https://preview.redd.it/0sw8sgl8789h1.png?width=624&format=png&auto=webp&s=7995a9d587dfbc6fd7bfe4879718eb3e7e1b6571

Hey seniors, I’m in a massive dilemma and need some brutal honesty.

I messed up my boards (~50+%, not PCM specific) but got 70+ percentile in MHT-CET. I absolutely want to avoid SPPU-affiliated colleges because I can't stand their rigid exam patterns and evaluation system. I am looking strictly at private autonomous institutes in/around Pune, but I am stuck between two completely different paths:

Option 1: 4-Year B.Sc. in AI

• College: A solid, reputable private autonomous institute (Think Tier 2.5, like SIT Pune or similar).
• The Catch: I have to stay in a hostel.
• Cost: ~3 Lakhs tuition + 2 Lakhs hostel/mess per year. Looking at around 5L/year (20L total).

Option 2: B.Tech in AI/ML or Data Science

• College: A Tier 3.5 to "Tier 69" private autonomous college (Think VU, DY Patil, or MIT-WPU).
• The Catch: It's local, so I stay at home as a day scholar.
• Cost: ~4.2 Lakhs tuition per year. Hostel cost is 0, so total is around 16.8L.

My Questions for the Seniors:

1. Is the B.Sc. "Upgraded" Pitch a Gimmick? These Tier 2.5 private colleges promise "industry exposure, project-based learning, and no ratta stuff." Is this actually true on the ground, or is it just fancy marketing to sell a B.Sc. degree at B.Tech prices?
2. Degree Value: Even with the 4-year NEP framework making B.Sc. valid for foreign masters, does the Indian IT industry still blindly favor a B.Tech from a lower-tier college over a B.Sc. from a slightly better institute?
3. Hostel vs. Day Scholar: Is it worth spending an extra 5 Lakhs total just for the "hostel life" and campus culture at a slightly better brand, or should I save the money, stay comfortable at home, and grind skills independently?

Any insights on placements, actual faculty quality, or curriculum flexibility at these specific types of Pune colleges would be a lifesaver. Thanks!