Engineering or Medical? Confused and Under Pressure

Ans: Viswa, BITS Hyderabad’s Mechanical Engineering program uses the BITS Pilani brand, NAAC ‘A’ accreditation, and modern labs to teach core subjects and advanced practice-school internships. Doctoral faculty lead research in materials and robotics. Mechanical placement rates averaged 87% over three years, with recruiters like L&T and BHEL. IIIT Pune’s CSE branch features modern computing facilities, a proactive training cell, and semester-five internships. CSE placement rates averaged 55% over the last three years, with hires by Amazon, Microsoft, and Nutanix. Both institutes offer strong faculty, accreditation, infrastructure, research opportunities, and placement support, but diverge in career focus: core engineering versus software technology.

Recommendation: Opt for BITS Hyderabad Mechanical Engineering to leverage institute’s reputation, advanced facilities, specialized labs, and robust 85–90% placement consistency in core roles. Select IIIT Pune CSE if his goal centers on software and IT careers within a dynamic tech environment and is comfortable with its program’s moderate 50–60% placement record. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: NIT Trichy’s Production Engineering program at a NIRF #9 institute delivers rigorous core engineering education, faculty with PhDs from premium institutes, advanced manufacturing and quality labs, and robust placement support yielding about 90% placements in three years with average packages near ?14 LPA. The University of Hyderabad does not offer a B.Tech CSE; its School of Computer & Information Sciences only provides postgraduate CSE programs with median packages of ?6.6 LPA and around 35% placement rates. NIT Trichy’s industry linkages, alumni network, accreditation, interdisciplinary projects, and student services position it clearly ahead for undergraduate engineering careers.

Recommendation: For a B.Tech degree leading directly to core engineering roles with high placement consistency, select NIT Trichy’s Production Engineering. Reserve University of Hyderabad’s CSE PG programs for postgraduate specialization only, as UoH lacks an undergraduate CSE offering, limiting immediate engineering career pathways and leverage Trichy’s alumni network and interdisciplinary projects. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Akita Madam, BITS Goa’s Chemical Engineering program at the Pilani offshoot campus delivers the renowned BITS brand, UGC and NAAC ‘A’ accreditation, and a rigorous curriculum covering process engineering, thermodynamics, and advanced electives, supported by doctoral-qualified faculty. State-of-the-art, air-conditioned laboratories and a practice-school training model facilitate hands-on learning. Chemical students recorded an 83% placement rate for first-degree cohorts, securing roles with Shell, Dow, and Honeywell, and achieving average domestic packages of ?21.14 LPA and a median of ?17.65 LPA. Robust alumni networks and on-campus research centers in materials and biotechnology further enrich academic exposure.

Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College’s NBA-accredited Computer Engineering branch in Mumbai offers a four-year software-centric curriculum, including data structures, systems design, and emerging domains like IoT and AI, delivered by industry-seasoned faculty. Modern computing labs and collaborative spaces underpin learning, while industry proximity enables frequent internships, guest lectures, and hackathons. CSE students achieved near-100% placement rates with median packages around ?11 LPA, recruited by JP Morgan, Infosys, and Google. A proactive placement cell and vibrant campus life complement academic rigor.

Both institutes feature robust infrastructure, personalized faculty support, active student services, and strong industry linkages, yet they target distinct career trajectories—process and chemical engineering versus software and IT roles. BITS Goa emphasizes specialized chemical research and global brand value, while DJ Sanghvi leverages Mumbai’s tech ecosystem for broader technology career pathways.

Recommendation: Opt for DJ Sanghvi’s Computer Engineering for its high?placement ecosystem, technology-driven curriculum, and Mumbai industry proximity. Choose BITS Goa Chemical Engineering if he is passionate about core process industries, values elite brand recognition, and seeks specialized research opportunities. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: IIT Dhanbad's Civil Engineering program benefits from the IIT brand recognition and established industry connections, with approximately 55% placement rate for civil engineering students achieving median packages around 13 LPA. The institute maintains robust infrastructure, modern laboratories, and a strong alumni network spanning decades. However, civil engineering placements lag significantly behind other engineering branches, with only 26 out of 47 students securing placements in recent data. IISER Bhopal's Engineering Science program offers interdisciplinary exposure combining physics, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering principles with stronger research orientation. Recent placement statistics show 45 out of 239 students placed with median package of 19 LPA for BS-MS programs. IISER emphasizes research culture, international collaborations, and provides excellent foundation for higher studies with over 80% students typically pursuing PhD or advanced research. Both institutions offer quality infrastructure, experienced faculty, comprehensive student support systems, and active placement cells, but cater to different career trajectories - IIT Dhanbad for traditional engineering roles and IISER Bhopal for research and interdisciplinary science careers.

Recommendation: Choose IIT Dhanbad Civil Engineering for established brand value, traditional engineering career paths, and core infrastructure industry connections. Opt for IISER Bhopal Engineering Science if your son prefers research-oriented education, interdisciplinary learning, and potential for higher studies in cutting-edge scientific fields with emerging career opportunities. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Pursuing BDS alongside an online BBA degree is theoretically possible under the UGC's revised 2025 guidelines allowing students to pursue two academic programs simultaneously, provided class timings do not overlap. BDS is an intensive 5-year program requiring 4 years of classroom education plus 1 year of mandatory rotating internship, with 240 teaching days per academic year consisting of 8 working hours daily, totaling 5200 hours of lectures, practicals, and clinical training. The curriculum demands extensive hands-on clinical experience, patient interaction, and practical laboratory work across dental anatomy, pathology, surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and community dentistry. Online BBA programs offer flexible schedules with typically 8-10 hours weekly commitment, self-paced learning through recorded lectures, and choice-based credit systems. UGC-approved institutions like Jain University Online, Manipal University, Amity Online, University of Mysore, and GITAM provide recognized online BBA degrees with dual specializations in marketing, finance, HR, and entrepreneurship. However, the demanding nature of BDS clinical rotations, hospital-based training schedules, patient care responsibilities, and extensive practical requirements would significantly challenge simultaneous pursuit of another degree. Time management becomes critical as BDS requires consistent physical presence for clinical training, laboratory work, and patient interactions, while online BBA demands dedicated study time for business concepts, case studies, and project submissions. The combination requires exceptional organizational skills, strong academic foundation, supportive infrastructure from both institutions, comprehensive student services including academic counseling, technical support for online platforms, and robust placement assistance for career development.

Recommendation: Consider pursuing online BBA only after completing BDS clinical years, as the intensive nature of dental clinical training makes simultaneous study extremely challenging. If determined to pursue both, ensure strong time management skills and institutional support systems are in place. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Hi Adarsh,

Both are national institutes. There will be some differences in the curriculum and faculty, but other factors are almost similar.

Regarding Placement: I have a few questions. Kindly provide the answers to the following questions.
Are you a good student? Are you meritorious? Do you have strong skills?
Additionally, could you let me know your rank in the 12th standard? What are your class rank and school rank in HSC? KINDLY SHARE.
BEST WISHES.

Ans: HI NIKHIL,
Relatively good but might not guarantee a seat in COMPETITIVE IISERs, there's a chance you'll be able to secure a seat later rounds or at one of the IISERs.
DO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNSELING PROCESS.
BEST WISHES.

Ans: Hi Ray Sir,

PSG is undoubtedly a good institute, but the other one is a national institute. Both offer different programs. Naturally, everyone will prefer the known program in all aspects. I am unable to provide a response to your query without more details. Which program has he been offered in NFSU? If you provide that information, I can offer my suggestions.
BEST WISHES.

Ans: Hi,

Let’s consider this: Are you a good student? Meritorious? Skilled? Based on your rank, you have secured a seat at IIIT. If there is any possibility, try to go for upgradation, so that you can aim for either competitive programs or a more desirable location.

However, worrying about placement before even joining is not a good attitude. Remember, you have just completed your HSC and are yet to pursue your basic degree. What are your next plans?
BEST WISHES.