VITEEE 2026 Counselling Phase I Choice Filling Starts May 12; Key Mistakes to Avoid

The VITEEE 2026 counselling process for Phase I has officially started after the declaration of VITEEE results on May 8. Candidates securing ranks between 1 and 20,000 are now eligible to participate in the first phase of counselling and seat allotment.

According to the official schedule released by VIT, the VITEEE 2026 Phase I choice filling process will begin on May 12 and continue till May 13, 2026.

VITEEE 2026 Counselling Date

VIT has activated the counselling registration and fee payment process for eligible candidates. Students can check their ranks and counselling eligibility through the official portal using their application number and password.

VITEEE 2026 Choice Filling Process Explained

During the choice filling process, candidates will have to select their preferred:

• Campus
• Branch
• Fee category

Students are advised to carefully prioritise their choices before locking them. The seat allotment will depend on:

• VITEEE rank
• Availability of seats
• Choices filled by candidates

Understanding the VIT Fee Category System

One of the biggest mistakes students make during VITEEE counselling is misunderstanding the category system.

Each branch at VIT campuses is offered under multiple fee categories, generally ranging from Category 1 to Category 5.

• Category 1 has the lowest tuition fee
• Category 5 has the highest tuition fee

Candidates with ranks around 15,000 to 20,000 should avoid restricting themselves to only Category 1 seats, especially for highly competitive branches like Computer Science Engineering at VIT Vellore.

In previous years, CSE seats in lower fee categories at VIT Vellore closed within the top 1,000 to 1,500 ranks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During VITEEE 2026 Counselling

Filling Too Few Choices

Many candidates with good ranks fill only a few options during counselling. This increases the chances of not getting allotted any seat.

Students should ideally fill:

• Multiple campuses
• Different branches
• Several fee categories

Experts recommend filling at least 10 to 20 combinations to improve allotment chances.

Ignoring Alternate Campuses

Some candidates focus only on VIT Vellore and avoid considering campuses like Chennai, AP, or Bhopal. This may reduce the chances of securing preferred branches.

Locking Choices Without Reviewing

Candidates should carefully review all selected options before final submission. Once choices are locked, changes may not be possible.

Not Checking Branch Demand Trends

Popular branches such as CSE, AI, Data Science, and Electronics generally close at higher ranks. Students should check expected cutoff trends before filling choices.

VITEEE 2026 Counselling Schedule

Candidates can check the complete Phase I counselling timeline below:

What Changed in VITEEE 2026 This Year?

VITEEE 2026 saw the implementation of negative marking, which has reportedly impacted the rank-to-score pattern this year. Due to this change, several candidates have observed differences in expected ranks compared to previous years.

This may also affect counselling cutoffs and branch closing ranks across campuses.

Important Tips Before Choice Filling

Candidates should keep the following points in mind before participating in counselling:

• Check expected cutoff trends
• Keep backup branch options ready
• Include multiple category preferences
• Fill maximum possible choices
• Review choices before locking

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