17 YEARS OLD Avik Das stands out as one of the rare candidates who successfully cracked NEET UG 2024, JEE Advanced 2024, and West Bengal JEE 2024 in a single attempt. Das aspires to join the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, aiming for a career as an astrophysicist.

Avik is particularly interested in pursuing a BS-MS program in Physics and is eager to engage in astrophysics research. “I’ve been fascinated by celestial bodies, space, stars, galaxies, supernovae, and black holes since childhood. My interest in becoming an astrophysicist was sparked in Class 5 when I started reading Stephen Hawking’s books,” shared Avik, who was also the WB HS state topper in Class 12 with an impressive 99.2% score. “My goal has always been to get into IISc. The BS-MS course at IISc has four primary admission pathways: JEE Main, NEET, JEE Advanced, and IAT. While most students focus on either JEE or NEET, I decided to clear both exams to maximize my chances of admission,” explained Avik, who secured an AIR-7 in WBJEE.

Preparing for JEE, NEET, and WBJEE is no small feat. Initially, his parents were concerned about the potential “additional burden,” but they eventually placed their trust in his determination. “I enrolled in the Allen online coaching program and adhered to a strict study routine. I have always loved studying, so covering the subjects wasn’t an issue for me. For biology and chemistry, I ensured every concept and word from NCERT was thoroughly understood. I also solved thousands of previous years’ questions, which boosted my confidence,” said Avik, who achieved a CRL of 69 in JEE Advanced. “My daily schedule started at 7 or 7:30 am with study sessions, followed by mock tests, coaching, and self-study. I usually went to bed around midnight,” added Avik, who stays away from social media and uses his parents’ WhatsApp to stay connected with friends.

“JEE and NEET require different skill sets. JEE demands logical, numerical, and mathematical problem-solving abilities, while NEET tests numerical problems in physics and heavily relies on memorization of facts. Neither exam was easy for me,” said Avik, who scored 705 out of 720 in NEET UG 2024.