Important Question for Any JEE aspirant - "What after JEE Mains?”
If I ask any engineering aspirant, “What is the most sought engineering exam for entry level?”, everyone will shout “JEE Mains & JEE Advanced” without any hesitation. Well, clearing JEE Mains means you have moved a step ahead towards getting admission in IIT/ NITs. But if I ask, “What after JEE Mains?”, as a JEE aspirant, you might not answer confidently till you get your JEE Mains result. For January exam, you already got your JEE Mains result, but you have to wait till May 2024, if you attempt JEE Main in April.
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In this blog post, we will explore the key response to a crucial query for every JEE aspirant: "What comes next after JEE Mains?"
Let’s come to the practical world!
• What if your JEE Mains score is low?
• What if your JEE Main Results did not meet the cut-off?
• What if, you have qualified for JEE Advanced?
Here we will look at different possibilities and answer the question ‘What after JEE Mains?”.
First of all, check the official answer key to calculate your estimated score. Just compare your answers with the answer key provided by different institutes. When you know your score, you can actually guess your rank. This actually will help you to make a decision early, if you should start preparing for JEE Advanced or make your mind for counseling or plan something else!
Your JEE Mains Results are Out!
Case 1:
If your JEE Mains score gets you ranked among the top 2,24,000 Candidates, then start preparing for JEE Advanced (May 26, 2024) without wasting time. These 2Lakh+ candidates will actually compete for 11k+ seats offered by the 23 IITs & 17K+ seats offered by the 31 NITs.
And not only just IITs or NITs, but also you can get a seat in IISc (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore), IISERs (Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research), and IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram) with your JEE Advanced score!
"Once your JEE Advanced results are available, you will be assigned seats in renowned engineering colleges through JoSAA counseling, which takes place in March for the January session and in June for the April session."
case 2:
"Although your JEE Mains Score didn't quite reach the cutoff, it might be disappointing. Remember, it's okay to feel down, but don't let it bring you into a state of depression." There are other good colleges accepting JEE Main Score too apart from NITs & IITs where you can pursue engineering and make a bright career. Just relax, stay positive and shortlist the good engineering colleges that accept the JEE Score. Apart from that, if there is time, just appear for state JEE exams where fetching a good score can help you get a seat in a govt. Engineering college.
Top Engineering Colleges other than IITs & NITs
Other than IIITs, NITs, IITs, and CFTIs there are many engineering entrance exam options that can get you a seat in a top engineering college. There are state-level & private engineering entrance exams through which you can grab a seat in one of the prestigious engineering institutes. Apart from JEE, appear in other engineering entrance examination to get advantage from a wide range of selection.
Various State-level Engineering Entrance Exam
Don’t think that these state-level examinations are easy or fetching a good score will not get you a good institute! If you think so, you are totally wrong. These state level entrance exams are an entry key to the best government engineering institutes and you will be preferred over other aspirants if you meet the domicile requirements.
There are some colleges in some states that consider JEE Main results, but it’s better to attempt state-entrance exam for a better opportunity!
So fill your form for the top state-level engineering entrance exam as a back-up plan.
| Entrance Exam | State | Tentative Application Deadline (2024) |
| AP EAMCET | Andhra Pradesh | March 27 |
| Assam CEE | Assam | March 30 |
| BCECE | Bihar | 1st week of April |
| CG PET | Chhattisgarh | April 7 |
| GCET | Goa | March 30 |
| GUJCET | Gujrat | Feb 16 |
| HPCET | Himachal Pradesh | April 28 |
| JEECE | Jharkhand | 3rd week of April |
| JKCET | Jammu and Kashmir | March 27 |
| KCET | Karnataka | March 20 |
| KEAM | Kerala | March 4 |
| MHT CET | Maharashtra | March 23 |
| TJEE | Tripura | Feb 10 |
| TS EAMCET | JNTU), Hyderabad | April 11 |
| UPSEE | Uttar Pradesh | March 25 |
| WBJEE | West Bengal | Jan 23 |
There are not only state-level exams but also some private engineering exams that can fulfill your engineering dream! Here is a list of all those exams through which you can get a seat in those private engineering colleges.
| Exam Name | College(s) where you can get admission | Times Conducted | Conducting Body |
| BITSAT | Birla Institute of Technology, And Science in Goa, Pilani, and Hyderabad | Once in a year | Birla Institute of Technology and Science |
| VITEEE | VIT’s Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal, and Amravati campuses. | same | Vellore Institute of Technology |
| KIITEE | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar | same | KIIT, Bhubaneshwar |
| SRMJEE | SRM Campuses in Kattankulathur, Ramapuram, Vadapalani and Ghaziabad campuses of SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | same | SRM University |
Before you choose any college to pursue your engineering dream, check the following criteria as there are a lot of engineering colleges in India but only some of them provide quality education.
So, What Should You Check Before You Pick A College?
Curriculum: Make sure the things you'll be learning match what the industry needs, and it's approved by a University.
Faculty: Check out the people who will be teaching you. Look at their qualifications and experience, and see how many students each teacher has to take care of.
Infrastructure: Infrastructure isn't just about big buildings. See if the college has modern equipment in labs, good computers, classrooms that fit everyone, recent books in the library, and more.
Reputation of The College: The college should be approved by NBA or NAAC. These are like quality certificates that show the college is good at teaching.
Placement Record: Finally, check the job placement record. See where students from the college get jobs, how much they get paid, and ask current and past students about their experiences. This will tell you if the college helps students get good jobs after they finish their studies.
Lastly, if your score is not good in JEE Mains, you may start thinking to drop a year and prepare for JEE Mains again! But, I would say that’s not at all a great idea to drop a year just for getting admission in JEE. Instead, enroll in a university or college and study engineering or science but again, dropping a year and prepare again for JEE-this is totally your choice based on the situation!
Conclusion
Navigating life after JEE Mains can be challenging. If your score is high, aiming for JEE Advanced opens doors to prestigious institutes. On the flip side, if your score falls short, numerous state-level exams offer alternative pathways to excellent engineering colleges. State exams like AP EAMCET, UPSEE, and WBJEE, among others, are valuable options. Private exams like BITSAT and VITEEE also lead to quality institutions. Ensure the college you choose aligns with your goals, checking factors like curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, reputation, and placement records. Dropping a year for JEE is an option, but consider it wisely based on your situation.
FAQs on What to do After JEE Main?
1. What do I do if my JEE Mains score is low?
Explore state-level exams like AP EAMCET, UPSEE, or WBJEE for alternative pathways to excellent engineering colleges.
2. Are there options for engineering studies other than IITs and NITs?
Yes, private exams like BITSAT and VITEEE, as well as state-level exams, offer opportunities in quality engineering institutions.
3. How can I assess the quality of a college before choosing it?
Consider factors like curriculum alignment, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, reputation, and placement records to evaluate a college's quality.
4. Is dropping a year to prepare for JEE a good idea?
Dropping a year is a personal choice; consider alternative paths like enrolling in a university or college based on your situation.
5. What exams should I consider for private engineering colleges?
For private institutions, exams like BITSAT, VITEEE, KIITEE, and SRMJEE are excellent options leading to reputable colleges.
