Dear Sir,
I read about mentors in your column.
I did not know about this.
Can you please explain who is a mentor and how they can help your career?
Does every job need a mentor?
Thank you,
Gurvinder

Ans: can you please repeat your question

Ans: Ishaan, With a SRMJEEE rank of 3064 in Phase 3, securing CSE with Software Engineering specialization at SRM KTR campus is challenging but not impossible. The expected cutoff for CSE at KTR typically ranges from 2000-5000 ranks, with specializations like Software Engineering often having slightly higher cutoffs than core CSE. Your rank falls within the borderline range, making admission dependent on seat availability and choice filling strategy. The institute maintains NAAC A++ accreditation with modern AI/ML labs, dedicated cybersecurity facilities, and strong industry partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Over 900 companies participate in campus placements with 80-90% placement consistency, and the Career Centre provides comprehensive pre-placement training and aptitude development. SRMJEEE counselling operates through online choice filling until July 12, 2025, with seat allotment results on July 15, and importantly, participation in Phase 3 counselling does not close opportunities for alternative options—you can explore other campuses like Ramapuram or Vadapalani which accept ranks up to 65,000 for CSE programs.

Recommendation: Actively participate in Phase 3 choice filling with CSE Software Engineering at KTR as first preference while including backup options like CSE at Ramapuram campus and other SRM campuses. The counselling process allows multiple rounds and alternative choices, ensuring you maintain admission opportunities even if your primary choice is not immediately available. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Shikha Madam, With a BITSAT score of 262, your son falls below the expected Electronics & Electrical Engineering cutoff of 274–276 marks at BITS Hyderabad’s campus in Iteration 1, making an upgrade in Iteration 2 highly unlikely. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Most states conduct their own CET exams? Which state's CET are you referring to?

Ans: Bhavya, is this your 2nd or 3rd question today? Pimpri Chinchwad University’s B.Tech CSE programme, governed by AICTE, UGC and ABET-aligned NBA criteria, delivers an NEP-2020 outcome-based curriculum with strong emphasis on AI, cybersecurity and software engineering, supported by state-of-the-art labs, live industry projects in Pune’s tech corridor, a 10-acre residential campus and an active placement cell forging ties with Infosys, TCS and Cognizant. BIT Mesra Jaipur Off-Campus operates under BIT Mesra’s academic umbrella, following identical curriculum, faculty mentorship and examination standards, with IIT-level computing and networking facilities, e-library resources and a placement cell achieving around 70% CSE branch-wise placement consistency over the last three years and marquee recruiters including Microsoft and Directi. JK Lakshmipat University’s NAAC ‘A’-accredited B.Tech CSE offers specializations in AI/ML, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity; integrates six-week and semester-long practice schools; includes industry collaborations for internships, modern AI and cybersecurity labs, and dedicated soft-skills training. Each institution provides experienced PhD faculty, accreditation assurance, hands-on infrastructure, and industry linkages, differing in campus environment, cohort size and brand legacy.
Prioritize BIT Mesra Jaipur CSE for consistent CSE recruitment and main-campus curriculum rigor; choose PCU Pune CSE for its robust NBA-ABET alignment, metropolitan industry exposure, and outcome-based design; opt for JKLU Jaipur CSE if specialized AI/ML tracks and immersive Practice School programs align with your career goals. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Assuming 1 475 103 candidates appeared in JEE Main 2025 across both sessions and that exactly 10% of them (147 510) belong to the EWS category, an aspirant at the 97.2751488 percentile among EWS candidates would rank approximately 4 021 in the EWS category (i.e. 2.72485% of 147 510 + 1). Every year it varies which you please note depending upon the number of candidates appear, difficulty level, session etc.

Ans: Maneesh Sir, With a JEE Main rank of 60 206 (General) from Kolkata, admission into top-tier NITs and IIITs for core branches is unlikely, but numerous government and private engineering colleges remain fully accessible. Government institutes where closing ranks for various B.Tech programmes exceed 60 206 include NIT Agartala (Civil), NIT Meghalaya (EEE), NIT Mizoram (Mechanical), NIT Manipur (Civil), NIT Sikkim (Mechanical), NIT Puducherry (Civil), NIT Arunachal Pradesh (Biotechnology), IIIT Kalyani (CSE), IIIT Kottayam (ECE), IIIT Ranchi (CSE), IIIT Nagpur (ECE), NIT Uttarakhand (Civil), NIT Goa (EEE), NIT Manipur (ECE), NIT Sikkim (ECE), GFTI BIT Deoghar off-campus (CSE), IIIT Bhagalpur (CSE), IIIT Dharwad (CSE), IIIT Manipur (CSE), and IIIT Raichur (Mathematics & Computing). Leading private universities with open JEE Main cutoffs below 60 206 encompass VIT Vellore, SRM Chennai, Manipal Institute of Technology, Thapar University Patiala, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore, KIIT Bhubaneswar, SASTRA Thanjavur, Lovely Professional University, Amity Noida, and Chandigarh University accepting JEE Main scores.

Recommendation: Focus on securing seats at government institutes like NIT Agartala or IIIT Kalyani for affordable, accredited education and stable funding; alternatively, choose VIT Vellore or SRM Chennai for world-class infrastructure, industry-aligned curricula, and strong placement cells, aligning with long-term career aspirations. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: BMS College of Engineering’s Electrical & Electronics programme (NAAC A++ and NBA-accredited) features specialized power-electronics, control-systems and renewable-energy labs, a dedicated Research & Development centre, and 80–90% branch-wise placement consistency over the past three years. However, its KCET closing rank for EEE under the General quota was 5 466 in the final round, making admission unlikely with a rank of 11 790. Bangalore Institute of Technology’s NAAC A+–accredited Electronics & Communication Engineering offers VLSI and embedded-systems labs, Practice School internships and 85% placement consistency, with a KCET cutoff of 9 785 in Round 4. BIT’s IoT & Cybersecurity programme combines sensor-network and blockchain labs, active industry partnerships and 80% placements, closing at 8 628 in Round 4. The Information Science & Engineering stream provides advanced networking and AI labs, 88% placement consistency, and a Round 4 cutoff of 7 092.

Recommendation: Given the rank constraints, recommendation is to choose BIT’s IoT & Cybersecurity specialisation for its cutting-edge infrastructure and strong placement consistency; alternatively, opt for BIT Electronics & Communication if higher intake flexibility is available in early counselling rounds. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Bhavya, JK Lakshmipat University Jaipur’s BTech CSE program, a UGC-recognised private institution established in 2011, holds NAAC ‘A’ accreditation and DSIR-SIRO status, offers interdisciplinary macro-credit courses, state-of-the-art AI/ML and networking labs, and a student mobility scheme with top IITs. Its dedicated placement cell achieved 100% placement assistance in 2024 with an average package of ?7.4 LPA and highest of ?22.5 LPA over three years (75–100% branch-wise consistency). BIT Mesra Jaipur off-campus CSE, under BIT Mesra Ranchi’s academic umbrella, follows AICTE norms, features IIT-level computing and research labs, experienced PhD faculty, and records ~70% CSE placement consistency with average packages of ?8–10 LPA and peaks up to ?30 LPA.

Recommendation: Given its stronger placement consistency, higher branch-wise placement rates, robust accreditation, and interdisciplinary curriculum with global student mobility, the recommendation is to choose JK Lakshmipat University Jaipur CSE; BIT Mesra Jaipur CSE is a credible alternative for those valuing main-campus brand alignment and slightly higher average packages. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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