Analyzer Guide

Detailed Instructions and Cutoff Rules Explained

I. STEP-BY-STEP USAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Select Academic Year

Choose the historical admission cycle year. Checking the latest year (e.g. 2025) yields the most accurate depiction of recent trends, but comparing older years helps identify long-term percentile patterns.

Step 2: Choose CAP Rounds

Centralized Admission Process (CAP) rounds occur sequentially. You can select specific rounds to see cutoff ranks, or select all rounds to evaluate how threshold requirements fall in later stages.

Step 3: Enter Scores & Ranks

Select your exam type (MHT-CET PCM, MHT-CET PCB, JEE Main, or NEET) and input your score. Enter either your 7-decimal percentile score (e.g. 98.4561234) or your State General Merit Rank, or both. The system will use your percentile to calculate probabilities.

Step 4: Select Your Home University (HU)

Specify the local university area where you completed your HSC (12th) Board examination (e.g., SPPU for Pune, MU for Mumbai). This dictates Home University quota eligibility.

Step 5: Apply Refined Filters & Search

Refine by college type (Un-Aided, Govt Autonomous), university affiliation, specific institutions, branch codes (e.g. Computer Engineering), and seat quotas. Then click "Search Results".

II. UNDERSTANDING QUOTAS & SEAT TYPES

Maharashtra admissions use regional reservations. Learning these abbreviations will help you optimize your choices:

Home University (HU) Quota

Applies to local district candidates. Under CAP norms, regional non-autonomous colleges reserve 70% of seats for Home University (HU) area students. Cutoffs are typically lower than for OHU candidates.

Other than Home University (OHU)

Applies to candidates applying to colleges located outside their home district. 30% of seats in regional colleges are reserved under this quota. Thresholds are generally higher.

State Level (SL) Allocation

Government Colleges, University Departments, and Autonomous Institutes (e.g. COEP, VJTI) do not have regional quotas. They allocate seats on a State Level (SL) basis to all candidates of Maharashtra.

All India (AI) Quota

Allocated based on JEE Main scores instead of MHT-CET percentiles. Open to candidates from all states of India.

TFWS (Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme)

A highly sought-after merit category where selected candidates pay zero tuition fees. Limited to 5% of seats in every branch. TFWS branches have distinct choice codes ending in "T" (e.g. choice code 627124510 becomes 62712451T). Cutoff percentiles for TFWS are highly competitive.

III. VISUAL COLOR CODING EXPLAINED

To help you scan search results instantly, MahaCutoffs colors cells based on your eligibility:

★ Highest Match Green: You meet the cutoff score for this seat type, and it represents the most competitive, highly-ranked seat category you qualify for in this branch. Focus on this value.
✓ Applicable Yellow: You qualify for this category (your score meets or exceeds the cutoff), but it is not the most competitive seat option available to you in this college/branch.
▼ Lowest Match Orange: You meet the cutoff score for this seat type, and it represents the floor cutoff (the lowest qualified threshold score) among the seats you selected or are eligible for in this college/branch.
✗ Not Applicable Red & Strikethrough: You do not qualify for this seat category because your score falls below the cutoff, or you are ineligible due to Home University region mismatch.

IV. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: What happens if I input both percentile and rank?

The analyzer uses your percentile to verify eligibility and sort colleges. If percentiles match, the rank is evaluated as a secondary parameter to ensure accurate prediction matching.

Q: How does side-by-side comparison work?

Checkbox up to 5 colleges from the search results table or card list. Click the "Compare" bar at the bottom. A side-by-side technical matrix loads, displaying college codes, affiliations, rounds, and color-coded cutoffs for safe planning.