Should I quit my job at 36 and start a business, or try for a banking operations job?

Ans: Deepan, Register for AEEE 2025 immediately to maximize admission prospects, as your 91.3 JEE percentile provides borderline chances for EEE but challenging prospects for ECE, while AEEE offers significantly better admission opportunities for both branches at Amrita CBE campus. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Khushi, Your choice between VIT Bhopal CS AI-ML Category 1, Cambridge Institute of Technology CSE, and KLS Gogte Institute of Technology CSE presents distinct advantages with varying career prospects and cost implications. VIT Bhopal demonstrates strong placement performance with 87% overall placement rate in 2024, achieving 8,195 job offers from 820 recruiters including Microsoft, Amazon, PayPal, and Qualcomm. The AI-ML specialization shows promising prospects with over 90% CSE AIML placement rates and packages ranging from 3.5 LPA to 59 LPA. Cambridge Institute of Technology achieves superior placement statistics with 95% overall placement rate, placing 557 undergraduate students with median packages of 7.20 LPA and highest packages reaching 53.50 LPA through 200+ recruiters including Capgemini, Amazon, Wipro, and Infosys. KLS Gogte Institute demonstrates moderate performance with 75% overall placement rate, placing 539 students with 6.54 LPA average packages and 51 LPA highest packages from 70+ companies including TCS, Infosys, Microsoft, and Samsung. VIT Bhopal Category 1 requires approximately INR 7.95 lakhs total fees for four years including 1.98 lakhs annually, while Cambridge Institute Technology CSE costs INR 6 lakhs total and KLS Gogte Institute CSE requires INR 4.50 lakhs total fees. The AI-ML market demonstrates exceptional growth with 2025 promising significant opportunities in specialized roles, while traditional CSE provides broader career flexibility across software development sectors. Recommendation: Choose Cambridge Institute of Technology CSE for its superior 95% placement consistency, cost-effectiveness at INR 6 lakhs total fees, strategic Bangalore location advantages, and proven track record with established industry connections, offering optimal balance between placement success and educational investment. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Your choice between VIT Vellore CSE Core Category 5 and MSRIT Computer Science specialization in Data Science or AI ML presents distinct advantages with varying cost implications and career prospects . VIT Vellore Category 5 requires approximately INR 3.98-4.32 lakhs annually, totaling around INR 15.8-17.3 lakhs for four years including hostel expenses, while demonstrating exceptional placement performance with 7,526 students placed in 2024 and achieving 80-90% CSE placement rates with top recruiters including Microsoft, Amazon, PayPal, and Cisco . MSRIT demonstrates superior cost-effectiveness with total fees of INR 12.56 lakhs for four years, achieving 95% overall placement rate with 1,174 offers made by 239 companies in 2024, while AI ML specialization shows 80-90% placement rates with highest packages reaching 76 LPA in 2023 . The AI and data science market demonstrates exceptional growth potential with 2025 promising rebound in Indian IT hiring focusing on specialized AI/data science roles, creating significant opportunities for graduates with domain expertise . VIT offers superior infrastructure, brand recognition with NIRF ranking #11 in Engineering, and broader industry exposure, while MSRIT provides strategic Bangalore location advantages in India's IT hub with established local industry connections and significantly lower educational costs . Recommendation: Choose MSRIT Computer Science specialization in AI ML or Data Science for its exceptional cost-effectiveness at 25% lower total fees, strategic Bangalore location providing superior industry exposure, strong 95% placement record, and alignment with the rapidly expanding AI/data science job market projected to dominate 2025 hiring trends. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Your son faces a strategic choice between PES University Ring Road Campus for CSE AI ML and Manipal Institute of Technology Bangalore for core CSE, both offering distinct advantages with varying career prospects. PES RR Campus demonstrates strong overall placement performance with 83% BTech placement rate in 2023, placing 1,199 students with median package of INR 8 LPA, while maintaining consistent 87% placement rates in 2021-2022. The AI ML specialization at PES shows promising prospects with expected cutoff rank between 1750-1950 for general category, positioning it as a competitive program. MIT Manipal Bangalore achieves superior placement statistics with 77% placement rate in 2025, 73% in 2024, attracting 230+ recruiters including Amazon, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs. However, MIT Bangalore represents a newer campus with first batch graduating in 2027, creating uncertainty around established placement track records compared to the main Manipal campus. The AI ML market demonstrates exceptional growth with 36% increase in AI/ML roles across India in 2025, creating specialized opportunities for graduates with INR 20 million AI-related jobs expected by 2027. Core CSE provides broader career flexibility across software development, system design, and emerging technologies, while AI ML specialization offers focused expertise in rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sectors. PES RR Campus benefits from established infrastructure across 160+ acres with state-of-the-art facilities, research labs, and Ring Road location advantages, whereas MIT Bangalore leverages strategic Bengaluru location providing extensive industry exposure and internship opportunities with stipends ranging from 5k to 1.8L monthly. Recommendation: Choose MIT Manipal Bangalore CSE for its superior 77% placement consistency, strategic location in India's Silicon Valley, established institutional reputation, and broader career flexibility, despite PES RR's specialized AI ML program, as core CSE provides better long-term adaptability while allowing later specialization in AI through certifications and experience. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Which Branch?

Ans: With your JEE Main CRL rank of 81,800 and OBC rank of 25,500, along with JEE Advanced rank of 28,000, your admission prospects vary significantly across different institutions and counselling processes . Your OBC rank of 25,500 eliminates chances for admission to premier NITs, as most require OBC ranks below 15,000-20,000 for competitive branches, with even newer NITs like NIT Agartala accepting up to rank 20,298 for CSE through OS quota . For IIITs through JOSAA counselling, your JEE Advanced rank of 28,000 provides viable options at institutions like IIIT Kurnool (CSE OBC cutoff 8,337-11,049), IIIT Kancheepuram (general cutoff 26,000-28,000 for ECE), and IIIT Bhubaneswar (OBC cutoff 55,106-88,047) . Among your state college options, RGIPT Amethi demonstrates exceptional performance with 100% placement rate and median package of Rs 9 LPA for 4-year UG programs, while CSE achieves Rs 17.38 LPA average package . HBTU Kanpur shows strong placement statistics with 85.6% overall placement rate and 32 LPA highest package, though electrical (62 offers) and mechanical (65 offers) branches maintain good placement numbers . MMMUT Gorakhpur CSE offers 657 placements for 4-year graduates with Rs 11.55 LPA median package . UIET Chandigarh ECE achieves 58.8% placement rate compared to 86.8% for CSE . KNIT Sultanpur provides 70-80% placement rates for CSE and IT branches with average packages ranging 4-8 LPA . Recommendation: Choose RGIPT Amethi for its superior 100% placement rate and specialized petroleum engineering opportunities, while simultaneously participating in JOSAA and CSAB counselling for IIIT Kurnool CSE or IIIT Kancheepuram ECE as these offer better long-term career prospects in technology sectors despite state college limitations. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Saindeep, Your optimal strategy should prioritize Business Analytics as your major specialization combined with Finance as minor, positioning yourself for the rapidly expanding data-driven business environment while maintaining strong financial fundamentals. This combination leverages Thapar University's 83% placement rate and aligns with industry trends showing 25-35% compound annual growth in AI markets. Post-graduation, pursue MBA in Business Analytics and Big Data from LM Thapar School of Management to achieve 20-30 LPA targets, supported by their 24.81 LPA highest package record and strong industry connections. Supplement your degree with CFA or CA certifications during your B.Com years to enhance placement prospects and accelerate salary growth. This pathway capitalizes on the university's established placement network, growing analytics market demand, and proven track record of achieving high-value placements across consulting, finance, and technology sectors. Recommendation: Choose Business Analytics major with Finance minor, followed by MBA in Business Analytics from Thapar's management school, complemented by professional certifications to systematically achieve your 20-30 LPA career target through proven institutional strengths and market-aligned specializations. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: The fintech sector demonstrates exceptional growth potential with India's market projected to reach $17 billion by 2027 at 25-35% CAGR, creating specialized roles like fintech engineers earning $95,000-150,000 annually and AI specialists commanding 10-20% higher packages than traditional CSE roles . Core CSE maintains steady demand across software development, system architecture, and emerging technology sectors, providing broader career versatility but in increasingly saturated markets .

Your daughter faces a strategic choice between MIT Manipal's proven 77% placement record, exceptional campus life, established industry connections, and specialized fintech curriculum addressing India's explosive financial technology growth versus MIT Bangalore's core CSE flexibility and modern infrastructure. MIT Manipal CS Fintech offers specialized positioning in rapidly expanding markets worth $350 billion by 2025, superior placement consistency across three years, and unmatched campus experience, while MIT Bangalore provides broader academic freedom but uncertain placement outcomes. The fintech program's collaboration between Computer Science, Mathematics, and Management departments creates unique industry-ready graduates for banking, insurance, and capital markets sectors experiencing unprecedented digital transformation. Recommendation: Choose MIT Manipal CS Fintech for its proven 77% placement track record, specialized curriculum aligned with India's booming fintech sector projected at 25-35% CAGR, exceptional campus life experience, and strategic positioning in financial technology markets creating 2.3 million jobs by 2027, despite sacrificing core CSE flexibility. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: MIT Manipal CS Fintech demonstrates superior placement consistency with 77% rate in 2025 and established industry partnerships, while offering India's unique fintech specialization addressing the sector's 87% adoption rate and 1.8 lakh workforce demand . MIT Bangalore CSE provides traditional computer science foundation with excellent location advantages in India's tech hub, achieving 90-95% placement rates through centralized systems, though lacking historical placement data as a newer campus . The fintech sector's projected growth to $1,152.06 billion by 2032 and 12% placement share at MIT Manipal indicate strong career prospects for specialized graduates . MIT Bangalore's Bengaluru location offers superior internship opportunities and industry exposure, while MIT Manipal provides proven placement track record and established reputation . Recommendation: Choose MIT Manipal CS Fintech for its specialized curriculum addressing India's booming fintech market with 87% adoption rate, proven 77% placement record, and unique positioning in the rapidly expanding financial technology sector projected to reach $1,152.06 billion by 2032. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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