The students of MNNIT Allahabad successfully clear GATE/ESE through their hard work and dedication. 

Here are my observations in this matter-

1. Such students support each other. No one is good at every topic, so they seek help from their friends, whenever needed.
2. They spend long hours self studying. I’ve personally witnessed some students study for long hours (with regular breaks in between) in the college library.
3. They maintain good connections with the faculty members, and seek their guidance from time to time.
4. They re-energize themselves by spending quality time with friends, and engaging in fun activities. 

As much as I have observed, it is their discipline and a planned routine that helps such students excel in their life.

Let me share my friend’s experience when he also faced similar doubts. Getting a call and converting are different things. Your chances of getting into the top IIMs are low. If you secure 99+, you are still able to be in the competition.

• You need to have at least 2-3 years of work experience. 
• For IIM ABC, you need 99.5+ to get a call while for IIM L, 99+ should be enough to get a call.
• FMS requires a score of 99.6 or higher because academics are given little weightage. It can be beneficial because it can supplement your academic profile. 
• A high CAT score can help you compete with the 998 standard candidates.
• For XLRI your academic score is on par and for a BM or HR call, I would advise you to target 96+ percentile.

Besides, GD-PI performance will always be beneficial and if you are selected, work experience can be extremely helpful in terms of job placement. 

You can also apply for MDI and SP Jain as they are also very good institutes.

The preparation strategy of CAT and XAT are more or less similar but have some differences too. Since my friend has already prepared for CAT, the points below are important for the preparation of XAT. 

• One of the major reasons for you to score well in CAT but unable to succeed in XAT is decision making. For this purpose, you need to get soft copies of GMAT papers (official) and prepare the critical reasoning.
• The grammar questions of XAT are more difficult than those of CAT.
• In Quantitative aptitude, the major concern is the selection of questions. Unlike CAT, the cut-offs of XAT are also low. So, you must judge which question to attempt and which one to leave, because accuracy is important.
• Attempting several mock tests and solving the previous year's papers would help a lot. An overall percentage of about 40% would fetch a 98 percentile in XAT.
• Having classified general knowledge is beneficial.
• For the essay part, you need to practice thinking, at least two to three points instantly, as there is a shortage in time. But, as it is not considered in the percentile, it can be taken a little lightly.

These are some of the most important preparation tips for XAT. For XLRI, the cut-off percentile for HR is about 93 and that of BM is around 96. You should aim for a 98+ percentile score, which has a good enough weightage. A greater percentile always has more chances for the call to get converted.

The engineering degree that you get after completing 4 years in college will not help in your occupation in anyways. But the type of college from which you get this engineering degree will definitely help you in getting a better job. Candidates with the tag of IITs are considered over the candidates from other engineering colleges. The reputation of IITs is not only high in India but all around the globe. 

There are many factors based on which one can decide which is better IIT or BITS. A few points to consider includes the following.

Comparison: 

• At BITS, you get more dynamic opportunities for extra and co-curricular activities.
• There are no mandatory admission criteria as in IITs. You must follow the 75-80% attendance rule in IITs. However, this is not the case for BITS, you can attend the classes as per your choice.

• The faculty at BITS are less experienced than faculties at IITs. At IITs, the faculty must have a degree in IIT to become an educator. Due to these criteria, the faculty of IITs are way better than BITS.
• BITS is not as academic-oriented as IITs. At IITs, you will also have a better peer group. 
• The facilities and equipment provided at IITs are better than BITS. Being a government college, there is no shortage of funds at IITs. The institute has world-class facilities that will provide you better learning and living. 

• As most of the IITs work along with the industry, being an IITian, you will get a closer outlook of the industry. 

IITs are definitely the best engineering institute in the country. The IIT tag you get along with your degree also offers certain advantages. The rest is up to you.