Aditi

Jalandhar (Punjab)-based Aditi (17, who doesn’t use a surname) was the top-ranked girl in the all-India joint entrance examination (JEE) 2014 for admission into the country’s 17 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the results of which were declared in June. This student of the Swami Sant Dass Public School, Jalandhar, who averaged 95.4 percent in CBSE’s class XII school-leaving examination, was ranked #7 among the 520,000 students who wrote the two-tier JEE in April. The younger of two siblings of Pratap Singh and Geeta Pratap, professors of civil engineering and mathematics respectively at the National Institute of Technology (Jalandhar), Aditi ascribes her success to the unstinted support of her school teachers and parents apart from consistent hard work. I expected a high rank, but never thought I would be among the Top 10. I am grateful to my teachers, parents and older brother in particular, for their constant encouragement while preparing for the country’s toughest examination, she acknowledges. Aditi began to plan her œmission IIT in class IX when her interest in science and technology, and tech innovations transformed into a passion. While in class X, I signed up with Delhi™s reputed Vidyamandir coaching classes which has a VSAT (very small aperture terminal)-powered centre in Jalandhar, she recalls. Despite this, I made it a practice to visit Delhi every month for one-to-one sessions with my mentor Prof. Sanjiv Varma, in addition to following a study regimen of eight-10 hours per day. To avoid exam stress, I listened to soft music and played badminton, says Aditi, explaining the secret of her success. Currently enrolled in a B.Tech (computer science) degree programme at IIT-Delhi, and intent on a career in the civil services after graduation, Aditi offers valuable advice to young IIT aspirants. There are no short cuts to success. Stay focused, work hard and develop the willpower to excel! Wind in your sails! Autar Nehru (Delhi) Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp