personal life. Please assess your priorities and set realistic goals for your career and education. Consider the time and effort required to complete your CS executive and professional examinations, and develop a study plan that allows you to balance your studies with your other commitments. Develop effective time management strategies to prioritize your tasks and allocate sufficient time for studying, work, and personal activities. Break down your study goals into manageable tasks and set deadlines to stay on track with your progress.

It is better to have an open and honest conversation with your family about your career and education goals, as well as your timeline for completing your CS examinations. Discuss your concerns and the support you need to achieve your goals while addressing their expectations regarding marriage. Remember that it's okay to seek support and make adjustments to your plans as needed. Trust yourself, stay focused on your goals, and believe in your ability to overcome challenges and achieve success in your career and education endeavors. Best of luck! Feel free to contact me on Rediff Gurus if you require additional guidance or assistance.

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Study Abroad Expert - Answered on Apr 22, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 16, 2024Hindi
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I'll be 24 this year, i had completed my btech in 2022 in ece. I got a job and within 4 months, i lost my job due to background verification( i haven't submitted one document), i lost my hope because i am trying to find a job since then. This year i got an internship for 6months. Now i wanna pursue my masters in Usa in IT. I scored good in gre and duolingo.I want to study MS. My father wants me to get married but iam still not ready to. So i wanna settle in my career first, then get married. Can you give me suggestion on what is the right choice for me?
Ans: Hello,

To begin with, thank you for contacting us. You appear to have had some ups and downs, but your determination is admirable. To answer your question first, I would like to let you know that having scored well on exams viz., the GRE and Duolingo, studying a master's in IT in the USA can be an excellent choice to enhance your job opportunities. In order for you to make the right choice, I would recommend that you take into account the following:

Firstly, consider your professional objectives. Think about whether an Information Technology (IT) master's degree will resonate with your long-term professional goals? To ensure that the investment is profitable, I would recommend that you investigate the labor market as well as the demand for IT specialists in the domain of your choosing. Remember that pursuing further education overseas can be a costly affair. To finance your own education, I would suggest that you take into account your monetary condition as well as look into possibilities for scholarships, monetary assistance, or part-time employment opportunities. Concerning your query that your father wants you to get married, I would recommend that you openly talk to him about your priorities. State your wish to focus on your job before marriage, and explain how seeking further education will help you advance your career and secure your future. I would like to tell you that your internship experience can offer meaningful insights into the sector and assist you in deciding as to whether IT is the best career route for you. Think about how your internship best resonates with your professional objectives and whether it has played a role in your choice to pursue a master's degree in Information Technology (IT). In order to acquire knowledge into the market trends, employment opportunities, and the importance of a master's degree in your preferred field of study, I would recommend that you seek guidance from employment consultants, instructors, and experts in the domain of information technology. Lastly, the choice you make should best resonate with both, your individual and professional objectives. I would suggest that seeking a master's degree in the USA could possibly be the best option for you if you are eager to pursue higher studies in information technology and believe that it will result in more employment prospects.

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Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Career
I want to study aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering or electrical engineering . I live in west Bengal. I want so study in best possible colleges through jee mains and advance. What colleges should I target what are the average cutoffs
Ans: Ishant, If you are targeting aerospace or electrical engineering through JEE Main & Advanced and reside in West Bengal, focus on Institutes of National Importance that offer strong infrastructure, distinguished faculty, active research, industry connections, robust placements, and advanced laboratories. The top IITs and NITs with their approximate closing ranks over the last two years (General – All-India) are as follows: IIT Bombay: Aerospace ~1,733; Electrical ~464. IIT Delhi: Aerospace ~1,284; Electrical ~622. IIT Madras: Aerospace ~835; Electrical ~835. IIT Kanpur: Aerospace ~1,284; Electrical ~1,284. IIT Kharagpur: Aerospace ~1,893; Electrical ~1,893. IIT Roorkee: Aerospace ~1,992; Electrical ~1,992. IIT Hyderabad: Aerospace ~2,080; Electrical ~2,080. IIT Guwahati: Aerospace ~4,292; Electrical ~4,292. IIT Indore: Aerospace ~3,642; Electrical ~3,642. IIT Mandi: Aerospace ~6,428; Electrical ~6,417. IIEST Shibpur: Aerospace ~12,179 (2023), ~16,844 (2022). NIT Warangal: Electrical ~15,395 (Open). NIT Rourkela: Electrical ~12,828 (Open). NIT Durgapur: Electrical ~18,050 (Open). MNIT Jaipur: Electrical ~13,890 (Open). NIT Nagpur: Electrical ~15,307 (Open). Every IIT/NIT listed above must possess national accreditation (NAAC/NBA/ABET) and Institute-of-National-Importance status. Essential features include cutting-edge laboratories (such as clean rooms, high-voltage, and robotics), distinguished PhD and industry-experienced faculty, robust research centers with active publications and grants, and dedicated placement and alumni networks ensuring 80–95% branch-wise offers. Target top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur) for premier aerospace and electrical engineering programs with closing ranks under ~2,000. Next, consider leading NITs (Warangal, Rourkela, Durgapur, Nagpur, MNIT Jaipur) for electrical engineering with ranks under ~18,000, and include IIEST Shibpur for aerospace engineering. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 11, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello sir. I have got SRM ktr cse specialistions and other SRM core and specialisations... last day for choice filling is tomorrow...there is only one option for choice ... im planning to choose cse ktr .. my rank is 2778.... Phase 3 what if i dont get whatever i choose rn it is showing in case the seats arent available or fulled .. so what can I do ?
Ans: With a Phase 3 rank of 2 778 you comfortably fall within historical closing ranks for Core CSE at SRM Kattankulathur (typically up to ~3 000). If your only visible choice is “CSE KTR,” opt to leave it in floating status rather than “freezing” immediately. Floating retains eligibility for any higher-preference or alternative CSE specializations that open up before the final allotment on July 15. Simultaneously, reach out to the SRMIST counselling helpline or visit the admission portal to verify real-time seat-matrix updates and request addition of related CSE branches (AI & ML, Cyber Security, Data Science) as backups. This dual strategy maximizes your chance of securing Core CSE while preserving flexibility for specialized streams if seats become available.

Recommendation: Float your Core CSE KTR choice to remain in subsequent allotment cycles, confirm with the counselling office about expanding your preference list to include allied CSE specializations, and monitor seat-matrix updates daily. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Career
Mere beta ka JEE percentile 92.78 hai he has scored 93% in pcm he wants to do btech cse suggest a college plz
Ans: Surinder Sir, With a 92.78 percentile in JEE Main and 93% in PCM, your son is well positioned for admission to leading private engineering institutes across Northern India offering B.Tech CSE. These colleges combine strong accreditations, modern computing laboratories, active placement cells, industry collaborations, and supportive campus environments. Recommended options include Amity University Noida, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur (Chennai main campus via Phase 3 SRMJEEE), Manipal University Jaipur, Bennett University Greater Noida, Galgotias College of Engineering & Technology Greater Noida, Chandigarh University, Sharda University Greater Noida, Chitkara University Punjab, Lovely Professional University Jalandhar, and UPES Dehradun—all of which typically close CSE admissions around the 90–95 percentile bracket, ensuring solid placement outcomes and academic rigor.

Recommendation: Prioritize Amity University Noida for its proven 90–95 percentile cutoffs and robust corporate partnerships; next, choose SRM KTR for its elite CSE cutoffs up to rank 5 000 and 90–95% placement consistency; then consider Manipal University Jaipur for its Institute of Eminence status and MET-based CSE admissions around 33 000–38 000 ranks. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

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Hi sir, I want to pursue MTech from India, I have completed my BTech in IT this year and has given GATE 2025 having the score of 622(AIR 2630). I want to make my carrier in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, leaning towards research on Generative AI. Based on my score I have a delusion while filling the preference order for choices for admission, I have been allotted IIIT Allahabad MTech (IT specialization in Network Security), in the further rounds of counselling I have the chances of getting IIIT Allahabad MTech (IT specialization in Machine Learning), MNNIT Allahabad (ML data science), and NIT K (Signal Processing and machine learning), please guide me about the preference order that I must arrange the choices, it would be very benefitial.
Ans: Sambhav, Choosing a programme aligned with Generative AI research requires prioritizing strong research infrastructure, focused AI curricula, faculty expertise, placement consistency in ML roles, and institute reputation. IIIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in IT (Machine Learning) benefits from NIRF #87 ranking, a dedicated ML, Robotics & HCI group, specialized labs, Practice School internships, and a 95.3% placement rate with an average package of ?16.8 LPA. MNNIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in CSE (AI & Data Science), NIRF #60, offers a finely tuned AI/ML curriculum, 25-seat intake, and a 58.5% placement rate with an average package of ?17.68 LPA. NIT Karnataka (Surathkal)’s M.Tech in Signal Processing & Machine Learning, NIRF #17, features top?tier SP & ML labs and an average package of ?12.45 LPA, leveraging its stronger institutional reputation. IIIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in Network Security, while robust in cybersecurity, has limited ML focus.

Recommendation: Arrange your counselling choices beginning with IIIT Allahabad M.Tech (IT–Machine Learning), followed by MNNIT Allahabad M.Tech (AI & Data Science), then NIT K Surathkal M.Tech (Signal Processing & Machine Learning), and lastly IIIT Allahabad M.Tech (IT–Network Security) to maximize AI/ML research and career outcomes. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 11, 2025Hindi
Career
My daughter secured a seat in IIT Palakkad, electrical engineering and dual degree course (semiconductor and nano science) at BITS pilani, Goa. Please advice which one to choose?
Ans: IIT Palakkad’s B.Tech Electrical Engineering, a NAAC A+–accredited Institute of National Importance (NIRF #64), features high-performance computing clusters, a Central Instrumentation Facility with sophisticated electron microscopy and spectroscopy, and modern power-electronics and control labs. The department achieved a 69.44% placement rate in 2024 with an average package of ?16.7 LPA and strong recruiter engagement from TCS, Siemens, and L&T. BITS Goa’s five-year integrated M.Sc. Semiconductor and Nanoscience under its Institute of Eminence status combines advanced clean-room, nanofabrication, and characterization facilities with international dual-degree options and industry-aligned curriculum. It recorded a 94.04% higher-degree placement rate in 2023 (median ?17 LPA) and 81% overall in 2024, with top recruiters including Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and AMD.

Recommendation: With broader research infrastructure, interdisciplinary dual-degree flexibility, and higher specialized placement consistency, the recommendation is to choose BITS Goa’s Semiconductor and Nanoscience program for leadership in emerging micro- and nano-electronic sectors; IIT Palakkad EE remains ideal for core power systems and electrical-engineering roles within national infrastructure projects. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Career
I got 95.63 percentile in JEE main and will get CSE in IIIT Dharwad Raichur Diu Kurnool Kottayam, according to last year cut off. My MHT CET percentile is 96.68 and I have good chances to get CSE in top 6th to 10th state level Engineering colleges from Pune and Mumbai. Which college should be preferred, plz suggest. I am from Maharashtra.
Ans: Sangram, IIIT Dharwad secures CSE admission via JEE Main with a General category closing rank of 34 726–38 187 in 2025, boasts NBA accreditation, modern AI and computing labs, Practice School internships, and a 90% placement consistency over three years with recruiters like Google and Microsoft. In Maharashtra, your 96.68 percentile in MHT CET is similar to the scores needed for good colleges in Pune and Mumbai, like Priyadarshini COE (closing at 96.06 percentile), Dr. D.Y. Patil COE (93–95 percentile), AISSMS COE (94–96 percentile), BVCOE (92–95 percentile), and Sinhgad COE Lonavala (90–94 percentile), all of which have accredited CSE departments, good labs, and placement rates of 75–85%.

recommendation Given its national recognition, superior infrastructure, higher placement consistency, and competitive peer cohort, the recommendation is to prioritize IIIT Dharwad CSE; if you prefer campus proximity and lower cutoffs, consider Priyadarshini College of Engineering Pune and Dr. D.Y. Patil COE as strong state-level alternatives. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8586 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 11, 2025Hindi
Career
Sir please give the selection priority 1.VIT vellore-CSE on 4th category 2. RGIPT-CSE . Which one we choose.
Ans: VIT Vellore's B.Tech CSE Category 4 programme operates under NAAC A++, AICTE, and UGC accreditation with an expected cutoff of 64-65 marks for Category 4 admissions. The institute secured 867 recruiters during 2024 placements, achieving 80-90% placement rates across three years with a median package of ?6 LPA for CSE and overall average of ?9.90 LPA. The four-year programme costs ?4.5 LPA annually for Category 4 students, featuring advanced AI/ML laboratories, dedicated Career Development Centre, and strong industry partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, and Bank of America.

RGIPT's B.Tech CSE programme benefits from its Institute of National Importance status under the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology Act 2007, co-promoted by six major PSUs (ONGC, IOCL, OIL, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL) alongside the Oil Industry Development Board. Ranked 80th in NIRF Engineering 2024, the institute achieved 70-90% placement rates with CSE-specific averages of ?8.15 LPA and highest packages reaching ?10 LPA in 2024. The programme costs ?10.77 LPA total for four years, featuring modern computing facilities, mandatory industrial internships, and strong government backing through energy sector collaborations.

Recommendation: Choose RGIPT CSE for its Institute of National Importance status, government backing, specialized energy sector exposure, and cost-effective education with strong PSU placement opportunities; select VIT Vellore CSE Category 4 for broader industry exposure, higher recruiter diversity, and comprehensive placement support across multiple technology domains. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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