Nurturing the IIT dream like many Indian students, Mohammad Sahil Akhtar from Kolkata has been preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) since class 10. He did the rounds from school to coaching class, put in over 10 hours into studying every day, and his efforts paid off — he got the 99th rank in the All-India merit list for the JEE-Advanced 2023. But the 17-year-old has decided to drop out of the JEE admission process, the only one of the top 100 JEE-Advanced rankers to do so this year, to head to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) instead. His reason: more research opportunities and a flexible curriculum. “Research appeals to me more than a tech job. In India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was an option. But MIT offers more flexibility. Unlike in the Indian higher education system, I do not have to decide on my final major in the first year itself. There is yet so much that I have not seen,” says Sahil who is looking at pursuing a double major in computer sciences and physics. He is also interested in astronomy, astrophysics and data science. JEE Advanced 2023 | AIR 1 | AIR 2 | AIR 3 | AIR 4 | Female topper | Overall analysis | Seat matrix | Sahil admitted the choice was not conventional, especially with the IIT brand being coveted by many. Explaining it to his parents would also have been difficult, he added. However, he said they could see his interest in research when he became the Gold medallist at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in 2022. “Generally, the most sought-after route is to join an IIT in Computer Science Engineering (CSE). My parents would have suggested considering IIT Bombay.” It was also at the IOAA Olympiad, held in Georgia, that he realised the different options available in front of him, suited to his interests. “The team from America had 10 members. Most of them were going to join MIT and shared some insights. A senior from my own team was also applying to Oxford University and spoke to me about the education system in these universities abroad. I was intrigued and started my process of applying to institutes abroad.” He then went on to apply to Oxford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, and MIT. He received his MIT acceptance letter in March. Sahil said, “There was no dependency on any entrance test or a rank for admission. I appeared for the Standard Admission Test (SAT). But more than the SAT score, admission to MIT was based on the institute’s admission committee’s assessment of my application which included my overall academic records, achievements in academics as well as in extra-curricular activities, essay and recommendation letters from my school teachers,” said Sahil, who studies at the Delhi Public School (DPS) in Kolkata’s Ruby Park. Sahil appeared for the JEE in April. “My journey toward JEE was a result of the general mentality of an Indian household. If you are good at studies and doing well in mathematics, JEE is one of the most important examinations. Sahil's elder brother, currently a final year student of Engineering Physics at IIT Delhi, had provided tremendous mental support for him. "More than academics, it was about guiding me on where to focus more and how to approach the preparation," he said, adding that he took his brother's advice seriously given that he had appeared for JEE Advanced and knew the IIT system from within. Sahil has recently started a YouTube channel to assist aspirants like himself in navigating the sea of expectations and advice. He said, "I have recently started a YouTube channel to help young individuals like me with topics such as advice on JEE, exploring other available options, and the process of applying to foreign universities." Sahil emphasised how such videos had been beneficial to him. According to him, when suggestions and guidance come from someone relatable, "Their advice has a touch of realism to it," he said. At MIT, Sahil said he hopes to explore his interests in linguistics and philosophy. He has got a scholarship, which has “brought the cost to how much we would spend at IIT”.
