There is no differentiation or discriminitaion at CUSAT. Hostels are provided for everyone regardless of one being north Indian or not but the seats are limited to get accommodation in hostels because of a large number of North Indians in CUSAT. If you are a North Indian like my friend studying there, you may prefer to stay in private flats in and around campus. However, hostels are cheaper than flats but are well maintained no doubt.

The internet connection is provided free only in labs and libraries. In hostels and flats, private WiFi connections are preferred like Asianet etc. which are cheap and easily available.

As a North Indian student, if you stick to the rules and regulations, no harm or discrimination will take place. Anyhow, when you are away of your home state you will always feel like a sense of discrimination or so but such cases are everywhere. Here, the discrimination is not much and is negligible at a point it can be ignored.

Regarding the teachers they are all good overall, nothing so special. They will help in clearing your doubt and grievances. But according to my friend’s experience, most of the learning is done by you yourself and there is no much dependence on teachers. Students who get admission there are sound and intelligent enough to manage and study on their own, which is preferable.

At last, do not forget to check the placement history of the branch of SEO which you are about to join.

SOE CUSAT doesn’t have major drawbacks. In past, there have been strikes and complaints about hygiene-related issues. Students face problems because of political activities at times. In terms of academics, it's difficult to get good marks in internals. 

These are the common problems for CUSAT. These problems don’t create any major issues and the institute trying to overcome these drawbacks. 

One of my friends is from CUSAT SOE. I can provide his experience during his first year at the CUSAT hostel.

• For getting a hostel at CUSAT, you will need to fill an application form available on the website and submit it in the office.
• Earlier the hostels were allocated on the basis of seniority and your distance from the home. But now, you will be given a hostel on the basis of your CAT score and usually, first-year students are allocated first.
• You should make sure that you have submitted your application form before the start of your semesters.
• Although the CAT score is given the first preference, there are other factors like distance from your home state and your performance in academics.

In case you do not get a hostel then you can try outside hostels which are located nearby to the college.

Before making any decision, you need to check the key differences between the two:

CUSAT is a central government-funded university whereas SRM is a deemed university. While comparing both the universities is difficult, the CUSAT CAT is a very tough entrance exam somewhat closer to JEE Mains/Advance.

CUSAT has got only two campuses out of which SOE (School of Engineering) is considered to be the priority institution for the students aspiring admission in CUSAT and the curriculum is at par with IITs/NITs.

• The fees at CUSAT are quite affordable to middle-class groups whereas SRM is a bit costly.
• In CUSAT, other government reservations and relaxations are available for the socially weaker sections as compared to the private universities.
• The campus is fairly good with good facilities. Also, it isn’t really a spoon-feeding institution. Internship/industrial training at good MNCs is possible with student/faculty joint effort.
• Placements are also plausibly good with good remuneration if not so high.

SRM has comparatively more seats in different disciplines of UG level.

• It has a total of 6 campuses and one more has come up in Maharashtra in 2017.
• The campus is vast with good facilities and a cosmopolitan environment.
• Also, selected students get a chance to visit foreign universities under their Semester Abroad Programme and their placement records are interesting. The admission in SRM is based on the entrance merit/affordability of students.

Hence, the overall development of the students in Govt funded colleges, packages V/s the cost of study are the other parameters while selecting between a Govt University or a self-financed deemed university.

Your chances are pretty slim of getting to the main campus. But then you can always take a shot and go sit for the spot rounds that take place. Make sure you don’t miss that.

My friend get into the Mechanical branch even when he had a rank of 8000. It was even before the NRI quota was introduced. But as you may understand, this was just an exception in the odds. The competition gets tougher and tougher each year and with your rank, I am really worried you may not end up getting it.

But yes, a silver lining for you would be that you may stand a chance at their second campus and that too, for the IT branch. You have certain possibilities here.