Navigating NIFT Admissions with Your Common Merit Rank

Navigating the NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) admissions process can be challenging, especially when your common merit rank (CMR) is just shy of the cutoff. However, with a CMR of 528 from B. F. Tech NIFT, you certainly have a chance of getting admitted, albeit possibly in the second round of counseling.

Your Chances of Admission

While a CMR of 531 guarantees you a seat in the NIFT program, your chances are still quite good with a CMR of 528. Typically, if you do not get selected in the first round, you will have a strong chance in the second round of counseling. The possible centers you could be allotted in the first and second rounds are as follows:

First Round Counseling

Patna Kannur

Second Round Counseling

Patna Kannur Kangra Bhubaneshwar

Remember, even if you do not get your preferred center in the first round, your chances are still good in the second round.

How to Improve Your Chances

If your CMR is 528, you still have a strong chance of getting admitted to NIFT. Here are some tips to improve your chances:

Attaining a Preferred Center in the First Round

Unfortunately, the probability of getting a top-ranked center is limited due to the limited number of seats per center for BfTech. However, Patna and Kannur are two of the highly preferred centers due to the IT industry support and better facilities. Be prepared for the possibility that you may not get a preferred center in the first round, but don't lose hope. You will still have opportunities in the second round.

General Category Candidates' Advantages

For general category candidates like yourself, there are still good chances of being admitted to NIFT. Last year, with a CMR of 462, I managed to get admitted in the first counseling round at NIFT Gandhinagar. If you also belong to the general category, your chances are indeed high. Even if you do not get your preferred campus in the first round, do not lose hope, as you may get it in the second round.

Understanding Course Preferences

It is important to know that the choice of streams is made well before you fill out the forms, and no changes are allowed in the later stages. I graduated from NIFT Mumbai in 2013, and despite my CMR of AIR 76, I could not secure my first preference of Delhi center. This demonstrates that all the older centers like Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata are highly competitive and fill up quickly. If you are not successful in the first counseling round, there is a good chance that you will be allotted a center in the second or subsequent rounds.

Considering Newer Centers

The newer centers of NIFT, while they do provide opportunities, it is crucial to find out about the centers that offer the course and the credibility of these newer centers before accepting a seat. The older centers like Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata have better IT industry support and are well-equipped for the course, which primarily focuses on exposure in both production and retail sectors. With 30-33 seats per center available for this course, your chances of getting a seat in the second round are still quite good.

Remember, staying positive and optimistic is crucial throughout the counseling process. All the best in your NIFT admissions journey!