Cochin University of Science and Technology - [CUSAT], Kochi

CUSAT exams are of 750 marks also the CUSAT CAT exam is hard to give. A score of 150 is considered an average score.

• Getting a score of 150 in CUSAT CAT exam will get you an approximate rank of around 6000 to 8000. Considering this, you will get a chance at the IT branch or some other core branch.
• It may also be possible that you may get into EEE or ECE although the chances of that happening are less but still not zero.
• These all choices will be for the second CUSAT campus during the real-time allotments.
• The trends in the spot allotments for the past few years show the same thing and students belonging to the general category benefit from it and get into some core branches.
• Having any kind of reservation will definitely bring you closer to being selected without a doubt.

Although one important thing to be noted is that this trend can change at any given day or any given time because the majority of the students are keeping an eye out for CUSAT due to the KTU not working properly so this, in turn, will cause the admission process to hamper up.

The spot rounds of allotments in CUSAT have proven to be of more help in this situation. So it is advised to visit all the spot allotments of CUSAT. In the previous year, students with 10,000-13,000 rank got admitted in the final spot allotment during the beginning of first-year classes.

One of my friends is from CUSAT. I have gathered some facts about spot admission and real-time admission from him. So I will be sharing these which might help you answer your question.

• There will be a few rounds of counseling, and all seats will be filled according to rank, reservation, and other factors.
• Certain vacancies will arise as a result of certain candidates failing to pay fees/submit all required paperwork or canceling their admission to enroll elsewhere.
• These positions are filled through Spot admissions, in which all candidates in the rank list are invited to appear and select their preferred branch/campus if space is available.
• A few days before the date of Spot admission, the available positions are announced on the Internet.
• Real-time admission is a more dynamic approach in which vacated seats in spot admission are filled instantly from among those candidates who are physically present at the session and are ranked accordingly.

Remember one thing that there is no advance notice for vacant seats, and it is not uncommon for candidates who have already been admitted to particular branches to choose other branches/campuses.

CUSAT exams are of 750 marks also the CUSAT CAT exam is hard to give. Here’s what I got to know from some of my friends studying at CUSAT.

• In the trial allotment rank, 400 means a lot considering this approx number you will get a chance for being selected in the IT branch or some other core branch.
• It may also be possible that you may get into EEE or ECE although the chances of that happening are average but not impossible.
• You can be sure that you won’t get a CS branch.
• These choices will be for the second CUSAT campus during the real-time allotments.

CSE is the most sought out branch in CUSAT in both of the campuses, therefore a 400 waitlist opportunity will take a long time to come to you. Even if it does, the CSE seats would be filled for both campuses in the general category. With a reservation, you may still have luck finding yourself a chance to get the CSE seats in spite of the waiting list.

You can perhaps try out all the branches as well as the counseling rounds. In case your bad luck does not allow you to secure any other option anywhere else, try and give the spot rounds a shot. Do not underestimate them.

Apart from that, try to go for the NRI quota and then grab your admission seat. But the NRI seat comes with a very heavy price to pay. It is very expensive. I believe you may get a seat in EC but predicting a branch, in particular, would be a little too much as each year, the rush with almost every branch is pretty intense.

Food will not be an issue at CUSAT. The food you will get at the mess of CUSAT is similar to that of any other engineering colleges in India.

The food provided at the campus is great. But it is Kerala food. If you are from North India and habituated to the type of Noth-Indian food, you may have difficulty in adjusting. Since the food at the mess is prepared in coconut oil. If you are opting for a hostel you have to choose the mess facilities too. But it is not as bad as it sounds, and you can survive and adjust with time. 

You can get Noth-Indian Food by tiffin service too. You can also find many Bihari and Bengali cooks in the vicinity of the campus. There are also a few North-Indian messes near the college. In case you are staying in a rented flat or room, it would be better to hire a cook. 

It may take some time to adjust but you can definitely survive on the food available at CUSA. So, do not treat food as a deciding parameter for not choosing CUSAT.

If you are one of those lucky ones who have gotten their admission in it and are excitedly looking forward to being a part of the campus and everything that it has to offer, you’ve come to the right place. There are a number of student clubs or associations that you might want to be a part of once you are onboard.

Here’s a quick look at all the interesting and must attend clubs while you are at CUSAT:

ACES:

• The most happening club out there is this one. ACES is run totally by students of the CS department and they have successfully ensured that the club is kept active and running at all times. 
• They are also known to have several technical sessions regularly and all the IT or technical geeks here at the campus are delightfully keeping the club dynamically functional.

ECSA:

• Short for, Electronics & Communication Students Association, this club primarily focuses on the EC department and is also run by EC students. 
• Quite a popular association and also a favorite of many. It’s recommended to be an active member of this club if the branch EC interests you.

MERAKI 7:

• This is another tech stuff where lots of stirring and nerd activities and events take place. 
• A motivational and stirring place to be on campus for all tech-lovers!

Apart from the clubs mentioned above, there’s InnovaDen that has everybody’s hearts. It is basically a co-working space for like-minded students who are interested in technical studies and might wish to pursue them further.

There are other IT associations that have been recently started at the campus. You can look forward to joining them as well.

There are multiple options to choose from when it comes to choosing the right engineering college under CUSAT, the fact that it’s got an amazing campus is a bonus. It is a good place for anybody who wishes to cultivate learning and is passionate enough to go through the engineering training programs. 

Some of the most well-known and popular colleges under CUSAT are:

• Model Engineering college
• School of Engineering
• University of petroleum and energy studies
• MG College of Engineering
• Sarabhai Institute of Science and Technology
• KVM College of Engineering & Technology

All these colleges that fall under CUSAT are known to bring out the true colors of every student. The campus life of CUSAT colleges is too much fun and a memory for a lifetime. This is true not just for the local students but also for the non-Keralite students.

Although, it must be noted by anyone who is considering an admission under CUSAT that all these colleges are well-known for different things. For instance, the Model Engineering College is known for its academic performance, and the School of Engineering is loved by all for its sports. The placements at the School of Engineering and Model engineering college are both equally sorted and appreciated.

All these colleges have a lot to offer apart from the courses and academics. Living at the campus, enjoying the little famous things around the town, food joints that’ll eventually become your favorite things to do while on campus- all this combined is an experience to cherish for a lifetime.

The worth of a college does not depend on which state you belong to. It's up to you to make your time at the college worthwhile. 

No matter which college or university you are in, they all have almost the same structure of syllabus and you have to study by yourself. If you do not have many options for college, you can choose an institute with a decent rank and low course fee. 

Let’s take a look at some of the parameters to study in CUSAT.

Pros:

• CUSAT is not that costly if compared to other colleges. 
• Since the institute is in Cochin, you can learn a different language. 
• CUSAT offers several other departments like Foreign Language, Hindi, Economics, Legal Studies, social science, and Management. These departments offer short courses. If you want you can learn new skills from such courses and participate in departmental events. 
• The living cost in Kerala is lower than in many states of India. There is also less distraction as compared to cities like Delhi and Bangalore.
• There is an Incubation center that promotes Entrepreneurs.
• You can earn while studying. There are many start-ups, also you can give tuitions. You won’t have to ask for money from your parents. Many of my friends did the same. 
• You can go on trips and participate in games in your spare time. 

Cons:

• Because of the different culture and language, sometimes you may feel alienated from others. 
• According to student reviews, sometimes the professors can be biased. 
• The placement of the college is average.
• If you neglect studies, you have to go through rough times dealing with arrears and drops.
• You won’t be able to go home easily on vacations as it is too expensive.
• It is not a student-friendly college. 

So ultimately, it all rolls down to how you use the opportunity. No matter which college you go in, if you want to learn new things and stay proactive, you can surely make the best of your days at the college. So, work hard and try to score well.