Hey everyone, I'm a student currently in 12th (passing out in 2025) and I really need some honest guidance from seniors, working professionals, or anyone who's been through this path. My Situation: I'm currently in 12th class, and I'm expecting 80%+ marks I did not give JEE, and don't plan to I want to pursue BTech in CSE / AI / Data Science I come from a middle-class family, and my father cannot afford the fees I will need to take a 30 Lakh education loan (including tuition, hostel, etc.) I am 100% committed to working hard DSA, development, open-source, hackathons, internships whatever it takes to land a good job My Goal: Get placed with a 15 - 20 LPA+ package by the end of 4 years. I dont care about college fests or chill life. I just want the right environment and support where my hard work can pay off. The Option I'm Considering: Shiv Nadar University (SNU) Here's what I know so far. Pros: Excellent infrastructure & research-oriented faculty Good academic vibe (not too chill, not too toxic) Top students get good placements (15-25 LPA in some cases) Scholarships are possible if your marks are decent Cons: Average package is around 7 LPA Only a small % of students reach high packages 30 Lakh loan is a huge risk unless I hit the top My Questions: 1. Is SNU really worth a 30 Lakh loan if I give it my 100%. Are there any better private colleges (non-JEE) with stronger ROI? Should I consider dropping a year to give JEE / UGEE (IIIT-H) / other exams? 4. Has anyone actually made it big from SNU or similar colleges? Why This Matters: This is not just about me. My family's future depends on this decision. I can't afford to make a mistake. I'm not afraid of hard work I'm afraid of putting my all into the wrong place. Please drop any personal experiences, guidance, even harsh truths everything helps. Thanks a lot in advance! myquals