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Journalism of Courage
— Sandeep Mehta
For many students hoping to get into India’s top engineering universities, such as the IITs and NITs, taking a year off to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a big decision. While some students succeed in passing the exam on their first try, others think about skipping school for a year in order to dedicate all of their time to studying. So, the question is: is it acceptable to skip a year of JEE coursework?
Prior to making this choice, take into consideration the following important factors:
– Benefits of taking a drop year: Maintained planning will have plenty of time during a drop year to devote all of your attention to JEE preparation, free from distractions from schoolwork, board exams, or other extracurricular activities. Your notions will be strengthened and your chances of receiving high marks will rise with this focused concentration.
– A second opportunity at success is provided by a drop year if you failed the JEE on your first try or did not receive the desired rank. It enables you to take stock of your previous errors, pinpoint your weak points, and enhance your approach.
– Increased mental preparedness: With so many tests and personal demands to manage, some class 12 students could experience a sense of overwhelm. A drop year allows you to take a break from the demanding schedule and gives you more time to prepare mentally for JEE by changing your perspective.
– Personal development: A drop year might be a great opportunity for personal development. It provides students with the chance to improve their resilience, self-control, and time management abilities — all of which are essential for success in any competitive exam.
– Social pressure: When deciding to take a drop year, many students encounter pressure from friends, family, or the community. It can be extremely stressful to worry about falling behind classmates or disappointing close ones. It is critical to possess the mental fortitude to resist these demands and maintain concentration.
– Self doubt: One possible side effect of taking a year off is self-doubt. If students don’t see noticeable results right away, they could begin to doubt their own talents. It’s crucial to keep your motivation and self-assurance intact all year long.
– Financial aspects: Should additional coaching, resources, or study materials be required, a drop year may put an additional financial burden on families. Assessing if the possible return on investment justifies the effort and financial commitment is crucial.
– Risk of burnout: A full year of rigorous training without breaks can result in burnout. Making a balanced schedule with breaks and downtime is essential to preventing this.
It is not a simple decision to choose a drop year for JEE. It calls for self-control, effective time management, and the capacity to work continuously without becoming distracted. You are in charge of making and adhering to your own schedule during a drop year, as opposed to the school years where there is a set plan. A drop year can be the best option if you are sure you can maintain your commitment and resist the need to put off things.
Nevertheless, taking a year off might not be beneficial if you are easily distracted or lack motivation. It’s critical to reflect and determine if you are capable of making the kind of commitment that a drop year demands.
If you choose to take a drop year, you must have a well thought-out plan in place. Make sure you have a clear plan for your daily study time, the materials you will use, and the regular progress evaluation procedures. If required, sign up for coaching lessons, but make sure a significant portion of your daily routine consists of self-study. The main components of your plan should be completing past years’ exam questions, taking practice exams, and setting time limits for yourself.
Set both short and long-term objectives to monitor your progress and prevent becoming overwhelmed by the extensive course.
Take other choices into consideration before settling on a drop year. Certain students could choose to apply to colleges while getting ready for their upcoming JEE exam. By doing this, they are able to maintain their dream and acquire a backup plan. However, juggling your undergraduate coursework with your JEE study can be difficult.
A drop year might be a preferable course of action than juggling college and preparation if you think that one more try will suffice.
Whether or not to take a year off to get ready for JEE Main is a personal choice that should be carefully weighed against the advantages and disadvantages. A drop year might provide people the time and space to realise their goals, but it’s not always the best option or a guarantee of success. Instead, it can give them the confidence to work harder and smarter.
Taking a drop year could be the perfect step for you to improve your JEE rank if you are mentally prepared, have a good study strategy, and can stay focused in the face of obstacles.
(The writer is the co-founder of Vidyamandir Classes)
