Navigating the JEE Advanced and College Admissions Decision
Every year, students aspiring to pursue engineering in India face the daunting challenge of clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced. This examination is a crucial step in gaining admission to some of the most prestigious institutions, such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and other top engineering colleges.
The Journey of
Meet , a student from Delhi who was in the same boat in 2019. After facing some personal issues, Raghav was unable to register for the JEE Advanced counseling process and hence, did not get an opportunity to get into his preferred IITs through JOSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority).
Undeterred, Raghav filled the JAC (JEE Admissions Committee) form for Delhi and opted for Delhi Technological University (DTU), Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), and IIIT Delhi. Interestingly, Raghav secured a spot in MCEMathematics and Computing Engineering at DTU in the first round of counseling.
While Raghav had the opportunity to further upgrade his placement in the second or subsequent rounds, he remained focused on his ultimate dream of pursuing Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).
Seeking Further Opportunities
Raghav decided to exhaust all his options by applying to multiple IITs for a four-year CSE program. His rankings, however, did not quite meet the first-round cut-off for most of the IITs. While some predicted a seat at IIT BHU, Raghav received his mark for BITSAT and accepted admission to BITS Pilani CSE.
This decision was a unique blend of overconfidence and the lack of awareness of the complex admissions process. Raghav has some statistics to back up his decision, showing that the cut-off had fluctuated significantly from year to year. He notes that while the cut-off might have shifted, his expectations were not unrealistic.
Reflecting on the Admission Process
While some students might consider this to be overreacting or missing out on opportunities, Raghav emphasizes his comprehensive approach. He mentions that he did not even check the deadlines for the IIIT-H after the JEE Advanced, an oversight he accepts. However, he adds that he was focused on the top IITs and had not been informed about the application deadlines.
Raghav took the BITSAT on a whim, but this decision turned out to be fortuitous. He acknowledges that overconfidence and a lack of thorough research can be risky but believes that each decision has its own set of advantages and opportunities.
“Life is full of opportunities. Whether it is pursuing an IIT, an NIT, an IIIT, or a good college through other means, every path offers its own set of benefits. I am grateful for the opportunity to study at a reputable institution and will take it from here,” he concludes.
Raghav invites students who will be joining BITS Pilani to reach out to him, possibly for advice or to share their own stories.