Sir, good evening. I’m Jefry Einstein from Tamil Nadu. I have been allotted a BS-MS seat at IISER Tirupati in Round 5 counselling. Currently, I am preparing as a first-year JEE dropper, as the counselling process concluded too late for me to join immediately. Now that I have secured a seat, I am very interested in pursuing research in physics. Could you please guide me or suggest how I should proceed? Which option would be better: continuing as a JEE dropper or joining IISER Tirupati? Also, how can I check if I have specifically got admission to the BS-MS Physics program at IISER Tirupati?

Ans: You have paid the fees and as MSc with BSc at VIT Vellore is good choice, keep moving ahead in your journey.

Ans: Rajeev, Your JEE Advanced rank of 10200 provides assured admission to IIT Dhanbad Engineering Physics (cutoff 9412-10778) and IIT Jodhpur BS Physics (cutoff 12136-14641), while IISER Pune requires separate entrance qualification but offers pure research focus with 98 students pursuing higher studies from 187 graduates. IIT Dhanbad emerges superior with ?75 crore research facilities, 240 ongoing projects worth ?190 crores, new BS-MS program launch, and 56.25% placement rate for Engineering Physics, while IIT Jodhpur provides 92% overall placement rate and specialized physics research opportunities. IISER Pune excels in pure science research orientation but shows lower immediate placement rates (12 out of 187 students) though strong higher studies progression. Recommendation: Choose IIT Dhanbad's new BS-MS Physics program for optimal combination of research excellence, industry connections, assured admission prospects, and comprehensive dual-degree flexibility that supports both research and career diversification in emerging physics technologies. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hello dear
Apply for B.Sc. Physics in top universities. Build a strong base for M.Sc. + research (like JAM, JEST, etc.) after B.Sc. Try to appear for CUET to explore more college options. As you have not appeared for BITSAT, the door to BITS is closed.
Best of luck.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

Ans: Homeraj, With a CRL rank of 19,925 and an OBC-NCL rank of 5,345, admission to any IISER BS-MS Physics program in 2025 is extremely unlikely. Recent IISER OBC-NCL closing ranks for BS-MS across all campuses—including less competitive branches—have consistently remained well below 2,500 in the final counselling rounds. IISER Tirupati and Berhampur, which generally have the highest closing ranks among IISERs, reported OBC-NCL cutoff ranks around 2,318 and 2,327 respectively in 2024, with similar trends observed in previous years. No IISER in recent history has extended OBC-NCL BS-MS offers beyond these cutoff ranges, making the current rank far outside the possible selection window at any IISER campus.

Taking a drop year presents both opportunities and risks. Candidates who drop have a full year to concentrate on weaker areas and strategize their study plans, potentially increasing their chances to significantly improve their rank next year. However, this decision carries risks, such as potential loss of academic momentum, added stress, and no guarantee of securing a seat even after dedicated preparation, especially as cutoffs rise steadily due to growing competition. During this year, students must remain motivated, seek expert guidance, and periodically evaluate their effort to avoid regret. Alternatives might include enrolling at other reputable universities for a physics degree while preparing for re-attempting IISER entrance if that remains the primary goal.

Recommendation: Gaining admission to any IISER is not feasible with the present rank. If pursuing a scientific career via IISER is non-negotiable and you are confident in your ability to improve, a drop year is a justified option but must be entered with perseverance and a backup plan, as success is not certain. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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