JEE rank not good? Relax, here’s how you can still get into a great institute

There is a reason the JEE is considered one of the toughest examinations in India, if not the world. The difficulty level of the papers in the exam is not the only reason though. The sheer competitiveness of the exam, owing to a massive number of applicants, is also a factor. When you look at the numbers, you realise how. Over 1.2 million applicants gave JEE Main; the first phase of this really tough exam. Just 2.2 lakh applicants qualified for the next exam – JEE Advanced. That’s a qualifying rate of 18%, roughly equating to 1 in 6 candidates.

Now consider another fact. IITs in India – that take in students qualifying this exam only have a total of a little over 10,500 seats. The qualifying rate is now further reduced to 5%, roughly equating to 1 in 20 students. To put this in perspective, only the top 1% of all applicants actually make it to the IITs.

It’s no wonder why engineering aspirants were eagerly waiting for June 11, 2017. Many of them did it though with a sense of nervousness and apprehension. And when the moment of reckoning did arrive, it filled many hearts with joy while breaking countless more.

According to Rajshekhar Ratrey, VP educational content, Toppr.com, an educational learning platform, candidates with an insufficient AIR (all-India rank) should not lose hope as IITs are not the only way to achieve one’s dreams. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY, a scholarship programme funded by the department of science and technology) scores and Olympiad (such as the one conducted by IIT Bombay) count too. Success is a journey and not a milestone. There is more than one way to travel this journey. If candidates haven’t managed to make it to the IITs, here’s Ratrey’s advice on some alternatives they can consider:

Not just IIT,s here are some other institutes you can opt for

1.NITs: Candidates can pursue a career in computer science, electronics, mechanical or chemical engineering in the National Institutes of Technology. Older colleges like Warangal, Trichy and Suratkal are better than some of the newer colleges. Regardless, all NITs will consider JEE Main scores and AIR for admissions.

2.IIITs: Candidates can pursue a career in electronics or computer science in the Indian Institutes of Information Technology. All IIIT colleges consider JEE Main scores with AIR, KVPY and Olympiad scores for admissions. Of them, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad are some of the good ones to aim for.

3.IIST: If it’s a career in space technology that one seeks, then the Indian Institute of Space Technology is a great choice. Directly managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), candidates can directly apply for the five-year dual-degree programme with masters, that bolsters their chances of entering ISRO. IIST considers a candidate’s JEE Advanced Score and AIR for admissions.

4.IISc: The Indian Institute of Science, also known as the Tata Institute, is another great option for those contemplating a career in pure sciences and research. These courses are also highly beneficial for those who wish to pursue higher studies. Located in Bengaluru, this institute assesses a candidate’s JEE Main, JEE Advanced, KVPY and Olympiad scores; depending on how many exams the candidate has given.

5.IISER: Another great option for pure sciences and research is the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. This institution has published 900 research papers and helps candidates aspiring for a PhD. IISER assesses the JEE Advanced score, state-board percentage of each candidate. If the candidate has given the KVPY exam, its score is considered too.

6.State-funded Institutes: If candidates are unable to get into any of the above national institutions, there are various state institutions that they can apply for.

After completing one of the above courses, candidates can choose to opt for higher studies:

IN INDIA

1. IIT and IISER: Candidates get a second shot at IIT which offers an integrated MS + PhD course. They can alternatively choose to pursue this course at IISER.

2. GATE Exam: Candidates can choose to give the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering for admission to postgraduate programmes at IITs, NITs and various other state-funded engineering colleges.

STUDY ABROAD

1. M.S: Candidates can pursue their masters from an overseas university. Admissions are granted on the basis of their academic performance and a language test like IELTS or TOEFL. Universities in USA also require GRE and GMAT.

2. Ph.D: Candidates can also choose to pursue a PhD over a master’s degree.

3. Integrated courses (MS + PhD): Candidates can instead of for integrated courses that combine both of the above, at overseas universities.