Your chances are pretty slim of getting to the main campus. But then you can always take a shot and go sit for the spot rounds that take place. Make sure you don’t miss that.

My friend get into the Mechanical branch even when he had a rank of 8000. It was even before the NRI quota was introduced. But as you may understand, this was just an exception in the odds. The competition gets tougher and tougher each year and with your rank, I am really worried you may not end up getting it.

But yes, a silver lining for you would be that you may stand a chance at their second campus and that too, for the IT branch. You have certain possibilities here.

Between IEM Kolkata and SOE CUSAT, the former is the better choice for CS. I have a few friends at IEM Kolkata so I can give you some information about their CS department.

Cutoff: In West Bengal, IEM is one of the oldest private engineering colleges. Despite being a private institute the opening and closing rank for CS at the institute is quite high. According to the trends in recent years, it is around 1500.

Placement:

• In terms of placements, it is one of the best institutes in Eastern India.
• Companies such as ARW, SAP Lab, Samsung, Directi, etc. recruit from the college.
• Other than that there also mass recruiters like TCS, Cognizant, CTS, etc.
• The big four companies such as Deloitte, KPMG also comes for the placement drive. Indian Navy also recruits from the campus every year.
• According to the recent trends, the highest CTC and average CTC is 4 LPA and 72 LPA respectively.

Coding Culture:

The campus has a great coding culture. In recent years many students cracked TCS CODE VITA. Also, two teams qualified for ACM ICPC for 2017-18 regional.

Entrepreneurship:

• IEM has a strong E-Cell that consistently performs well in all India business summit competitions.
• From 2007 till now around 15-16 start-up was created under the guidance of the E-Cell.
• If you have any start-up idea you will get the chance to present it in front of some of the best investors in the country and abroad such as VCs, Angel Investors, etc.

The college organizes various workshops and events regarding entrepreneurship regularly.

Fest:

IEM has two fests, i.e. Tech fest (Innovation) and Cultural Fest (IEMPACT), you will get a lot of exposure through these fests.

Considering all these factors it is safe to say that IEM Kolkata will be a great choice for a CS degree.

Before making any decision, you need to check the key differences between the two:

CUSAT is a central government-funded university whereas SRM is a deemed university. While comparing both the universities is difficult, the CUSAT CAT is a very tough entrance exam somewhat closer to JEE Mains/Advance.

CUSAT has got only two campuses out of which SOE (School of Engineering) is considered to be the priority institution for the students aspiring admission in CUSAT and the curriculum is at par with IITs/NITs.

• The fees at CUSAT are quite affordable to middle-class groups whereas SRM is a bit costly.
• In CUSAT, other government reservations and relaxations are available for the socially weaker sections as compared to the private universities.
• The campus is fairly good with good facilities. Also, it isn’t really a spoon-feeding institution. Internship/industrial training at good MNCs is possible with student/faculty joint effort.
• Placements are also plausibly good with good remuneration if not so high.

SRM has comparatively more seats in different disciplines of UG level.

• It has a total of 6 campuses and one more has come up in Maharashtra in 2017.
• The campus is vast with good facilities and a cosmopolitan environment.
• Also, selected students get a chance to visit foreign universities under their Semester Abroad Programme and their placement records are interesting. The admission in SRM is based on the entrance merit/affordability of students.

Hence, the overall development of the students in Govt funded colleges, packages V/s the cost of study are the other parameters while selecting between a Govt University or a self-financed deemed university.

One of my friends shared his experience of being a student of IT in SOE. His first choice was CS during registration but he was given IT due to his rank. Initially, he missed CS and remained worried about being in a different branch. But he finally understood that IT was better than CS. 

The following points are based on his experience at the campus:

• The faculty members at CS are very strict when compared to IT.
• The administration level is also managed at IT. You will experience a lot of hassle in CS even if you want a sign on any application.
• The syllabus of IT is comparatively better than CS.

• Speaking of IT & CS in SOE, there is also a difference in the way both these courses are managed by the faculties. Both have amazing and experienced faculties taking care of the subjects and therefore it will not be fair to prefer one over another. 
• This is naturally because of the difference in subjects both the branches have and a different approach is needed for the faculties to explain them to the students.

It is also suggested by many seniors and experienced friends that you take a closer and detailed look at the placements of every year for both these branches at CUSAT before taking the call. There is always a slight difference in the placement every year depending on the industrial, market requirements, and interests of the students. 

The following table shows the placement statistics for the 2020 academic year at CUSAT:

Getting in touch with the students, faculty, and college staff is a good way to understand both the branches better and closer. Remember that you should not completely rely on your friends’ or seniors’ opinionated suggestions.

If you are considering pursuing a BTech degree, you may be interested in learning about the pros and cons of studying at CUSAT. Here are some points to consider:

Pros:

• CUSAT is a government college, which means that the certificate value is higher compared to private colleges.
• The college has a history of regular strikes by different student unions, which can result in lots of holidays for students.
• The college fees are relatively lower compared to private colleges, which can be a significant advantage in the era of high tuition fees.
• The boys-to-girls ratio is very high, which can be advantageous for male students who are looking for a larger male community to socialize with.
• Since CUSAT is located in Kerala, there are thousands of spots to explore whenever students need a break from studying.
• People from both North and South India attend CUSAT, providing a place to make friends from all over India.
• CUSAT is located in a top-class city with a metro system, world-class malls, and other amenities.
• The college offers both Computer Science and Information Technology branches, providing students with two options for computer-related majors.
• The college is located near numerous beaches, providing a beautiful natural environment for students to enjoy.
• CUSAT has a culture of discussing points that need improvement, creating a space for students to voice their opinions and concerns.

Cons:

• Hostel accommodations are provided for all students, which may not be suitable for students who prefer living off-campus.
• The quality of faculties may vary, which can impact the learning experience for some students.
• The sports ground at CUSAT may not be large enough to accommodate all students interested in playing cricket or football.
• The attendance system can be strict, which may not suit all students.
• The infrastructure at CUSAT may not be as modern or advanced compared to other universities.

Studying at CUSAT has its advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the decision to pursue a BTech degree at CUSAT will depend on your individual preferences and needs.