Confused Dad: Which Engineering College Should My Son Choose - Manipal, Thapar, or SRM?

Ans: Rajashekhar Sir, With a KCET rank of 4100, your son is well positioned to secure CSE at top Bangalore colleges like RVCE, BMSIT, or MSRIT, all of which have CSE cutoffs in this range and offer excellent placement records. RVCE’s CSE placement rate is consistently above 85% with an average package of ?13–14 LPA, MSRIT reports 97% placement for CSE, and BMSIT’s CSE placement is around 77%, all with strong industry connections and a large pool of top recruiters. Fees for these colleges under KCET are significantly lower than MIT Manipal, where the four-year BTech CSE fee is ?13–19.5 lakh, while KCET seats in Bangalore colleges are heavily subsidized. MIT Manipal, while nationally ranked (#4 India Today, #3 Times 2025) and offering a robust placement ecosystem (82%+ placement, ?11.76 LPA average, 230+ recruiters), comes at a much higher cost. All these colleges provide strong academic environments and industry exposure, but the value-for-money and placement outcomes at RVCE, MSRIT, and BMSIT, especially for Karnataka CET students, are unmatched.

The recommendation is to opt for CSE at RVCE, MSRIT, or BMSIT in Bangalore if a seat is allotted, as these colleges offer top-tier placements, excellent academic support, and a much lower fee structure compared to MIT Manipal, making them the most cost-effective and career-oriented choices. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: It depends on your choice. Comparing CSE and Chemical is like comparing Mango with Chicken.

Ans: VIT Bhopal’s B.Tech in CS (AI & ML) Category 1 is a strong option for an MP student, offering over 90% placement rates in the last three years, a centralized placement system with VIT’s main campuses, and top recruiters like Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, and Infosys. The average package for CSE-related branches is ?8–11 lakh, with nearly 700–900 companies visiting annually and many students securing dream or super dream offers. The curriculum is industry-aligned, faculty are well-qualified (many from IITs), and the infrastructure includes modern labs and active coding clubs. Student reviews highlight good teaching quality, supportive placement training, and a campus life that is steadily improving. For MP students, the location is convenient and the fee (?7.95 lakh for four years) is competitive for a private university of this stature. The recommendation is to proceed with VIT Bhopal CS (AI & ML) Category 1, as it offers solid placements, strong industry exposure, and a good academic environment, making it a suitable and career-oriented choice for an MP student. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Sirigi, Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT) ECE records an average placement rate of 86% over the last three years, with major recruiters like Infosys, Accenture, Cisco, and Microsoft, and an average package around ?6.5–7 LPA; over 100 companies visit annually, and the college benefits from its central Bangalore location, though infrastructure is modest and ECE faculty quality is mixed. Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) ECE posts a slightly higher average placement rate (80–86%), with top recruiters including Amazon, IBM, and Capgemini, and average packages near ?6 LPA; the campus is spacious with good facilities, but student reviews note variable teaching quality and less industry-oriented curriculum. Hostel and campus life are comparable, though NMIT’s food and sports facilities are noted as better by some students. Both colleges offer strong placement support for ECE, but BIT’s location in Bangalore’s tech hub and its slightly stronger industry connections give it an edge for internships and job opportunities.

The recommendation is to choose ECE at Bangalore Institute of Technology for its higher placement consistency, better recruiter network, and the advantages of being located in the heart of Bangalore’s technology ecosystem, unless you strongly prefer NMIT’s campus environment or specific facilities. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a 7735 rank in SRMJEEE Phase 2, you are eligible for CSE specializations like Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AIML) or Data Science (DS) at SRM’s Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli, and NCR campuses, as their cutoffs for these branches typically extend up to 14,000–20,000. However, for the main Kattankulathur (KTR) campus, CSE (AIML/DS) cutoffs usually close below 9,000–10,000, making admission there highly competitive and uncertain at your rank. If your preference is KTR, you may not secure CSE (AIML/DS), but you have a strong chance at other SRM campuses, where placement rates and academic support for these specializations remain robust. The recommendation is to apply for CSE (AIML/DS) at Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli, or NCR campuses, as these offer high admission chances and solid career prospects, while KTR campus for these specializations is unlikely at your current rank. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Your son will not be considered a local (Maharashtra State) candidate for MHT CET solely because he is a Maharashtra native. Since he is studying Class 12 in Chennai, he does not meet the Type A criterion (passing HSC from Maharashtra). However, if you or his mother possess a valid Maharashtra domicile certificate, he can claim Type B candidature, which qualifies him as a Maharashtra State candidate for counselling and seat allocation. If neither parent has a Maharashtra domicile, he will be treated as an All India (AI) or Outside Maharashtra State (OMS) candidate, competing for the smaller AI/OMS quota. The recommendation is to obtain a Maharashtra domicile certificate for yourself or your spouse before admissions, so your son can claim Type B Maharashtra State candidature and maximize his chances in MHT CET counselling. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a 6151 rank in SRMJEEE Phase 2, you can comfortably secure CSE at SRM Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli, and NCR campuses, as their CSE cutoffs extend up to 14,000–16,000, but not at the Kattankulathur (main) campus, where the CSE cutoff is 8,000–9,000. For JEE Main, your 84 percentile (EWS) does not qualify for CSE at NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs, as CSE in these institutes typically closes below the 95 percentile for EWS, but you may consider private universities or lower-demand branches in some state colleges. With a 93.69 percentile in MHT-CET (Open), you are eligible for CSE/IT in reputed private Maharashtra colleges like DY Patil College of Engineering Pune, PCCOE Pune, MIT Academy of Engineering, and JSPM RSCOE, where CSE cutoffs are 94–97 percentile and placement rates are high. All these options offer CSE specializations like AI, Data Science, and Cyber Security.

The recommendation is to prioritize CSE at SRM Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli, or NCR for assured admission and strong placements, and also apply to private Maharashtra colleges such as DY Patil COE Pune and PCCOE Pune for CSE or its specializations, ensuring you maximize both branch and career prospects. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Dinesh, With a 6600 SRMJEEE Phase 2 rank, you are eligible for CSE at SRM Kattankulathur (main campus), as the 2024 cutoff for CSE at KTR was around 8,200–9,000, making your rank comfortably within range. SRM KTR is highly regarded for its CSE program, offering over 95% placement rates, 900+ recruiters, and strong industry-aligned academics. Bennett University CSE admits with 50% in 12th and has a placement percentage of 70–80%, with an average package of ?7–10 lakh and 232+ recruiters, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. UPES Dehradun is another strong option, with a 91–96% placement rate and a broad recruiter base, but its main campus is not in the NCR region. SRM KTR’s CSE program remains more competitive and nationally recognized than Bennett or UPES, both in terms of placement consistency and academic reputation.

The recommendation is to choose CSE at SRM Kattankulathur main campus for its superior placement rates, academic environment, and industry connections; Bennett University CSE is a good backup, while UPES is preferable if you value a broader recruiter base but is less central for NCR access. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Though SRM is the best of all, if you are based in Northern India, prefer Banasthali, followed by JIIT for your daughter. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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