Mohammad Sahil Akhtar cracked IIT-JEE (JEE Advanced) 2023 with AIR 99 but opted to seek admission in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), instead of IIT.
IIT-JEE Success Story: While the primary goal of every engineering aspirant in India who takes the IIT-JEE competitive exam is to get an admission in an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), there are a few students who opt not to seek admission in the premier institute and decide to seek a “better” option to complete their academic goals.
One such shining example is the inspirational story of Mohammad Sahil Akhtar, who cracked the IIT-JEE entrance test with an All India Rank (AIR) of 99, but later decided not to join an IIT and dropped out of IIT counselling.
Who is Mohammad Sahil Akhtar?
Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mohammad Sahil Akhtar, went to school at the prestigious Delhi Public School (DPS) Ruby Park and after passing Class 10th with flying colors, started preparing for the IIT-JEE exams, in hopes of cracking one of the country’s toughest entrance tests and gaining an admission into an IIT.
Akin to lakhs of other aspirants, Akhtar worked tirelessly and strived hard to crack the JEE Advanced test, and his efforts bore fruit as he secured an impressive AIR 99 in the JEE-Advanced 2023. However, barely a few week into IIT counselling, Akhtar dropped out, and decided to seek admission at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, citing “more research opportunities and a flexible curriculum” as key reasons for him to opt for the premier US institute instead of IIT.
‘Didn’t want a tech job, research is more appealing’
Asked about his astonishing decision to forego admission in one of the country’s most prestigious institutions, Mohammad Sahil Akhtar revealed that while most seek a degree from IITs in order to get a job in tech sector, his goal had always been research instead of rote learning.
“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,” the youngster told a new agency.
Akhtar said he wanted to pursue a double major in computer sciences and physics, an revealed he is also interested in astronomy, astrophysics, and data science.
“Generally, the most sought-after route is to join an IIT in Computer Science Engineering (CSE). My parents would have suggested considering IIT Bombay,” he said.
Beyond IIT
However, it was at IOAA Olympiad, in Georgia, that Akhtar realised that he had other options available to him besides the IIT, and decided to head to MIT.
“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.”
Mohammad Sahil Akhtar has earned a scholarship to MIT where he hopes to explore his interests in linguistics and philosophy. The Kolkata boy also recently started a YouTube channel where he provides guidance to other engineering hopefuls on various academic and career options available to them.