We want our son to study in or around Chennai. Which districts should we search?

Search four districts, not one. The Chennai metropolitan area holds roughly 88 engineering colleges, but due to how revenue districts are drawn, only about 5 of them fall under "Chennai" district itself. The rest are recorded under:

• Chengalpattu — covering much of the southern corridor
• Kancheepuram — the south-western belt
• Thiruvallur — the northern and western stretch

So when filling choices, filter all four districts, then narrow by what actually matters to your family: daily commute time from your home, hostel availability, and the branch's past closing cutoffs at each college. A college "in Chennai" on paper can be 40 km from your house, while a Chengalpattu-listed one might be nearer. Shortlist across all four districts, with official cutoff history alongside, using the free TNEAhelp College-Finder.