I'm a 23-year-old male with a B.Tech in ECE. I feel like I've wasted a lot of time chasing IITs. I spent one year preparing for JEE and another year for GATE, but I kept procrastinating and avoiding things. My mental state was really bad, especially toward the end.
I don't understand why I failed last year - my GATE EC score was 19, and this year, even after taking a drop, it fell to 16. I still really want to get into an IIT, but I feel stuck and don't know what's holding me back. Right now I feel pretty hopeless, but I do want to turn things around.
I'm thinking of preparing for BITS HD now. Should I take another drop? What other options do I have?
No institution is worth sacrificing all your time and effort, buddy. It's good if you realise that early and move on with life.
Nah, bro. Your branch is great, but dropping from 19 to 16 suggests theory isn't your strong suit. (In my first attempt I scored 76.67, though not in ECE.) Start focusing on practical knowledge and kick‑start your career, since the industry values experience in your field.
It is natural to follow the crowd, but you need to sit down with yourself, figure out your strengths, the areas you need to improve, and what you actually want to do in life. Once you have that clarity, draw a roadmap - if it means going through a particular institute, give it your heart, mind and soul. If the result isn't what you expected, pivot to something that matches your innate strengths. At this stage of your career, there's no point wasting precious years chasing an aspiration that may not suit you.
You haven't wasted your life; you've just been caught in a draining loop. Taking another drop only helps if you can truly improve your study habits and mental health, otherwise you'll likely see the same result. BITS HD is a solid option, but don't tie your worth or future only to IITs. Start focusing on consistent action, explore backup paths, and build momentum step by step instead of waiting for a single perfect outcome.