If you had seen me a year ago, you would have found a timid and nervous girl preparing for the JEE exam. As a dropper, I knew that if I missed this chance, my dream of getting into an IIT would be over.
January was a tough month for me. The expectations I had for myself were incredibly high. I tried my best, waking up early and studying 10 to 12 hours a day, but I wasn't consistent enough.
When my JEE scores were released, I had no hope left. The only option remaining was through AKTU. I learned about AKTU's number one college, IET Lucknow, and thought to myself: If not IIT... I can get IIT with an 'E'.
However, AKTU is infamous for its slow and faulty website, and just my luck, it happened to me. Out of more than 1,500 options, my choice-filling dashboard only showed 77 colleges, and IET Lucknow was not on the list. I started panicking, but then I read on Reddit that many students like me were facing the same problem.
I talked on the helpline and they told me the problem would be resolved by the day after. And yes it did get resolved.
From waiting for results to checking portals repeatedly and meeting deadlines, the process demanded immense patience and emotional control.
Fortunately, the counseling process eventually worked out. I got my first choice: BTech Computer Science and Engineering Regular. I received the final reporting letter and prepared my documents according to the admission notice.
I opted for August 19th as my physical reporting date. I went there with all my documents, and since classes were set to start on August 21st, I also took all my necessities for living in the hostel.
We were instructed to go to the auditorium where the admission process was carried out. We filled out forms and attached documents. Along with the staff and faculty members, there were student volunteers who were incredibly helpful.
To anyone going through the admission phase: trust your efforts, make informed choices, and rememberâyour journey is bigger than any rank.
My admission experience taught me that a rank may open doors, but mindset decides how far you go. The journey helped me grow more confident, patient, and self-aware. Looking back, I realize that admission was not just an entry into collegeâit was an entry into a new phase of responsibility and self-belief.
