Why IITs are best: The Amazing Life and Experiences at IITs

Indian Institutes of Technology, commonly known as IITs, are independent public educational institutions offering higher education in India. The Institutes of Technology Act of 1961 governs IITs and NITs (National Institutes of Technology) and is the body responsible for framing rules regarding their duties, framework, and power. Presently, there are 23 IITs and a common council connects each of these institutes.

IIT’s Admission process and Selection Process

JEE Main and Advanced examinations gauge a student’s efficiency in three subjects, namely Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. After answering six papers in JEE Advanced, IITs prepare 9 rank lists based on reservation and caste parameters.

Separate lists are prepared for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, general category, other backward classes and persons with disabilities. Some students are listed in a preparatory courses rank list and are mentored by IITs, before being offered an opportunity to enroll in a course with time-lag.

The country is divided into seven zones by IITs, making it easier to monitor JEE Advanced and the process of joining IIT. IIT Bombay zone, which includes Kota, Rajasthan, produces most toppers and a majority of overall qualified students. It is followed by IIT Madras zone and IIT Delhi zone in the aforementioned parameters. Other than IITs, qualified students are eligible for admission at Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. The cumulative number of seats in all these institutes is approximately 11,000.

A brief introduction to IIT Mains and Advanced

Students generally start preparing for IIT JEE from 10th or 11th standard, even though they appear for said JEE examination with 12th class board examinations.

It is a two-step process and only on qualifying both levels with good scores does a student become eligible to join one of these 23 institutes. The first level known as JEE Mains is a preliminary examination, wherein qualifying students to become eligible for answering JEE Advanced, the second level examination. In order to answer JEE Advanced students are required to qualify JEE Mains with a good rank.

Earlier, 12th class marks contributed to JEE Mains score. However, from 2017 the sole prerequisite is to score above 75%, as actual marks are no longer taken into account when calculating Mains rank. Students who have answered their 12th standard examinations can appear for JEE Advanced in the same year.

Life of students at IIT

A popular belief is that students at IITs are only concerned with their studies; however, that is simply not true. IITians are involved in many activities, making their life at IITs an enjoyable and holistic experience. Apart from attending classes, students proactively participate in activities ranging from sports to arts to other diverse fields. Some of these fields are robotics clubs, software or Android development groups or NCC and NSS.

While earning their degrees, students often participate in projects and conduct research under professors. Moreover, they contribute to the development of their department, institute and their preferred field. Simultaneously, they strive to earn scholarships and accolades through these activities.

During the day focus remains strictly on academics, however after 6 p.m. students are focused on developing as individuals by utilizing state-of-the-art facilities. Since most students put all extracurricular activities on hold for two years to prepare for JEE, they indulge in all-around self-development.

Opportunities after joining IIT

Being a premier educational institution in India, IIT offers numerous opportunities for gaining industrial exposure and enhancing technical skills. Here numerous technical and cultural fests are held throughout the year.

Opportunities after joining IIT increase tremendously as students are often invited by reputed educational institutions to participate in competitions.

When planning a fest in their campus students handle every aspect right from initial planning to organizing and managing every event. This inculcates responsibility and encourages teamwork, which is a necessity for life beyond IIT. Some popular technical fests organized at IITs are Wissenaire, Tryst, Concetto, Amalthea, Fluxus, Ignus, Celesta, and Exodia.

For students who excel in sports, interinstitutional sports meets are organized frequently. Furthermore, cultural fests are necessary for overall development, as they give students a chance to get recognition for staging their talents. Some popular cultural fests organized here are Elan, Mood Indigo, Anwesha, Thomson, Antaragni, Zeitgeist, Alcheringa, and Alma Fiesta.

Exposure at IITs:

Students who join IITs are toppers of their respective schools or coaching institutes where they seldom face competition from other students. After joining IITs, a need to compete with students of comparable caliber gives a sense of accomplishment and motivates them to improve and grow continuously.

Being around like-minded individuals allows ideas to flow freely while feeling enthusiastic, uplifted, motivated and empowered. Peer pressure transforms into a driving force that assists in accomplishing goals. Every student with their unique opinions, ideas, and feedback contributes greatly in any team project. Sharing ideas with like-minded groups helps in identifying blind spots and creating efficient plans.

Companies in USA, Hong Kong, Singapore and several other countries, have extensive research projects, compared to which internships offered by Indian companies are minuscule. Therefore, faculties at IITs encourage students to apply for international summer/winter internships, since they offer global industrial exposure. Such internships give an extra edge to their resumes alongside cultural exposure.

Consequently, Recruitment of IITians by national and international industry frontrunner organizations, hence affording them superior global exposure from the onset of their careers.

Stay motivated

This article elucidates exactly why you should remain motivated to prepare for IIT JEE, however, if you are finding difficulties follow the straightforward tips listed below.

Use positive self-talk every time you face challenges when studying. Some subjects can be particularly tough, thus you must use positive statements to maintain a positive mindset and continue preparation.

Learn from your mistakes to identify areas which require more time and effort. No mistake is bigger than quitting, hence remain determined, learn lessons from mistakes and continue to study.

Socialize with friends who have the same goal and help each other out. This offers new perspectives, preparation strategies and encouragement.

Employ positive reinforcement techniques and treat yourself every time you achieve a goal. Rewarding yourself continuously is a smart way of staying happy until D-Day.

Additionally, it is of paramount importance to exercise, consume a nutritious diet and stay physically and mentally healthy. Remember that these days you spend working hard despite all odds to realize your dreams, will bear sweet fruit at the right time.