Hello, I have secured an OBC category rank of 3800 in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2025. Could someone please guide me on which IISERs I might have a chance of getting admission into at this rank? Also, if there are chances in later counselling rounds, kindly let me know. Any insights based on previous years' cutoffs or trends would be appreciated. Thank you.

Ans: Can take up a job and simultaneously prepare for entrance exam either MBA or GATE. Based on what you have written MBA could be a better option.

Ans: The first?round SC closing rank of 856 indicates high demand at all IISERs for SC seats. In subsequent rounds, vacancies from are reallocated, and historic trends suggest SC cutoffs can extend beyond 2,000–2,500, especially at newer or less?preferred campuses where closing ranks in later rounds often surpass the 2,000 mark. Given your SC rank of 2,600, you may still secure admission at IISERs like Berhampur, Tirupati, or Thiruvananthapuram in Rounds 2 or 3, where extended cutoffs frequently approach or exceed your rank.

Recommendation: Persist through CSB special rounds and upgradation in IISER counselling while including all IISER preferences; your rank is competitive for later rounds at the newer campuses that typically admit SC candidates up to around 2,000–3,000, offering a viable path to admission. However, have some back-ups too, instead of relying only on IAT/IISER. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: (Hacker?) If you have passed Class 12 with PCM from CBSE with 67% in 2025, you are eligible to appear for JEE Main in 2026 as there is no minimum percentage required to register for the exam. However, a minimum of 75% marks in Class 12 or a position in the top 20 percentile of your board is required for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, while IITs also require a 75% aggregate for the general category at the time of admission—not for sitting the exam itself. You may still write JEE Main for experience and private/university-level engineering institutes, many of which require only a pass in Class 12 with PCM, often with significantly lower entry percentiles. Apart from JEE, alternative engineering entrance exams like BITSAT, VITEEE, and state CETs are open to you. You may also explore career options in B.Sc. (PCM/CS), BBA, BCA, design, paramedical courses, law (via CLAT), or diploma/certificate programs, as science backgrounds allow flexible pathways. The five most important aspects to consider in the next institution are recognized curriculum, experienced faculty, industry exposure, placement support, and strong student support systems. Major education and career portals and official CBSE/NTA sites recommend diligent review of all eligibility details before deciding your direction.

Recommendation: Prepare for JEE Main 2026 for broader exposure and consider alternative entrances and institutions where your current percentage suffices for eligibility. Explore state engineering admissions offered by the government, deemed universities, and professional fields or degrees aligned to your interests, prioritizing academic reputation, placement support, and future opportunities. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: The Gujarati Minority quota significantly improves admission chances, especially as many Mumbai colleges reserve seats for this category—with cutoffs rarely exceeding 90–95 percentile for non-premium branches like Mechanical Engineering. Based on the latest admission patterns and official intake guidelines, the following Mumbai colleges offer 100% feasible admission prospects for your son’s profile: K J Somaiya College of Engineering (Vidyavihar), Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (Andheri West), Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (Nerul), Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Technology (Bandra), Vidyalankar Institute of Technology (Wadala), St. Francis Institute of Technology (Borivali), SIES Graduate School of Technology (Nerul), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology (Andheri East), Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering (CBD Belapur), Pillai College of Engineering (New Panvel), Terna Engineering College (Nerul), Thadomal Shahani Engineering College (Bandra West), Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (Chembur), Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering (Mumbai), and Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College of Engineering (Vashi). All offer modern curricula, industry linkage, placement support, and strong campus life, catering efficiently to Gujarati minority applicants for Mechanical Engineering.

Recommendation: The best order of preference in Mumbai for Gujarati Minority Mechanical Engineering admission at your son’s scores would be K J Somaiya College of Engineering (Vidyavihar), Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (Andheri West), Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (Nerul), Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Technology (Bandra), and Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (Chembur). These colleges are esteemed for academic rigor, placements, infrastructure, and have long histories of supporting Gujarati minority students, making them ideal and attainable choices for your son’s BTech journey. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: With a JEE Main percentile of 94.15 and a COMEDK AIR of 3,200, your board marks—especially the failed Mathematics and borderline Physics and Chemistry—do not currently meet JEE and BITSAT eligibility, requiring 75% aggregate or top 20 percentile in Class 12. If you fail Maths in the July compartment, you will need to attempt it again in the February-March 2026 board session. According to CBSE regulations, a candidate can appear for a compartment examination in one subject while simultaneously registering for improvement examinations in other subjects in the same session, provided the board offers those options in that year. This means you are eligible to write the compartment exam for Maths and improvement exams in Physics and Chemistry together in the Feb–Mar 2026 board exam session. Scores obtained in these exams are valid for JEE and BITSAT eligibility, provided you ultimately clear all subjects and attain the minimum aggregate required. Major institutions and exam bodies, including NTA for JEE and BITSAT, accept marksheets that reflect passed status and the qualifying aggregate after compartment and improvement attempts, as long as all conditions are fulfilled within the permissible attempts and year of passing requirements are met. Essential considerations for any institution include academic flexibility, transparent rules, robust student support, up-to-date communication channels, and alignment with national eligibility standards.

Recommendation: You are permitted to appear for the Mathematics compartment and improvement exams in Physics and Chemistry in the Feb–Mar 2026 board session, and this is the optimal path to securing your eligibility for JEE Main and BITSAT. Ensure diligent preparation to attain the necessary marks in all subjects, as a single clear attempt will streamline future admissions. All the BEST for Your Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Your daughter's JEE Main rank of 63,836 falls well outside the General closing ranks for CSE (top NITs close under 25,000, IIITs under 40,000 GFTIs under 60,000) but is within reach for ECE or EEE in select CSAB-participating institutes. NIT Nagaland’s ECE closed around 83,000 and EEE around 90,000 in 2024, making ECE at NIT Nagaland a viable CSAB option, while CSE remains out of reach. GFTIs such as Central Institute of Technology Kokrajhar admit CSE applicants up to rank 150,500 and ECE to 205,678, and Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) closed CSE at 87,826 and ECE at 137,220, offering solid CSAB opportunities in both branches. Assam University Silchar also allowed CSE up to 98,880 and ECE to 144,200, with robust infrastructure and 65–75% placements. Pursue CSAB seats in ECE at NIT Nagaland or in CSE/ECE at CIT Kokrajhar, CURAJ, or Assam University Silchar, as they align with her JEE rank, offer recognized degrees, and maintain 65–90% placement rates, while keeping 2-3 more back-ups of Private Engineering Colleges also. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Archana Madam, Her JEE Main rank of 63,836 falls well outside the General closing ranks for CSE (top NITs close under 25,000, IIITs under 40,000 GFTIs under 60,000) but is within reach for ECE or EEE in select CSAB-participating institutes. NIT Nagaland’s ECE closed around 83,000 and EEE around 90,000 in 2024, making ECE at NIT Nagaland a viable CSAB option, while CSE remains out of reach. GFTIs such as Central Institute of Technology Kokrajhar admit CSE applicants up to rank 150,500 and ECE to 205,678, and Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) closed CSE at 87,826 and ECE at 137,220, offering solid CSAB opportunities in both branches. Assam University Silchar also allowed CSE up to 98,880 and ECE to 144,200, with robust infrastructure and 65–75% placements. ANITS Vizag’s BTech in CSE-Cybersecurity (AP EAPCET rank ~10,000) provides a strong alternative, boasting a 95% departmental placement rate and 50 recruiter partnerships over the last three years, but it carries higher private-college fees and lower national brand value.

Recommendation: Pursue CSAB seats in ECE at NIT Nagaland or in CSE/ECE at CIT Kokrajhar, CURAJ, or Assam University Silchar, as they align with her JEE rank, offer recognized degrees, and maintain 65–90% placement rates, while keeping the ANITS CSE-Cybersecurity seat as a dependable backup. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Ashish Sir, With an OBC-NCL home-state closing rank around 6,426 for MNIT Jaipur CSE and 15,987 for MNIT Jaipur ECE in CSAB 2025 your son’s OBC-NCL rank of 24,030 (CRL 77,377) falls well outside these cutoffs, making admission to NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs for CSE, IT, or ECE highly improbable under CSAB special rounds. Even branches with higher cutoffs, such as CSE at NIT Agartala (OBC-NCL around 48,000–55,000), would require competing in other-state quotas, which is not applicable for Rajasthan Home State candidates. Given these constraints, pursuing seats at reputable private engineering colleges offers the best pathway. Institutions such as Amity University Jaipur and Manipal University Jaipur in Rajasthan, and NIIT University Neemrana, JECRC University Jaipur, Galgotias University Greater Noida, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology Noida, Sharda University Greater Noida, Graphic Era University Dehradun, Chandigarh University Mohali, Chitkara University Rajpura, DIT University Dehradun, and GLA University Mathura in Northern India, all accept JEE Main ranks in the 70,000–80,000 range and maintain robust industry connections, modern infrastructure, consistent placement rates above 80%, and comprehensive student support mechanisms. These colleges align with critical criteria—academic excellence, research and innovation, student inclusivity, industry engagement, and alumni networks—ensuring strong career prospects in CSE, IT, and ECE domains without relying on CSAB allotments, though you can still try getting admission through CSAB.

Recommendation: Explore private engineering colleges such as Amity University Jaipur and Manipal University Jaipur in Rajasthan, and the listed Northern India institutions for secure admission into CSE, IT, or ECE, as CSAB options are not feasible at your son’s current rank. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Talk to a lot of girls and you'll find one.