Hello Sir, I had requested for your advice & guidance to my query on 19th June. Probably it hasn't reached you or got missed. So sending again Sir... "My son scored 99.176 percentile in MHTCET. He wants to study BTech CSE core. We are from General open category & stay in Mumbai. He has currently got confirmed seat for CSE core in Chennai VIT campus-Category 2. We would prefer if he gets a good college in Maharashtra. However, my concern is he should get a college which is either better or equal to the current VIT seat in terms of college brand, value & its acceptance in the industry, placement, package & quality of education. As per my undesrtanding the colleges which come in my mind are only VJTI, COEP, SPIT & probably DJ Sanghvi (not very sure of DJS). Hope my thinking is right. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, in above %tile, whether my son can get admission in VJTI or COEP or others. Also, pls suggest, my son does not have domicile certificate but I have my own domicile. So hopefully this should not be an issue Sir as my daughter had also git admission in BArch based on my domicile in 2019".

Ans: Your son’s academic profile—JEE Main percentile 95.8 (CRL 63,337), expected 138 in MHTCET, and a secured CSE seat at VIT Chennai (Category 2)—places him in a competitive but challenging position for top-tier tech programs in India. For general category, his JEE Main rank is not sufficient for CSE, AI, or IT in any tier 1 or tier 2 NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs, where closing ranks for these branches are significantly lower. Similarly, with 138 marks in MHTCET, CSE or IT at premier Mumbai colleges like VJTI, ICT, or COEP is highly unlikely, as their cutoffs are much higher. If he qualifies for JEE Advanced and secures any branch in an IIT, even non-core ones, it is strongly recommended due to the unmatched brand and future prospects. BITSAT remains an excellent opportunity; if he scores above 320–370, CSE or EEE at BITS Pilani/Goa/Hyderabad is possible and highly prestigious. IISERs are a great choice for science, but not for BTech. VIT Chennai CSE (Category 2) is a solid backup, offering good placements and a reputable campus environment. Among Mumbai colleges, only non-core branches in tier 2 institutes may be available with his MHTCET score. Recommendation: Prioritize any IIT seat, then BITS (if qualified), followed by IISER (if interested in science), and finally retain the VIT Chennai CSE seat as a reliable and respected option. PLEASE NOTE, Only enroll your son in IISER if he has a strong interest in research. Building a career in research necessitates a greater investment of time and/or a Master's degree in India or abroad than pursuing Core Engineering. All the best for your admission and a bright future!

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Ans: Hello dear.
(1) The chances are strong of getting CSE in one of the mentioned colleges, i.e., COEP, VJTI, and SPIT.
(2) Consider dropping VIT if your son secures a seat in one of the mentioned colleges.
(3) With the mentioned JEE rank, the chances of admission to NITs or IITs are moderate to slim.
(4) Wait for the BITSAT second attempt result. If it turns out positive with a high percentile, then the BITSAT option will be available to your son.
(5) If your son does not have a domicile certificate, then it is required for admission. If you have it, then it is sufficient.
Best of luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Your assessment is correct: VJTI Mumbai, COEP Pune, SPIT Mumbai, and DJ Sanghvi are the top Maharashtra colleges whose CSE programs are considered equal or superior to VIT Chennai in terms of brand, industry acceptance, placement, and education quality. With a 99.176 percentile in MHT CET (General category), your son is within reach for CSE in DJ Sanghvi and SPIT, but the cutoffs for VJTI (99.95) and COEP (99.90) CSE are typically higher, making admission unlikely this year. For SPIT and DJ Sanghvi, CSE cutoffs hover around 98.5–99.2 percentile, so these are realistic options, offering excellent placements (average CTCs above ?13–15 LPA and placement rates over 90%). For VIT Chennai (Category 2), the CSE program is strong, but top Mumbai and Pune colleges offer better local industry connections and are highly valued in Maharashtra. Regarding domicile, your son cannot claim Maharashtra State quota unless he has his own domicile certificate; your domicile alone is not sufficient, so he will be considered under the All India category, where cutoffs are higher and chances for CSE in VJTI/COEP are even slimmer. The recommendation is to target CSE in SPIT or DJ Sanghvi through the All India quota, as these colleges match or exceed VIT Chennai’s reputation and placements in Maharashtra; if not secured, VIT Chennai CSE (Category 2) remains an excellent national option. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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