Tier-3 College → IIT Bombay Dropout → NHAI | your college doesn’t define you

Summary of the video’s main points

Personal journey (college to IIT to govt job)

The speaker (“Ios”) describes his path from Mahatma Gandhi Central University (Bihar), where resources and guidance were limited. He initially struggled to get placement support, then shifted focus to GATE, achieving All India Rank 265.

This led to admission to IIT Bombay for M.Tech, but he left IIT Bombay within 1–2 months. After that, he joined NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) as a daily manager under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, through a GATE-based recruitment.

Why he believes “your college doesn’t define you”

His core message is motivational: even if you start from a tier-3 environment with weak placements and fewer opportunities, you can still reach top institutions and secure strong government/competitive exam outcomes by choosing the right strategy and staying consistent.

College environment at Mahatma Gandhi Central University (CSE)

• Many students initially expected coding and placements, but later realized campus opportunities were limited.
• Over time, most students shifted toward GATE preparation.
• Batch strength mentioned: ~37.
• Placement stats (as described):
  • The first batch reportedly had about 10 offers (or students placed).
  • The next batch reportedly had zero placements, reinforcing the move toward GATE.
• He also notes that off-campus opportunities still depend on specific brand value, so he considers exam-based paths a more reliable route.

GATE preparation strategy (what he did differently)

• He began from the second year (not from first year).
• He prepared selectively:
  • In a semester where Digital Electronics and Data Structures were available (both relevant for GATE), he studied only those to avoid overload.
• This helped him manage college responsibilities while keeping GATE preparation steady.
• By the final year, he emphasized practice through:
  • Mock tests
  • PYQs
  • Repeated solving and revision

Managing academic constraints / attempts

• He mentioned attempting earlier (rank around 1300 at one point) when some required subjects weren’t completed on time, limiting the number of papers he could attempt.
• Later, once he completed remaining subjects quickly, he could focus more on GATE practice for subsequent attempts.

Why he left IIT Bombay (and chose NHAI)

• He describes a mismatch between IIT expectations and reality:
  • IIT provided a strong extracurricular culture (clubs, singing/dancing, and broader talent), which created pressure/fear of competing with high-caliber peers.
• His final decision to leave IIT was influenced by:
  • Family guidance
  • A belief in the stability of government service
• At NHAI, he notes a lifestyle shift toward more formal interactions and meetings beyond academics.

Advice to students in tier-2 / tier-3 colleges

• Don’t accept defeat—GATE is achievable with small, timely steps.
• Time and structure can be an advantage in lower-tier colleges; tier-1 colleges may have less free time due to constant academies and competition.
• For juniors:
  • Focus on completing the syllabus well and building skills steadily, not assuming preparation only in the final year.
  • Even if success takes longer (1 year vs. 2–4 years), persistence matters.
• If he could restart, he would:
  • Complete a missed paper earlier to strengthen his final-year GATE preparation.

Presenters / contributors

• Ayush (interview/questioner)
• Ios / A / the guest speaker (main contributor: journey and advice)