“Deemed universities have caught up over the last few years. I am hoping my son gets into SRM or VIT merit list so that he doesn't have to wait for the single window counselling,” he says, waiting for this son to come out, after writing the SRM entrance on Sunday.

“There is little that CBSE students can choose from. Very few of them make it to the government engineering colleges through counselling. For those who cannot afford management seats, merit lists at deemed university remain the best option,” says K.G. Pushkar, a parent. Deemed universities assert there is at least a 20 per cent increase in the number of applications received in 2012 when compared to last year.

“But what if you don't get through AIEEE? This thought worries us and therefore, we feel securing a seat in a deemed university is the safest bet, especially if you are a CBSE student,” says Karun Padmanabhan, a class XII student.

V. Rhymend Uthariaraj, secretary, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions, has urged parents and students to be patient because there are nearly 1.6 Lakh B. Tech/ B.E. seats available under the single window system across the State. There are 525 engineering colleges under the Anna University in Tamil Nadu. “If a student applies for counselling inAnnaUniversity, he will definitely get a seat,” Mr. Uthariaraj says.

But parents are not satisfied with just any college seat. “It takes nearly five years for a college to have a good mechanical laboratory. The new colleges go for courses that do not need much investment. I want my son to get the best,” says R. Swaminathan, a parent.