Mentor’s Mind by MentxTV

“Two Dreams, One Burden: IIT-JEE vs NEET And the Students Caught in Between” A heartfelt look into the pressure of choosing between India's two toughest dreams. At 16, most teenagers are still figuring out who they are. But in India, for many of us — we’re expected to have it all figured out. Engineering or medicine. JEE or NEET. Choose your battlefield. Some of us didn’t even get to choose. I remember the first time someone asked me, “Science liya? Toh IIT karega ya NEET?” I hadn’t even opened my 11th-grade books yet. I was still wondering how to survive organic chemistry. But suddenly, it felt like my life was already being divided into chapters of ranks, revisions, and results . Somewhere along the way, the dream stopped being mine. It became everyone else’s. My parents. My teachers. My relatives. The society that believed only two career paths deserved respect. Different Exams, Same Loneliness NEET students woke up with NCERTs and slept with diagrams of the human hear...

 Crushed Dreams: The Emotional Strain on NEET Aspirants & A Reckoning for Change Introduction For countless Indian students, NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) represents more than just an exam—it embodies hope, ambition, and societal pressure. In recent months, a heartbreaking series of tragedies—spanning Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the infamous coaching hub of Kota—have highlighted the emotional toll this high-stakes journey exacts on young lives. Their stories reveal a crisis that goes beyond failure; it exposes systemic shortcomings. The Toll: Voices from the Frontline In Tamil Nadu alone, two young aspirants— Dharshini and Indhu —lost their lives in their late teens, overwhelmed by the fear of underperforming in NEET after years of preparation and coaching.  Similarly, in Telangana, two 19-year-olds , Janga Pooja and Rayi Manoj Kumar, succumbed under the weight of exam anxiety, their dreams unspoken and unresolved.  Meanwhile, Kota continued to ma...

When Silence Breaks: The Emotional Toll on IITians and a Call for Change Introduction In the hallowed halls of IIT Kharagpur—renowned for academic achievement and fierce competition—recent tragedies have struck at the heart of an institution many believed impervious to pain. The loss of bright young scholars like Chandradeep Pawar and Ritam Mondal shattered the silence surrounding student mental health, revealing a community in grief and a system in urgent need of reform. The Emotional Landscape Ritam, a mechanical engineering student with a CGPA above 8, experienced a noticeable academic downturn before his tragic death in July 2025. Amid press scrutiny and investigations, his family and peers continue to grapple with the emotional aftermath. Chandradeep’s untimely passing sparked an emotional campus candlelight march. It was the first time a director—Suman Chakraborty—joined students in honoring a peer, signaling a shift toward empathy and acknowledgement . Each life lost felt...

When the Numbers Didn’t Love Me Back I gave it everything, but it still wasn’t enough. I didn’t expect to top the exam. But somewhere deep down, I truly believed that if I worked hard enough — if I gave it my everything — the numbers would reflect it. That they’d meet me somewhere, even if not at the top. But they didn’t. What I got was a rank that felt like a punch to the chest. A number that didn’t say anything about the nights I cried silently while revising the same topic again and again. A result that didn’t know about the times I skipped sleep, meals, and life, just to stay a little ahead of the syllabus. And the worst part? No one talks about how badly it hurts when your effort doesn’t translate into the result you dreamed of. Burnout isn’t always obvious. It’s not just about being tired — it’s about feeling emotionally empty. It’s staring at your textbook and realizing you don’t have the strength to turn one more page. It’s sitting at your desk and asking yourself, “Why a...

 The Silent Battles No One Talks About I studied. God, I studied. When friends were out celebrating birthdays, I was on my desk solving one more problem. When my family watched TV together, I stayed back in my room, headphones in, DPPs open. When the world around me moved on with laughter and lightness, I sat still with weight on my shoulders and formulas in my hands. I gave it everything — my time, my sleep, my peace, my teenage years. No vacations. No parties. No late-night movies. Only calendars filled with topics, tests, and timelines. Only a mind buzzing with pressure and a heart quietly hoping: “Let this be worth it.” But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the results don’t match the sacrifice. The night after the JEE results came out, I didn’t sleep. Not because I was celebrating — but because I couldn’t breathe. I lay on my bed, eyes open, ceiling staring back at me, and a million thoughts racing through my mind. "Did I fail them?" "Was I ju...

My Rank Didn’t Shine — But My Spirit Did When the dream doesn’t go as planned, but the journey still transforms you. When I first started preparing for IIT, I imagined a future painted in numbers — 99.9 percentile, AIR under 1000, a seat in my dream department. I thought that number would define my worth. That once I got it, everything would finally make sense. I didn’t imagine the ending would look so different. I didn’t crack a top rank. I didn’t make it to the IIT I dreamed of. And for a while, that truth felt like a weight on my chest I couldn’t breathe under. The Silent Battles No One Talks About I studied. God, I studied. When friends were out celebrating birthdays, I was on my desk solving one more problem. When my family watched TV together, I stayed back in my room, headphones in, DPPs open. I gave it everything — my time, my sleep, my peace, my teenage years. But sometimes, despite all your effort, the results don’t match the sacrifice. The night after the result...

Late Nights, Early Mornings, and Silent Tears The Hidden Story Behind Every JEE Aspirant They say JEE is just an exam. But for those of us who’ve lived it, breathed it , bled for it , burned for it, it  was never just that. It was a storm we walked into willingly, without knowing if we’d come out whole. There were the late nights  not the kind with fairy lights or parties, but the ones where you sat under a single dim bulb, cross-checking your 75th question of the day. Everyone else seemed to be asleep — your friends, your city, even your dreams but not you. You kept going. Because you had to. Because stopping meant falling behind. There were the early mornings  5 AM alarms in cold winters, when your hands were too frozen to hold the pen, but you solved questions anyway. The world outside was quiet, but inside your head, a thousand voices screamed: "You’re not doing enough." "You’ll never make it." And the tears? They didn’t come in public. They came when a m...

Success Wears Many Faces Because not every story needs a rank to matter. “What are you doing now?” It seems like such a simple question. Harmless. Casual. But if you've ever fallen short in a competitive exam if you've ever watched your friends move ahead while you stayed behind  you know just how heavy that question can feel. It becomes a reminder. A comparison. A quiet voice that whispers, "You're not there yet." When I didn’t make it into the college I had dreamt of for years, the world around me suddenly felt like a fast-moving train I had missed. My classmates were headed to prestigious campuses, cracking entrance exams, starting dream courses. And I... I was stuck in a moment of stillness. Not moving forward, not really going backward either. Just trying to make sense of it all. But as the months passed, I began to see what no one had told me: success doesn’t come in a single shape. Some of my batchmates did become engineers and doctors. They worked inc...

The Exam Didn’t Define Me But the Journey Did “Everyone remembers the toppers. But no one talks about the rest of us  the ones who gave it everything… and still didn’t make it.” I still remember the day my JEE result came. The screen loaded slowly. My hands were cold. I didn’t cry. I just stared. Not because I didn't care  but because I cared too much for too long. When the Dream Cracked For two years, I lived a life built around a single goal: cracking JEE. Or NEET. Or any three-letter exam that was supposed to define my future. I said no to family functions. I skipped festivals. I lived inside question papers and coaching centers. I saw my friends less, and my doubts teacher more. And then  I didn’t make it. My name wasn’t on the list. The dream I had wrapped my whole identity around… just dissolved. I felt like a failure. Not because others said so but because I didn’t know who I was without the exam. What No One Tells You No one tells you how quiet ...

Balance: The Most Underrated Skill They Never Teach You They hand you textbooks, schedules, and deadlines. They tell you to “study hard,” “focus,” and “keep your head down.” But no one ever teaches you how to balance. Not in the way that matters . Because here’s the truth: real success doesn’t come from locking yourself in a room with your books 24/7. It comes from rhythm — from knowing when to push and when to pause. When to stay up solving problems, and when to watch the sunset and feel something stir inside you. Balance isn’t laziness. It’s wisdom. The Myth of the Perfect Schedule There’s a toxic belief that you must always choose : Grades or happiness. Ambition or freedom. Achievement or peace. But life doesn’t work in binaries. You can revise chapters and still dance in the rain. You can write assignments and still sit with your friends laughing over chai and stories. One doesn’t undo the other. In fact, one feeds the other. When you truly live — when you give you...

 Not Just a Classroom, But a Canvas Where Learning Begins Beyond the Books Everyone tells you that college is where you’ll learn the most important lessons of your life. And they’re right — but not in the way you might expect. The classroom is important, no doubt. It gives you structure, deadlines, and knowledge. But somewhere between the lectures and lab sessions, something far deeper begins to unfold. College becomes your first brush with freedom — and with it, your first steps toward understanding who you are. You start out with notebooks full of notes and a planner packed with to-dos. But as the months pass, you begin to realize that some of the most valuable lessons aren’t found on a whiteboard. They come during an unplanned evening walk. In a quiet chai stall conversation. In the way you handle your first heartbreak, your first failure, or your first time living away from home. Midnight Walks, Rooftop Talks & Friendships That Feel Like Home The memories that stic...

That Constant Question: Study or Live?   Caught Between Syllabus and Sunsets Every student has faced that moment when the notes are open, the to-do list is half-checked, and a friend texts, “Come for chai?” You hesitate. You calculate the hours left before the next deadline. You hear that inner voice whispering guilt. And yet, something inside you pulls toward the moment. The laughter. The break. The breath of fresh air outside those library walls. It’s a dilemma that doesn’t go away. Do I study , or do I live ? College: Not Just a Classroom, But a Canvas The truth is, college is much more than textbooks and tests. It’s also your first taste of adulthood — a time where you're not just building a resume, but shaping who you are . The friends you make, the sunsets you watch from the hostel roof, the midnight walks, the unplanned conversations — they might not show up on your grade sheet, but they stay with you for life. Living is just as important as studying. Not because o...

The Hostel Room Where Dreams Were Built The Room That Heard It All The first time you enter your hostel room, it feels empty, too plain, too quiet. Two beds. Two tables. A window that barely opens. You drag your suitcase in, unaware that this little space is about to become your entire world. But what you don’t realize is that these four walls are going to witness your transformation,   from an anxious freshman to someone who finds their way. This room will soon be filled with the sound of midnight laughter, emotional breakdowns, phone calls with home, failed quizzes, unexpected wins, and deep life talks over half-eaten Maggi. This is not just a hostel room. This is the room where dreams are built . Between Pressure and Peace College life at an IIT isn’t a smooth ride  it’s more like a seesaw that swings between confidence and chaos. There are nights where you're solving problems with unmatched focus, chasing your next academic high. But then there are nights when you s...

The One Who Didn’t Make It—And Still Made It Big I Missed IIT By 4 Marks... My Life Was Over — Or So I Thought. For most Indian students, cracking the IIT JEE is seen as the golden ticket to success. The pressure is immense, and failure can feel like the end of the world. This is the story of Anshul , a boy who scored 179 in JEE Advanced — just 4 marks short of the cut-off. As soon as the results were out, his world fell apart. The years of sacrifice, sleepless nights, and social isolation suddenly felt meaningless. But what unfolded next proves one of life’s greatest truths: “Failing a goal doesn't mean failing in life.” The Start of Something New After a week of silence and tears, Anshul chose not to take another drop year. Instead, he joined a tier-2 engineering college in Pune. It wasn’t IIT, it didn’t have a sprawling campus, and his batchmates didn't top any charts. Yet, he showed up — every day — with the same fire in his heart. He learned to code from YouTu...

  Olympiad-Based Admissions & Exciting Alternatives: How Toppers Go Beyond Traditional IIT JEE Paths As competition for seats in India’s top engineering institutes intensifies, ambitious students are seeking every possible edge ncluding lesser-known admission routes that go  beyond  just acing IIT JEE. One such strategy gaining buzz is  Olympiad-Based Admissions : a path where your performance in national and international science Olympiads can open doors to the IITs, NITs, IISc, and other prestigious colleges, sometimes bypassing tough entrance exams or gaining unique perks. If you want to supercharge your admission prospects, here’s a deep, actionable look at Olympiad-based admissions and powerful alternatives—packed with details, latest rules, and secret tips. What Are Olympiad-Based Admissions? Olympiad-Based Admissions refer to special provisions that top Indian colleges offer to medal winners or qualifiers in National and International Olympiads (like Physi...

Is NCERT Enough? A Deep Dive for JEE Aspirants and CBSE/ICSE Students Introduction: The NCERT Debate, Still Going Strong Every year, as JEE aspirants line up their study plans, one question echoes louder than ever: Is NCERT enough for JEE? Whether you're from the CBSE board, an ICSE student, or just starting your JEE journey, the dilemma is real. While NCERT textbooks are the gold standard in Indian education, relying solely on them for cracking one of the toughest engineering exams in the world demands a reality check. Let’s unpack this with facts, comparisons, and practical advice that no coaching institute will tell you straight. What Makes NCERT Books So Popular? Approved by NTA & CBSE: The National Testing Agency  bases JEE Main questions primarily on the NCERT syllabus, especially for physics and chemistry. Straightforward Language: NCERTs are student-friendly, especially for concept-building in the early stages. Board Exam Friendly: For CBSE students, NCERT...

> “ I chose B.Tech because I didn’t know what else to do.” If that sounds like you — don’t worry. You’re not alone. But before you jump in, let’s do this the smart way. This blog cuts through the noise and gives you what you really need to know about B.Tech — not just what college websites or coaching brochures tell you. Whether you're a confused 12th-grader, a parent, or just trying to figure out if engineering is still worth it in 2025 — this is for you. --- 🧠 What Is B.Tech Really About? B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) is a 4-year undergraduate degree that teaches you how to: Build things (software, machines, infrastructures  Solve real-world problems logically Think like an engineer, not just act like one > Unlike generic science degrees, B.Tech is more hands-on, career-driven, and structured. 📊 Popular B.Tech Branches (and What They Actually Mean) Branch What You Study Where It Leads 💻 CSE Programming, software, AI Tech companies, startups, freelancing ⚙️ Mech...

 Why IIT Has Become a Viral Topic in India  Especially Among Students Nowadays, the word IIT has become something that everyone recognizes — even first-grade students in some schools. IIT stands for Indian Institute of Technology. There are 21 IITs in India, and two of them have foreign campuses as well. These are India's premier institutions, known globally and competing in terms of educational quality, infrastructure development, and research amenities, all coordinated with the Ministry of Education, Government of India. IIT Foundation—Starting From School The word “IIT” is introduced as early as sixth grade in many schools through a program called IIT Foundation. But the truth is, most children don't even understand what the IIT syllabus means or what IIT actually stands for. They are just made to study it with the assumption that it will help them in 12th grade, even if it’s not relevant to their current class. Where Do IITs Stand Among Other Institutions? If institutions ...

  The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced stands as a formidable gatekeeper to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), India's most prestigious engineering institutions. Each year, hundreds of thousands of brilliant minds embark on this challenging journey, vying for a limited number of coveted seats. Beyond the raw numbers, a fascinating story unfolds when we delve into the performance of candidates at the very top – particularly through the lenses of gender and academic stream. For decades, engineering and STEM fields were largely seen as male strongholds. However, recent JEE Advanced results are painting a vibrant new picture, showcasing remarkable shifts and celebrating diverse excellence. 1. The Ascent of "She-roes": Breaking Gender Barriers at the Top The narrative of female underrepresentation in STEM is rapidly being rewritten by the consistent and impressive performance of young women in JEE Advanced. This isn't just about participation; it's ab...