Top rankers opt for Tamil BE courses

Chennai: Students with cut-off marks as high as 198.25 have chosen Tamil medium courses in Anna University this year.  With just five days into the engineering counselling, the Tamil medium civil and mechanical engineering seats in Anna University almost got filled up with around 100 students who have cut-off marks above 190 have selected these courses.

Only nine seats are still vacant under SC (A), SC and ST categories at the university as on Thursday. S.M. Mukesh, one of the top rankers with 198.25 cut-off marks have chosen mechanical engineering (Tamil) at College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG). “I am interested in studying mechanical course at CEG. When I went for the counselling only chemical engineering seats were vacant. So, I chose the mechanical (Tamil) course,” he said.

He has scored 1,171 out of 1,200 marks. He also got the medical cut-off of 196.75 and his Neet score is 253. “Studying at Anna University campus has its own advantages like the student can choose his teachers and courses from the second semester,” he said.

G. Jayashree, another student from Dharmapuri district has chosen civil engineering (Tamil). She has got the cut-off of 197.5 marks out of 200.

She has chosen the civil engineering course as per the advice of one of her relatives. “Tamil medium students can write their exams in either Tamil
or English. The question papers will have questions in both the languages. The mark sheets will not have any mention of their medium of instruction,” a professor from Anna University said.

“Along with other students, the Tamil medium students will sit for the placement interviews. They are getting placements at the core companies,” he said.
 Some of the students chose to pursue post-graduation at the University itself. These students also get the reservation in government jobs as well.   

Last year, students who have secured 193 chose the Tamil medium course. But, this year the students who have got 198.25 cut-off marks have joined the Tamil B.E. courses.

“Students with higher cut-off marks for medical courses also have joined engineering courses. Since the engineering counselling is being held ahead of medical counselling, the students with higher cut-off marks also could not get admission in CEG this year,” a source said.